There are a few things that I consider to be an absolute must when you have a dog. We all know the basics, food dishes, collar, leash, (oh and bags for picking THAT stuff up) but the original KONG toy is right up there!

What dogs benefit from KONG Toy?

What dog doesn’t? These are the 3 broad categories of dogs that I always make sure I have a KONG Toy available for:

• Puppies: I don’t typically get the pink or blue puppy KONGS as I’m not as certain of their durability. Since I need these to last for multiple puppies (I foster) I don’t want to replace them too frequently. Instead I get the small red size. I find that these work perfectly. They are a bit firmer than the pink and blue, perfect for large breed puppies. If you have a small breed puppy, you may consider the pink or blue as it has a little more “give”.
  
• Teen/Adult Dogs: I always have the large sized red on hand for most dogs. In fact I have 2 or 3 at any time. In terms of size, my advice here is go up one size over what you think or what KONG recommends. If you have a dog that doesn’t have a high drive, a larger opening will make things a bit easier and will lessen frustration.
  
• Aggressive Chewers: You have to get the black! While KONG toys are some of the toughest to destroy, I’ve had dogs that can chew through the red ones when they are motivated enough.

What Is So Special About a KONG Toy?

Why I love KONG toys is their ability to address so many challenges and that they are SAFE. I’ve used a number of other engagement toys, many that I like, but the KONG toy is the only one that I feel comfortable leaving with dogs that are alone.

They are great to help ease separation anxiety. A well packed KONG can keep a pup busy for quite a while giving you a better opportunity to get some training in to help ease the problem. I ALWAYS use this to teach separation to new dogs.

They keep busy minds busy. For dog that seem to be on the go mentally (or physically) all the time, these can help burn some of that energy. I use these to dispense their meals. For puppies it is a great way to teach them to slow their eating from the start.

But doesn’t this create chubby puppies?

Yes, it absolutely can. You have to be smart when using these. As I mentioned above, I often use these instead of a dish for dispensing meals. There are so many recipes for stuffing these that you can come up with healthy approaches that can even benefit your pup by providing additional nutrients to their diet. You should also consider modifying their meals if you are packing these full of yummy, high calorie options.

The Dog’s Perspective

This will seem so obvious, but dog’s think these are great! There is not much of a downside for them. The only challenge I have seen is if it is packed too hard and the dog get’s frustrated. That is usually a temporary problem! Dogs can chew them safely and the treats inside are not tough to get out. I think they would say, “I love when my parent’s leave because I get a stuffed KONG!”

Paw’s-on Perspective Scale: 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾  (out of 5)

The Human’s Perspective

The ONLY challenge here is the additional calorie content but that is easily overcome. Other than that, this is a MUST HAVE in your dog tool kit. Keep them busy in a car ride, when you need focus, calm them during a thunderstorm, and many other situations.

Human Perspective Scale: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(out of 5)

Find it the Classic here: Classic Kong on Amazon

Find the Black Kong here: Extreme Kong on Amazon

I don’t get paid for these, they are NOT affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.