Puppy won't eat out of kongs

[operamommy]

Hi all! We adopted a chocolate lab mix from a shelter 4 days ago. He has kennel cough and has been to the vet for it, but his appetite has been off, etc.

I read the Ian Dunbar books about Before and After You Get Your Puppy, in which he recommends only handfeeding and feeding your puppy from kongs to help with housebreaking and teaching what's proper to chew on. However, our new puppy Moose won't chew on a kong no matter what I stuff it with. He *did* gobble down half a can of soft food (recommended by our vet for a few days till his throat is less sore) out of a bowl, but will not lick it out of a kong. We've tried dry kibble with honey and liver paste, wet food with and without liver paste and a milk bone, etc. The only thing he's eaten is the milk bone that fell out. He displays a bit of interest and sniffs at the kongs, but that's it. He *did* chew on a rawhide bone left in his crate with him.

So....should I continue the kong stuffing and just assume that when he's hungry enough he'll eat from them? Or should I go ahead and just bowl feed him? Thanks!

In case it matters - he is almost 4 months old. Owner surrounded to the shelter - he was in the shelter for 6 days. We don't know what kind of training he had before us, but he was obviously bowl-fed at the shelter at least.

[mommy212]

Did you try peanut butter? My dogs have all loved PB. You can try it if you really want him to eat out of a kong. Also maybe try a different kong. My old dog liked the round thing but not the bone shape.

[North_Of_60]

Try a bigger kong with a wider hole. You could also try freezing it. It takes away the rubber smell, and they tend to like licking the frozen goodies which gets them going.

[Catubodua]

is it a puppy kong? at 4 months it might be too small for him already. try an adult size.

also, ignore any advice you get / read that claims there is only one way to do things. if a kong isn't working with your puppy, go ahead and feed him out of a bowl.

it's more important that he eats properly and regularly than whether he eats out of a kong or a bowl.

good luck and please post pictures of that cutie!

[operamommy]

Thanks everyone for the advice/suggestions. We've tried different shapes and sizes already. I haven't tried peanut butter yet or freezing them, so I'll try that tomorrow. And if those don't work, then we'll just have to move to bowl feeding.

If anyone's interested, you can see his pictures on my blog: http://onehookwonder.blogspot.com/20...eet-moose.html

Thanks!

[Momily]

My dog won't put anything rubber in his mouth -- can't really blame him because I'm sure they taste gross. He's a tennis ball fiend but if the fabric gets chewed off so he tastes the rubber he'll treat it like it's toxic -- so forget kongs.

If I want to have him eat out of something I used one of those sterilized marrow bones. He also won't eat peanut butter, but loves a mixture of canned food, cream cheese and frozen peas.

Yes, he's weird but we love him.

[North_Of_60]

On the hand feeding and housebreaking thing. I have no earthly idea why feeding all meals out of a kong would aid in housebreaking.

I use a kong to keep them occupied and stimulated while they're in their crates, or when I need some time to get things done (like making dinner). I do compensate for the contents of the kong at their next meal so they're not eating too much.

As for hand feeding.. unless you're doing some serious impulse control work as you're feeding (think Susan Garret "it's yer choice") EVERY piece, I don't see the point. In fact, I would caution against it. I think it creates a habit that can impede on normal meal times. It's important for dogs to be comfortable eating in any type of environment, by whom ever feeds them. It's detrimental to their health. If you go away and he's only used to eating out of your hand, then what?

I personally ask for a sit/down (something) and then set the bowl down, give them 15 minutes to eat it, then pick it up. They always get fed in their crates, usually around the same time (not exactly, otherwise I get little volchers), regardless of what's going on (guests over, on my way out the door, storming outside, making dinner, whatever).

[greenmagick]

If you're puppy doesnt like kongs, no big deal. Dunbar uses them for keeping the pups busy and giving the appropriate outlets for chewing. If the pup isnt using them they are not serving the purpose.

Hand feeding is usually advocated by him for training....dinner on the go. Not that every meal has to be hand fed but that, especially when they are young, you can go through a lot of treats in training so a good way to do it without overfeeding is by handfeeding some meals. Like put the dinner amount in a baggie and take it on a walk with you and the pup....feed it to him as he keeps a loose leash and things like that.

[Oubliette8]

I wanted to add that my dog has never been interested in Kongs, even stuffed with peanut butter. I have recently discovered though that she loves other types of kibble-dispensing toys. She has a Moleculball that she loves, and we're trying some of Premier's Busy Buddy line as well. She also has a plain, hollow rubber ball that I put kibble in and she enjoys. It did take a few demonstrations that kibble falls out of the toys for her to really get interested.

The other thing you can do is ration out the days kibble and use it as rewards for training throughout the day. This way the dog is learning and interacting with you for the majority of its food.

[Lillitu]

kongs are not the only foraging toy, and you can also make your own. i am a big fan of NOT feeding in the bowl and making dogs work for their food. it keeps them busy and gives the a job. and every dog needs a job.

[SquishyKitty]

Two of our 3 dogs love the kongs and chew for hours on them, one is just not much of a chewer and isn't really enticed by the kongs. We stuff with cheese and seal the end with peanut butter to sweeten the deal, and she just ignores it.

I'd find another toy, or just find another way to provide treats. We freeze little snacky treats like cheese or a dollop of peanut butter in an ice tray; the dogs LOVE ice cubes and they can work on it for a few minutes and get the nom treat in the center.

[SquishyKitty]

Also, for some reason, my dogs go nuts for boiled chicken. It's smelly and tasty to them, but healthy enough that I use that for treats whenever we're training. Try something like that in a foraging toy. The smellier the better, is what we've found with our dogs lol.

[North_Of_60]

Originally Posted by greenmagick

Not that every meal has to be hand fed but that, especially when they are young, you can go through a lot of treats in training so a good way to do it without overfeeding is by handfeeding some meals. Like put the dinner amount in a baggie and take it on a walk with you and the pup....feed it to him as he keeps a loose leash and things like that.

That's a good idea, and if it works, I totally recommend it. I don't think any of mine would work for dry kibble though. At least not since I started using microwaved chicken dogs. They'd look at me like I was holding out on them. LOL.

The boiled chicken is a good idea too. I sometimes cut up small pieces, roll in olive oil, sprinkle with garlic powder, and roast at a high heat for a short time. If the pieces are small enough you almost get a chicken jerky. Really dry and crunchy, but not burnt. The dogs LOVE them. I keep them in fridge in a ziplock. They make fantastic training pieces.

[operamommy]

Ok, I must just have a kong-hating puppy! We tried peanut butter and no dice, though he was interested in sniffing it. He takes the kibble with great enthusiasm when we're using it as training treats as well.

I'm going to go ahead and just bowl feed him. He does really enjoy rawhide bones, so I'll use those for the crate, and try to see if I can find those other kibble-releasing toys suggested by posters. Thanks!

[North_Of_60]

Did you try freezing it? It really does kill that horrible rubber smell and they seem to accept it more. By the time it thaws out they're already into it.

[operamommy]

Ahh, I forgot about the freezing tip; I'll try that tonight.

I think he doesn't care for rubber - dh and I noticed that while he will chase the 1 rubber playtoy (not chewtoy for crate) he has when we throw it, he will *not* pick it up in his mouth. He will, however, pick up his tennis ball and rope.

[SquishyKitty]

How big is the Kong? Might be that it is too big/heavy for him to get a firm grip on with his puppy teeth.