Note: This article was written prior to the influx on the market of a large variety of food dispensing toys. We now carry several others that we like as much if not more than the Kong - but the basic information still applies - interactive toys of this type are great for your dog.

Can a toy change your dog’s life?  If the toy is a Kong the answer from many trainers and owners is “Yes!”

What is a Kong?

According to the Kong company’s website, the toy was invented by a former police K9 German Shepherd named Fritz who was playing with a suspension part of a VW van. Fritz’s owner felt there was potential for a toy modeled after the van part, so he got to work on perfecting the design.

The Kong toy originally was designed with fetching and chasing in mind. The hollow design, beehive shape and hard rubber make it bounce unpredictably. The result is a long lasting toy that dogs love to chase and capture. The sturdy rubber also made for a great chew toy even for many “power chewers”.

Another use was discovered which transformed the Kong from a simple toy to a unique tool to fight boredom and provide mental stimulation to pet dogs. Creative trainers began stuffing Kongs by placing treats in the center. Stuffed Kongs encouraged dogs to chew, lick and “work” to get the treats.

The Kong is a wonderful training tool as well. When crate training, providing a stuffed Kong can help your puppy or dog view the crate as a good place. A stuffed Kong while you make dinner keeps your dog out of the way and encourages calm behavior. Kongs are a “must have” item with puppies because they encourage appropriate chewing and keep your puppy busy. A busy puppy is a good puppy!

Choosing A Kong

There are several different sizes and two colors of the classic Kong toy. When deciding which size is right for your dog be sure that the toy is large enough that your dog cannot fit it entirely in his mouth. This will prevent your dog from accidentally swallowing the toy. The red Kongs are the original and are strong but flexible. If your dog is a puppy or tends to be easy on toys the red one will work well. If your dog is a large, adult dog or is a powerful, destructive chewer choose the stronger black Kong.

Remember that no toy is indestructible. Check your dog’s Kong regularly and replace if it shows signs of wear. If your dog is a very powerful or destructive chewer even a Kong may not be a safe toy without supervision. When choosing a Kong toy consider your dog’s head type as well. Dogs with skinny, pointy heads can get their bottom jaw stuck in an otherwise properly sized Kong. If you worry this will be a problem with your dog try one of the Kong Company’s many other stuffable toys such as the Goodie Ship.

Kong the “King of Dog Toys”

The Kong has been called “the king of dog toys” and “the best dog toy ever”. What makes the Kong worthy of such praise from pet care professionals? The answer can be found by looking at your dog’s instincts and needs.

All dog’s have some degree of “hard wired” behaviors which are part of being a dog. These behaviors are a result of the dog’s natural life as a predator and a scavenger. Hard-wired dog behaviors include: prey drive (chasing and catching prey), hunt, search, chewing, tearing, gulp down available food and sticking with the pack.

Many pet dogs are severely lacking in outlets for some or all of these natural behaviors. Many of these behaviors are considered “bad” when pet dogs take part in them. Dogs are discouraged from chasing small animals. They are given all their meals in a bowl which requires no hunting or seeking skills. Depending on the diet a dog’s food may provide little to no outlet for it’s natural tendency to chew and tear apart prey. Stealing food is not acceptable. Dogs are often isolated from their pack for several hours at a time. While much of this is in our dog’s better interest as pets (and ours as owners!) dogs thrive when given outlets for these strong natural instincts.

Kong toys provide such an outlet in many ways. Chasing and catching a Kong is a good way for your dog to put their prey drive to use. Unstuffing a Kong is a great way to fulfill your dog’s need to chew and dissect their food. Finding hidden Kongs exercises a dog’s desire to hunt for food. Kongs can also help relieve anxiety and stress while owners are away.

The Secret is in the Stuffing

Stuffing a Kong can simply involve putting a few treats in and mixing with peanut butter. However, how you stuff the Kong and what you stuff the Kong with can affect its usefulness.

Kongs are stuffed from the bottom up usually in layers. A sample Kong stuffing recipe is:

Bottom layer (last layer your dog gets to, first one you put in): Freeze Dried RAW and peanut butter Middle layer: Nothing But...Treats and cream cheese. Top layer: Buddy Biscuit Itty Bitties and peanut butter.

For dogs that are new to Kongs, pack the layers loosely to encourage them to be successful. Stuffing a Kong and then freezing it is a great way to make it last longer. Canned food can be substituted for peanut butter or cream cheese. Raw fed dogs enjoy a Kong stuffed with A Place for Paws RAW mixes and yogurt as a substitute.

For more recipe ideas visit: www.kongcompany.com.

Five Fun Kong Uses

1. Puppy Pacifier

Stuff a Kong for your dog or puppy before putting them to bed at night. This will reduce howling and barking in dogs who object to be confined and will build a positive association with their crate, room or pen.

2. Will Work For Food

Feed your dog part of or all of his meals from a Kong. Having to work to eat provides great mental exercise and provides an outlet for chewing.

3. Pupsicle

Freeze a Kong containing chicken or beef broth for a great “pupsicle”. This is best enjoyed outdoors since it can get messy!

4. A Welcome Distraction

Keep a stuffed Kong frozen and offer it to your dog when company comes over or for anytime when you need to keep your dog busy.

5. The Great Kong Hunt

Stuff one or more Kongs and hide them before you leave the house (no letting your dog peek!). This will provide your dog with something fun to do while you are away and can help keep him out of trouble.