I don’t know about your dog, but mine is a bottomless pit and could eat for hours and still want more. She also has endless energy and I love killing two birds with one stone. These frozen kong treats do just that and are filled with dog-friendly ingredients like fruits and vegetables.
Health is wealth as we all know, and the same applies to our furry friends. I love making my dog homemade kong treats because I can fill them with ingredients that she not only enjoys but will benefit her health in the long run. Dogs can consume a variety of different fruits and vegetables, but if you have any concerns for your puppy please refer to your veterinarian. My dog has a digestive issue and the ingredients listed here have worked for her sensitive tummy. I am not a canine nutritionist so please do not hesitate to contact your vet for any required variations from this recipe.
The Prep
I like to start with washing my produce. Here I have the following:
- Blueberries ( I used fresh but frozen are better)
- Carrot
- Celery
- Cucumber
- Apple
- Banana ( not pictured since it doesn’t need cleaning)
I only peeled the cucumber because the skin is inedible. You can leave carrots and apples with the peel- it contains more nutrients for our pups!
The size of your dog and kong will determine how large you should cut your produce. I have a 1-year-old 50-pound chocolate lab so she can handle larger pieces. Her Kong toy is also the XXL size. I went for 1-inch chunks.
We will need a few other ingredients as well… The first is well-known to be loved by dogs and that is peanut butter! Please opt for a natural variety that has no added salt or sugar. The ideal ingredients and just peanuts. If you have a food processor or blender I also highly recommend making your own- you just need peanuts and patience! The second is Greek yogurt which provides great probiotics for our pups.
Assembly
To start your kong, invert it and put a slice inside from the larger opening. Use the banana to block the smaller hole on the other end. This will ensure none of the other ingredients we put in will fall through the other side as we make our kongs.
Next, I followed with some of my longer-cut veggies such as carrots and celery. At this point, I like to add a teaspoon of peanut butter. Be sure to lightly tap your kong on your kitchen counter so all the ingredients settle to the bottom. Then I like to top it off with the cucumber and blueberries. On top of this layer, I add 3 teaspoons of Greek yogurt, once again tapping the bottom to make sure there are no air pockets and everything settles. Lastly, I fill the top portion of the kong with some banana slices and blueberries.
Once just the top 1/4 inch (1/2 cm) of the kong is empty, I add a final teaspoon of Greek yogurt and a banana slice. I let this act as my seal for the kong to make sure everything is locked inside. It also creates a fun start to the snack for your dog once it’s frozen!
Freeze it
Now that your kong is ready, you need to prepare it for the freezer. Wrap the kong in plastic wrap ensuring both the top and bottom openings are sealed. This will help prevent a mini-kong disaster in your freezer!
Your kong snack is ready! Allow a few hours to fully freeze and feed it to your puppy when they need a snack and mind-exercise! This typically takes my dog at least half an hour to lick through!
;et me know if you try this recipe and how your pup likes it!
Frozen Kong Dog Treats
Ingredients
- 1 Banana
- 1/2 Apple
- 1/2 Cucumber
- 1/4 cup blueberries
- 1/2 carrot
- 1 stalk celery
- 3 tbsp peanut butter
- 1/2 cup greek yogurt
Instructions
- Wash and chop all produce to desired size.
- Layer a banana on the bottom of the kong to block the small opening.
- Add in a layer of celery and carrots, followed by 1-2 tsp pf peanut butter
- Add in some cucumbers, apples, and blueberries followed with 1-2 tbsp of Greek yogurt.
- Fill the rest of the kong with greek yogurt and bananas.
- Cover in cling wrap and place in the freezer for 1-3 hours.