What is a frozen Kong?

The toy is a hollow, tough rubber shape with a wide opening at one end and a small hole at the other. Packed with soft food and frozen, it becomes a puzzle the dog solves with its tongue and jaws, licking, chewing and rolling it to reach the next layer. VCA's guide to enrichment and activity toys, written by veterinary behaviorists, says foraging toys give dogs mental and physical exercise by simulating hunting and seeking for food, and that an outlet for chewing can cut down on unwanted chewing.

Freezing is what makes the difference. VCA points out that kibble and dry treats fall out of a frozen toy easily, while pastes and soft foods are much harder to remove, so a well-packed frozen toy lasts far longer than a fresh one. The AKC adds that a frozen toy can help cool a dog on a hot day while it works for every last bit of flavor. What you get is a long stretch of quiet, absorbed licking, and for many dogs a nap afterward.

The way you pack it decides how hard it is. VCA's guide moves from beginner to advanced: a toy smeared inside with a sticky paste is easy, a liner with kibble stuck to it is harder, and a toy packed solid with soft food and frozen is the toughest. Start a new dog at the easy end so it learns the toy pays, then make it harder over the following weeks. A dog that gives up on its first frozen Kong may decide the toy is not worth the effort.

Pick a size your dog cannot swallow, and a toy it cannot break into swallowable pieces; VCA is firm on both. Supervise the first few sessions, stop using any toy your dog chews bits off, and wash and dry the toy after every use. Some dogs guard a food-filled toy, especially a new one, so give it where your dog can work undisturbed, away from other pets and small children, and get professional advice if the guarding looks serious.

A frozen Kong earns its keep when a dog needs to stay put and stay calm. A departure is the classic case: hand it over as you leave, so the door closing predicts something good. Cape Ann adds its own list: the July 3 fireworks over Gloucester harbor, a nor'easter afternoon when nobody is walking far, and the hottest weeks of summer, when Gloucester's beaches are closed to dogs from May 1 to September 30 at the time of writing and the long walk shrinks to a short one.

Keep two or three in the freezer so one is always ready. Give it in the same quiet spot each time, pick it up once it is empty, and offer it before an anxious dog gets frantic rather than in the middle of a meltdown; it works best as the calm start to a hard hour. A dog that ignores a frozen Kong whenever you are out may be too worried to eat, which is worth raising with your vet or a trainer.