Anyone care to give me Kong Stuffing 101?

Pebbles has been showing signs of separation anxiety over the last few months. It's no wonder, living with my Mom 24/7 !! Seriously! Pebbles is 8 now.... and is seldom left alone, but when she is, she does things that are signs of anxiety.

Since she chewed up the kong she used to have a couple years ago (it was from a previous dog - it had seen better days!) I bought her a new one today. The "large" size.

I have read to use treats, peanut butter, canned dog food in them. And to freeze them to make them last longer.

Here are my questions....

1) Pebbles has never eaten canned dog food in her life.... and has a very sensitive stomach. She gets the "trots" pretty easy - and what a mess with her long thick fur! Don't want to go there! So - I thought I might get some sort of canned from the vet that would be really mild to use. Any other ideas on what to use other than prescription food that may cost me half my paycheck for 3 cans?

2) Dumb question .... exactly how do you stuff the thing so that it lasts the longest time? And, do you stuff it completly full??? Or, just a layer around the edge??? I see the hole in the center, and how small it is - and I can't for the llfe of me figure out how Pebbles is going to be able to get anything out of that hole once it is stuffed in there. If she just licks and licks... won't her tounge (I can never spell that!) be raw and bloody when she is done? I'd hate to try to get food out of it with my tounge !!

3) Pebbles has not been in a crate for at least 6 years. Everything I have read says putting them in one is not the best idea for anxiety if they are not already used to it.... so... if I give her the Kong, stuffed with all this food and treats... what will keep it from getting all over my carpet? My entire house has carpet, and it's a fairly light beige tweedy color.

4) I am "assuming" that I would give her a couple of them stuffed without going anywhere first to see how she reacts before giving them to her before we leave. Are there any other hints you can give????

5) Any good way to clean the thing out ??? if you don't what keeps them from stinking???

Thanks so much!
Jules

This message was edited Mar 31, 2006 5:26 PM