A Review of Kong Dog and Puppy Toys

Kong toys are puncture resistant and chewer friendly. Made of 100% rubber, Kong dog toys are one of the few unique indestructible dog toys on the market. Kong has 50 different varieties of dog toys to choose from. The original Kong comes in two varieties: red for the regular chewer and black for the more aggressive chewer and a variety of sizes: small, medium, large, extra large, king and puppy. It is shaped similarly to a snowman (larger round on the bottom, medium in the middle and topped with a smaller round). This toy can be filled with treats, bones, kibble, Stuff n'Paste or peanut butter.

Kong's Dental line are dog toys with patented grooves (which are fully cleanable) and assist with helping your dog maintain clean gums and teeth. These toys can be stuffed with Kong spray, treats or Zippies if they have hollow centers or the grooves filled with Kong Stuff n' Paste to entice your dog with delicious flavors such as peanut butter, liver or breath (specially formulated to help with good breath).

Kong's Wubba Dog Toy line is an interactive play toy for dogs. The Wubba has a squishy head on top with 4 tendrils (this toy looks like an octopus) flowing down. Dogs can grab the tentacles and shake this toy and will enjoy the squeaker inside.

Kong Air Dog Toys include the Kong Squeaker (a tennis ball with a squeaker inside), Air Kong Squeaker Bone (a yellow bone shaped squeaker toy), Air Kong Fetch Stick (a yellow squeaker cylindrical shaped toy) and the Air Kong Jumping Jack which is shaped just like the jacks you played with in your childhood and bounces around, adding to your dog's enjoyment.

Kong also makes items exclusive for puppies: Puppy Kong, Kong Puppy Flyer, Puppy Kong Goodie Bone with Rope, Puppy Kong Teething Stick (this toy has ridges around the cylindrical shaped toy to promote healthy gums and good chewing behavior), Puppy Kong Goodie Bone (a dog treat shaped rubber bone with a hollow center in which long treats can be stuffed), and Puppy Kong Binkie (shaped just like a pacifier for babies, which is a good choice for the small pup). Special treats for puppies include Puppy Ziggies, which are specially shaped hard bones to stuff into your Kong toy and will last longer than a regular treat such as Milk Bone), Puppy Stuff n'Paste (similar to sprayable cheese, this treat comes in an assortment of flavors such as liver and peanut butter) and Kong Stuff n' Puppy Snap Treats, specially designed treats to stuff into your Kong toy.

After much deliberation over the wide assortment of Kong toys to choose from, I selected the Kong Stuff a Ball, which is a round Kong toy filled with long grooves surrounding the entire toy. This Kong toy can be stuffed with Stuff n' Paste and small treats in the grooves, and the hollow center filled with kibble, Kong snaps, Kong Ziggies or paste.

Kong also has a line of special treats, in addition to the Ziggies, Snaps and Stuff n' Paste. Kong Stuff'n Tots are tiny treats that are only one calorie a piece. These treats are all natural, made with no preservatives and are ideal for training, in which handlers tend to use many treats at a time. They price about $3.99 for a small 1.40 oz package, also shaped like a Kong ball. The package is perfect for putting in your pocket, and the snap open door easily allows treats to be obtained for the owner. Several treats tend to fall out at once, which can make this annoying when you only want one. Kong would be better off making a smaller opening for a single treat to be shaken out. These treats are perfectly shaped for the Stuff a Ball I purchased as they fit into the grooves of the ball quite well.

I also purchased the Kong Stuff n' Paste in peanut butter flavor (which my dogs love). The can is shaped just as a can of Easy Cheese is and the concept is the same -press down on the tip and out comes the paste. I found however that the peanut butter is not as thick as I had imagined (and would have preferred) and trying to fill the Stuff a Ball grooves with liquidy peanut butter creates quite the mess. I will keep the jar around for giving medication to my pups in the future, but instead of using this to fill Kong toys, I would suggest actually buying Easy Cheese (which would be much cheaper than the $4.00 I spent on this can). It would also be a lot less messy as it is a more solid filling. My vet by the way keeps a can of Easy Cheese in his office to use as treats for his patients.

Even if your dog is not a chewer and is not interested in toys, a Kong toy such as the Stuff a Ball can entice them. One of my dogs does not like dog toys in any way, but I purchased the Kong Stuff a Ball to assist with reducing her excessive licking behavior. She is enjoying the Kong Stuff a Ball (when the puppy is not monopolizing it) and seems to be intrigued by trying to get the food out of the grooves. She especially enjoys peanut butter stuffed inside of it. She is more into licking the toy at this point, but I have observed her beginning to chew it a little.

In addition to the Stuff a Ball and treats I selected, I also purchased the Kong Squeaker Ball and Bone. My new puppy loves these toys and we have been getting hours of entertainment chasing after the tennis ball. The squeaking sound has been good to get her attention, although after a week of using it she is somewhat sensitized to it if she is more interested in another object (such as my flowers). We put a shoe string onto the Squeaker Bone and bounce it around for her to catch it and this has become one of her most favorite toys. Not only do we enjoy watching her run in circles trying to catch the swinging bone, but it is excellent exercise for her and is helping her paw-eye coordination develop nicely.

Kong toys are specially shaped to fit Kong treat products (presumably to assist with continuing to promote their products-you buy a Kong toy, you have to buy Kong treats). However, I would suggest using your own dog treats or kibble inside the Kong toy hollows to reduce cost (Kong treats and toys are quite pricey) and rather than the Stuff n' Paste, purchase a can of Easy Cheese or use the peanut butter in your cupboard (it will be thicker than the Kong Paste).

Kong toys can be cleaned (fairly easily, although toys with grooves will be a little more challenging) in the sink with warm water and soap or in your dishwasher. Kong toys are a good investment as they will last supposedly indefinitely and do provide long periods of entertainment for your furry friends as they will love trying to get at the food hidden inside. These toys will promote healthy teeth and gums, are helpful for teething pups, and promote healthy chewing behavior. They are an excellent alternative to chewing and licking a dog's own feet or fur and have been promoted by pet behaviorists to aid in positive behavior and reduce boredom, as well as reducing lick granulomas (sores some dogs get by excessive licking on their fur). This is a pricey toy but ideally if you use your own treats, you will only have to spend between $6.00-$15.00 for the toy, which should last your dog for years. If your dog for some reason does not enjoy the Kong toys, you can return it for a 100% money back guarantee by the company.

I do not recommend leaving your dog unsupervised with Kong toys, even though they are indestructible if you have food such as kibble or treats stuffed inside of them. The Kong may not present an issue, but your dog could choke on a treat or piece of kibble. If you want to leave your dog with a Kong toy while you are out, try putting some peanut butter or cheese inside or in the grooves, as these soft foods are not likely to present a choking hazard.