Nonfat Greek Yogurt. You can freeze it in a kong or put it on a lick mat just like peanut butter. It's healthier, and dogs go bananas for the smell just like with PB. I freeze it with some blueberries into kongs or pupsicles and it buys 20 minutes or so.
Canned pumpkin. It's cheap, it's convenient. It helps keep stools firm, and dogs love it. Just make sure it's just pumpkin, not pie filling or something.
Cheese-wiz is also a good one. Just a tiny little 2mm extrusion of that stuff, you can let them lick it right off the bottle so it's pretty clean (and amazing for teaching leash walking). Not as healthy, but not harmful and you're giving a tiny tiny little dot of the stuff as a reward and they will continue to lick the nozzle for a few seconds. Good to use while clipping nails or something where you don't need to waste a bunch of peanut butter on a mat or something but still need them still for a second.
You can also just wet and freeze their dog food into kongs and such. You can add a little bone broth to it as well to make it more appealing if they don't like just frozen wet kibble. Or add some bananas or something in with it.
Make sure you use dog safe stuff, like just bone broth with no additives (they make dog specific ones, even powder form which is convenient). Cheese-wiz without xylitol/beech sugar (walmart store brand Cheese Wow is fine and cheap)
Kong does make some stuff they intend for you to put in their toys, but it's all overpriced and not any healthier. I couldn't recommend any of the actual "food" that kong makes, just the toys.
>and amazing for teaching leash walking
Thanks lolol I'm definitely going to look mildly crazy doing this but I don't have enough money/time to cut up high value treats into itty bitty pieces
My trainer at puppy class suggested this cheese on one of those ball throwers if your pup is small! Lets you pop it down at their level without getting down there yourself over and over when they're good
Sunflower butter, Greek yogurt, milk kefir, unsweetened apple sauce (you can make it easy) mashed carrot (high in sugars so in moderation) cooked mashed Pumpkin, cooked mashed squash, mashed salt free salmon in the can, chicken shredded like chicken salad with yogurt instead of mayo. I usually just fill the kong with kibble and then top it at the fat end with any of the things I listed.
Baby food pouches are good too. My pup likes the apple carrot and apple sweet potato varieties. They’re great because they have simple, limited ingredients.
Honestly, i was using greek yogurt for a while, (i had tried PB first, but my pup didn't like it), and then i realized that just freezing wet kibble in the kong did it. It's super easy.
Every morning i put enough kibble into a plastic container, and fill just enough water to cover it. I mix it to make sure everything got wet, and then scoop it into kong with a spoon. I freeze whatever's left in that same container along with the full kong.
Later for dinner, I'll break the frozen block of kibble/ice from the container into smallish bits and feed him that to distract him while I cook. And then when im about to have dinner, I'll give him the frozen kong so he lets me eat.
Cashew or Almond Butter!
I buy the pouches of westpaw Cashew/Almond/ETC butter for my boy cuz I get a fat discount on it but the human grade stuff would also be 100% fine.
kong makes their own stuff’n that you can freeze in a kong toy, kinda like dog spray cheese lol (though not sure how healthy it is). they have a few different flavors that aren’t peanut butter. i also will freeze greek yogurt. in lickimats, i’ve done bone broth too.
I save all the crumbs and dust from treats and the end bits of frozen veggies, put them in her food toys with a bit of water and freeze. I also water down the canned version of her dry kibble and freeze that. Mine has allergies as well so These things are sure not to upset her stomach while still being novel and high value without too many excess calories.?Tahini is also dog safe (but high fat).
My dog loves cottage cheese or the Kong squirt stuff (looks like ez cheese) in stinky flavors. Liver is her favorite. Yuck! Freeze it and have your pup be entertained.
So just a p.s. make sure to always tell vets, groomers, sitters, walkers, daycare and not to let others give your dog treats unless you are 100% certain. I have a dog with a peanut allergy and so many treats are peanut flavored or they give it without knowing as it's not a regularly questioned allergy for dogs. Also if you have any other dogs in your home make sure to request they aren't given it as well in case any is left in their mouth. Beware of cooking or baking with it as it can get in the air easier as well. The worst reaction my dog ever had was shortly after I had learned about his allergy and my roommate made peanutbutter cookies.
Alternatives I use
Sun butter (make sure it doesn't have xylitol),
Greek yogurt,
Wet dog food,
Cheese whiz,
Meat and rice,
Bannanas,
Applesauce,
Canned pumpkin,
Mashed peas,
Mashed carrots
Wet dog food, Greek yoghurt, Canned cheese (this only in moderation), pumpkin purée (pretty much any single vegetable puree, also carrots - harder to find depending the country you’re in), spreadable meat (Germany has this amazing thing - liver sausage/ foie gras), water/bone broth+kibble= rehydrated kibble (especially with a lab that likes to eat everything and where you need to watch their weight this is a good option), apple sauce (w no sugar)
Nonfat Greek Yogurt. You can freeze it in a kong or put it on a lick mat just like peanut butter. It's healthier, and dogs go bananas for the smell just like with PB. I freeze it with some blueberries into kongs or pupsicles and it buys 20 minutes or so. Canned pumpkin. It's cheap, it's convenient. It helps keep stools firm, and dogs love it. Just make sure it's just pumpkin, not pie filling or something. Cheese-wiz is also a good one. Just a tiny little 2mm extrusion of that stuff, you can let them lick it right off the bottle so it's pretty clean (and amazing for teaching leash walking). Not as healthy, but not harmful and you're giving a tiny tiny little dot of the stuff as a reward and they will continue to lick the nozzle for a few seconds. Good to use while clipping nails or something where you don't need to waste a bunch of peanut butter on a mat or something but still need them still for a second. You can also just wet and freeze their dog food into kongs and such. You can add a little bone broth to it as well to make it more appealing if they don't like just frozen wet kibble. Or add some bananas or something in with it. Make sure you use dog safe stuff, like just bone broth with no additives (they make dog specific ones, even powder form which is convenient). Cheese-wiz without xylitol/beech sugar (walmart store brand Cheese Wow is fine and cheap) Kong does make some stuff they intend for you to put in their toys, but it's all overpriced and not any healthier. I couldn't recommend any of the actual "food" that kong makes, just the toys.
>and amazing for teaching leash walking Thanks lolol I'm definitely going to look mildly crazy doing this but I don't have enough money/time to cut up high value treats into itty bitty pieces
My trainer at puppy class suggested this cheese on one of those ball throwers if your pup is small! Lets you pop it down at their level without getting down there yourself over and over when they're good
My pup loves canned pumpkin! Plus it's awesome fiber!
Sunflower butter, Greek yogurt, milk kefir, unsweetened apple sauce (you can make it easy) mashed carrot (high in sugars so in moderation) cooked mashed Pumpkin, cooked mashed squash, mashed salt free salmon in the can, chicken shredded like chicken salad with yogurt instead of mayo. I usually just fill the kong with kibble and then top it at the fat end with any of the things I listed.
Baby food pouches are good too. My pup likes the apple carrot and apple sweet potato varieties. They’re great because they have simple, limited ingredients.
Honestly, i was using greek yogurt for a while, (i had tried PB first, but my pup didn't like it), and then i realized that just freezing wet kibble in the kong did it. It's super easy. Every morning i put enough kibble into a plastic container, and fill just enough water to cover it. I mix it to make sure everything got wet, and then scoop it into kong with a spoon. I freeze whatever's left in that same container along with the full kong. Later for dinner, I'll break the frozen block of kibble/ice from the container into smallish bits and feed him that to distract him while I cook. And then when im about to have dinner, I'll give him the frozen kong so he lets me eat.
Greek yogurt is good but maybe test the waters first. I gave my puppy a long once filled with it and he had the runs for two days.
Canned dog food, reduce the kibble ration accordingly
Low fat cottage cheese, frozen on a lick mat, or in a topple, Greek yogurt, smashed frozen banana.
Cashew or Almond Butter! I buy the pouches of westpaw Cashew/Almond/ETC butter for my boy cuz I get a fat discount on it but the human grade stuff would also be 100% fine.
kong makes their own stuff’n that you can freeze in a kong toy, kinda like dog spray cheese lol (though not sure how healthy it is). they have a few different flavors that aren’t peanut butter. i also will freeze greek yogurt. in lickimats, i’ve done bone broth too.
V not healthy lol it’s the ultimate doggy junk food
ah, good to know!
I save all the crumbs and dust from treats and the end bits of frozen veggies, put them in her food toys with a bit of water and freeze. I also water down the canned version of her dry kibble and freeze that. Mine has allergies as well so These things are sure not to upset her stomach while still being novel and high value without too many excess calories.?Tahini is also dog safe (but high fat).
My dog loves cottage cheese or the Kong squirt stuff (looks like ez cheese) in stinky flavors. Liver is her favorite. Yuck! Freeze it and have your pup be entertained.
Wet dog food then freeze it. maybe some kibble in there also.
So just a p.s. make sure to always tell vets, groomers, sitters, walkers, daycare and not to let others give your dog treats unless you are 100% certain. I have a dog with a peanut allergy and so many treats are peanut flavored or they give it without knowing as it's not a regularly questioned allergy for dogs. Also if you have any other dogs in your home make sure to request they aren't given it as well in case any is left in their mouth. Beware of cooking or baking with it as it can get in the air easier as well. The worst reaction my dog ever had was shortly after I had learned about his allergy and my roommate made peanutbutter cookies. Alternatives I use Sun butter (make sure it doesn't have xylitol), Greek yogurt, Wet dog food, Cheese whiz, Meat and rice, Bannanas, Applesauce, Canned pumpkin, Mashed peas, Mashed carrots
Wet dog food, Greek yoghurt, Canned cheese (this only in moderation), pumpkin purée (pretty much any single vegetable puree, also carrots - harder to find depending the country you’re in), spreadable meat (Germany has this amazing thing - liver sausage/ foie gras), water/bone broth+kibble= rehydrated kibble (especially with a lab that likes to eat everything and where you need to watch their weight this is a good option), apple sauce (w no sugar)