About.com Rating

The Bottom Line

Made of nearly indestructible rubber, these hollow toys are designed to provide fun and mental stimulation for dogs of all breeds and sizes.

Pros

• Nearly indestructible; even the strongest jaws would have trouble destroying these toys
• Come in a variety of sizes so there's a toy for dogs of any size and breed
• Offers mental stimulation to dogs
• Can be customized to fit the needs of individual dogs

• Relatively inexpensive

Cons

• Can be hard to clean
• Items you fill them with can stain carpets or furniture
• May not be ideal for dog owners with dogs who are overweight or have other heath issues

Description

Kong toys are treat dispensing dog toys made of nearly indestructible rubber. They are cone-shaped with a hollow center. The hollow center allows you to stuff the Kong toy with food and treats your dog enjoys. Dogs need to figure out how to get the treats out. This dog toy is intended to provide dogs with mental stimulation and an outlet for chewing. You can customize the filling you put inside the Kong toy to accommodate your dog's need for chewing and mental stimulation, making it easier for moderate chewers and more difficult for expert chewers.

My Review of Kong Toys

I recommend Kong toys to every dog owner. They are a great source of mental stimulation. Usually I start off with something easy in the Kong toys. I drop several small dog treats inside and seal the opening with peanut butter or cream cheese.

I have yet to meet a dog who doesn't immediately start chewing and pushing the Kong around to get to the treats.

My dogs have become experts at getting treats out of Kong toys, so I make things more difficult for them. I take an end of a roast or an inexpensive cut of beef and cook it until it's well done. I cut it into pieces that are almost too large to squeeze into the opening of the Kong toy, and stuff it inside. I seal the opening with cream cheese or peanut butter, and stick the Kong in the freezer for awhile. My dogs can spend hours happily working to get the filling out of these toys, and they're tired when they're done. And to keep things interesting, I can change the filling I put inside every time I give it to my dogs.

If you are concerned about giving your dog too many treats or table scraps, you can give him his meals in the Kong toy instead. Drop the kibble inside and seal with a little wet food. For dogs who need more mental stimulation, try mixing dry kibble with wet food, and stuffing it into the Kong. You can even freeze it to add to the difficulty level.

I love that these dog toys are made to meet the needs of all dogs, and that they're virtually indestructible. It's not hard to lay out the money for this dog toy, knowing it can last for the lifetime of your dog. My dogs and I give Kong toys two paws up!