Dog toy manufacturer KONG is well known for their rubber dog toys, which are designed with a hollow hole that allows owners to load a variety of goodies within. The idea is that your pup will have to struggle to get the food out, which will keep him or her engaged for at least a short period of time—and as many puppy parents are well aware, any quiet time is much appreciated!
Toys for different breeds of dogs are available in the KONG range, including the KONG Classic, KONG Extreme, KONG Puppy, and KONG Senior. To test whether the KONG Puppy lived up to the excitement, I gave it to Sadie, my 7-month-old golden retriever, to see if it lived up to the hype. As lovely as can be, Sadie is now going through a period of self-destruction, so I knew she would give the KONG a run for its money. Take a look at what she and I had to say about this popular chew toy.
When you first see a KONG, you might say to yourself, "I don't understand what they're talking about." “What is it about it that is so special?” I have to confess that these gadgets don't appear to be very impressive. They're constructed of rubber and have the shape of a snowman, as though there are three different-sized "balls" placed on top of each other on the outside. They are, on the other hand, constructed from a single solid piece of rubber. The Kong Puppy is available in a variety of sizes (extra-small, small, medium, and large) to accommodate a variety of dog breeds. After all, a Great Dane puppy and a Chihuahua puppy require toys that are different in size.
The hollow inside chamber of these toys is their distinguishing characteristic. There is a tiny hole at the top of the structure, as well as a bigger hole at the bottom, and the inner portion is tapered in the same way as the outside walls are tapered. The concept is that you can stuff them with any kind of food you want, and your dog will have to struggle to get it out of them. A KONG does not have any bells, whistles, squeakers, or tastes, but the design is flawless.
KONGs (yes, she has many) have been an integral part of Sadie's daily routine from the day she returned home from the hospital. Even on the busiest days when I needed to send an important email or do the dishes, I could fill a KONG with any number of goodies and Sadie would be entertained for at least 30 minutes—it was a real lifesaver on the days when she refused to nap for any amount of time.
I also utilised the KONG to help Sadie with his crate training. In the evenings or during the day, I would put Sadie's KONG in her crate when I went to bed or left the house. In addition to assisting with her rapid settling down, exhausting her so that she would nap, and assisting her in developing pleasant associations with the crate, After a while, whenever I grabbed for a KONG, she would run inside her cage, giggling with delight, because she had grown to enjoy it so much.
Some of my favourite KONG-stuffing techniques include spreading peanut butter along the inside walls of the cavity with a knife, stuffing the cavity with KONG-branded treats, then freezing the entire thing to make it last longer. (If you're looking for additional inspiration, KONG has an entire section dedicated to dog-friendly cuisine.) My favourite thing about Kongs is how adaptable they are—you can load them with whatever your dog enjoys!
Another aspect of the KONG Puppy that I appreciate is that it is quite safe for young puppies. Its one-of-a-kind rubber structure provides the ideal texture for teething puppies: it's soft enough to feel pleasant to chew while still being robust enough to prevent them from ripping chunks off. Throughout Sadie's teething phase and even after she got her adult teeth, I utilised the KONG, and it is still in perfect working order (unlike many of her other toys). I would leave it with her in her box on a daily basis, and I never had any concerns about it.
The KONG Puppy was my first KONG, but when Sadie grew older, I upgraded to the KONG Classic. Even though she wasn't destroying the Puppy model, the Classic model is more solid and presents a greater task for her. In the event that you choose to remain with the KONG Puppy, keep an eye on your canine companion to ensure that he or she is not tearing bits of rubber off the toy.
Following the completion of her teething, Sadie went through a period of destructive behaviour, as previously described. With these huge, powerful teeth, she realised how much fun it can be to pull apart toys all of a sudden. Several toys that claimed to be built for strong chewers were shredded by her within a few weeks, and she had shredded almost all of her stuffed animals. It turns out they weren't quite as tough as they had imagined!
Despite this, the KONG Puppy managed to make it through this phase without incident. I gave it to her on a regular basis while I was out to conduct errands, and it was always in good condition when I returned home. KONG toys are among the most durable toys available, and you'll be hard pushed to find one that outlasts them!
The only true drawback to using the KONG Puppy is that it can become rather smelly while in use. Your dog's saliva coats the rubber surface, and when he pushes it over the floor, he collects all kinds of hair and grime. I certainly didn't look forward to taking it up once Sadie had finished with it.
The interior of my KONG Puppy was becoming increasingly cluttered, and I found myself cleaning it on a more regular basis. Because Sadie couldn't quite reach the end of the hole, peanut butter (and other contents) would accumulate there, necessitating my scraping it out with a knife and then cleaning the interior with a bottle brush.
The KONG company suggests soaking the toy in warm water to loosen up any remaining food, but you can also simply throw the item in the dishwasher if you want to disinfect it without any hassle.
