SabakaMom wrote:

Last week I ran out of yogurt, so I tried Heather's pumkin, apple sauce, blue berry combo. It is great! Sabaka loves it.

Funny, I did the same! Total hit with them!!! Thanks Heather! Actually, I made a second batch yesterday, but need to go stuff their kongs right now.

pixipanda wrote:

Thanks, Lisa. I'll experiment with it. I had completely cut treats out for a while after the vet had me switch her from Blue Buffalo to Wellness dry food via a bland diet. I've been slowly reintroducing them. I wonder if they were the problem all along!

Have any of you tried stuffing your kongs with tuna and sticky rice? I read about that on another Husky website, but I have been putting off trying it until I get Sky's stomach settled.

If you are feeding Wellness dry food, Wellness also makes a doggie biscuit called Wellbars. They are wheat-free and soy-free. I think some of the flavors may contain some oatmeal, so they are not all grain-free. But you might be able to substitute them for the Milkbones so that Sky will have a yummy treat every now and then.

I have not tried stuffing a Kong with tuna and rice...

Some dogs have problems with all grains, including rice. Sabaka's food has some whole grain rice in it, so he would probably do fine with that combination.

pixipanda wrote:

Have any of you tried stuffing your kongs with tuna and sticky rice? I read about that on another Husky website, but I have been putting off trying it until I get Sky's stomach settled.

I'd see nothing wrong with tuna and rice if your dog tolerates them. I wouldn't do tuna too frequently due to mercury build up and possibly the oils causing stomach upset, though ultimately it's up to you. Rice is one of those things that a good number of sibes are sensitive to as well, but if you know your sibe tolerates rice then it should be fine.

She seemed to do well on it when the vet had me put her on a bland diet for a week (chicken and white rice). Hm, I didn't even think about the mercury angle. I was just thinking about how huskies were bred to eat more seafood than your average dog (or so I've read).

Anyone try sweet potato? I notice that's in a lot of premium dog foods.

I just steamed some sweet potato yesterday and gave it to them as treats yesterday and today - they love it! I plug the end of their kongs with the organic chicken "sausage" treats from trader joe's. It's the perfect size. I'll also put some soaked kibble in there.

Off topic - Petsmart has these awesome sweet potato "fries" - dried sweet potato (check to make sure they're made in the USA, not China.). They'll go nuts for it and it takes them a while to chew. I supervise them with the dried ones, though.

Sweet potato is excellent but keep it mind it'll give lots of sugar, as with anything I'd use it in moderation. There are lots of great sweet potato treats out there for purchase. And I would rather see sweet potato in foods than potato, rice, and other grains.

You are correct Miranda, a fish based diet is more natural for the sibe since it's what they would have eaten in the breeds original habitat, etc. However one also has to keep in mind that mercury was not so much an issue in the breed's beginnings either. Fish based diets are great for sibes, don't get me wrong. Just be mindful of the source of the fish and how much they're getting, etc. Even small amounts of mercury eaten regularly over long periods of time can build up. I'm not saying that to scare anyone or discourage the use of fish or fish based foods, just saying it's one of those foods that you might pay more attention to when feeding, that's all. And I've always found it ironic that my sibe cannot tolerate any fish in any form whatsoever considering his breed's origins.

I finally tried this and boy did Amber love it. I prepped it last night with a pumpkin and yogurt mix. I put the mixture into a sandwhich bag then cut a corner to make a homemade pastry bag to squeeze it into the kong. I then wrapped it in tinfoil and threw it into the freezer. 2 hours of her working at it followed by passing out in her crate.

Oo, I love your pastry bag idea!

pixipanda wrote:

Oo, I love your pastry bag idea!

Thats a great idea!! psh! I would have never thought of that!

Hey, how long do you guys think it would be safe to leave a kong stuffed with yogurt and pumpkin in the freezer? I just found one way in the back of ours that is probably from late July or early August. Is it still good or should I just get rid of it?

I would love to know that also! The longest that I've left a stuffed Kong (yogurt & pumpkin) is about 2 weeks maybe

blueeyedghost wrote:

Hey, how long do you guys think it would be safe to leave a kong stuffed with yogurt and pumpkin in the freezer? I just found one way in the back of ours that is probably from late July or early August. Is it still good or should I just get rid of it?

As to going bad I don't think you need to worry about that. Freezer burn maybe but its more a eye appeal thing then which I don't think Ghost would much give a hoot either way.

Maybe Luka's just a weird one but he seems to love ice! So I just fill his kong with water, freeze it and he'll go at it for a good while! When the ice is a thick clump like that it takes a long time to melt, he goes crazy for it!

Would a kong full of frozen water be bad for his health in any way?

I put some plain square cheese and kinda stuck it to the sides of the kong and then broke bigger pieces of and made it into a ball, so he couldn't get it out easily. worked pretty good for my guy

I fill Ava and Snickers' kongs with some canned food, then stick a bully stick down in it and pop it in the freezer. Perfect popsicle!

I've been filling their kongs with pumpkin, layering with little pieces of soft treats - and freezing them. If I have it, I'll also layer in some of the liver Kong stuffing(just a bit for seasoning!). They looooove it!

These all sound like great ideas! Akira has such a sensitive tummy, though. So, I'm wondering, what do you all think would be the best mixture to start her with? She's had a little bit of peanut butter (in fact I put a dab of it in her Kong this morning) but not enough that I would even know if she's sensitive to it. She's never had yogurt, applesauce, pumpkin, or berries, though.

Just stuffed my first kong! Applesauce, small treats, and peanut butter to cap the ends. It's in the freezer now and I am so anxious to see if they like it!

hmm applesauce? didnt think of that one. let us know how it turns out!

AdamK wrote:

hmm applesauce? didnt think of that one. let us know how it turns out!

lol, does applesauce freeze?

MyKeeonah wrote:

AdamK wrote:

hmm applesauce? didnt think of that one. let us know how it turns out!

lol, does applesauce freeze?

Are you wondering if it stays liquid or if it gets nasty?

People into canning and freezing homemade goodies often make applesauce and freeze it rather than can it. So I'm sure it gets solid and stays yummy!

I bought some of those plastic squirt bottles, like you put mayo, ketchup and mustard in, and fill them once a week with unsweetened applesauce, yogurt and pumpkin. It just takes two minutes to squirt a little of each into of the kongs and plug it with peanut butter then freeze them over night. So much lest time consuming with the bottles!

I cant get Shadow to try his kong tried peanut butter, pumpkin, his zukes treats?? not grabbing his attention??!! i will show it to him he will lick it twice and thats it. Ive left it in his cage at night and he doesnt touch it! Any suggestions guys!?

Might I add he is a little over 8 weeks. A little young or no? Havent tried his kibble yet maybe thats next. I find it hard to believe that he has no interest in it!

Kale didnt show interest in kongs and such till he hit 3 1/2-4 months. which i why crate training him was a battle, and i technically never really did lol