As the owner of a rather destructive pooch, I'm always on the lookout for durable dogs toys. I found the Kong in my local Pet Shop priced at about £5. Though, on the face of it I thought it looked rather unimpressive, I was struck by how sturdy it looked, and decided to take the plunge.

The Kong's shape is kind of difficult to describe. Imagine three balls of decreasing sizes squashed on top of another, to make a sort of lumpy pine cone-type shape. Suffice it to say, it looks a bit odd. It's made of thick, durable, natural red rubber. I have the large Kong which is made for large dogs. It's about 20cm high and 10cm wide (VERY approx. - it's currently covered in slobber, I'm not going to measure it exactly- sorry!). It has a small hole in the top and a big hole in the bottom. It's quite weighty. My dog can happily pick his up, but it's important to choose the right weight category for your dog. You can get larger Kongs for larger dogs and smaller ones for smaller dogs- choose badly and you might end up with a choking hazard or something that your dog can't use.

On presenting the Kong to the dog, it was sniffed enthusiastically and immediately tugged from my hand. It was love at first bite. Later on in the day, I decided to see how the dog would react if I put some food into the Kong (which is what the cavity in the middle is designed for). I sqidged some leftovers into the centre of the toy and threw it back to the dog. He licked at the toy with interest. He lay on the floor quietly for a good half hour- a new record- and being a determined chap, eventually managed to lick the gravy-soaked mush from inside the toy. In that half hour of peace, I realised that the toy was a resounding success.

For the distraction that it provides for my ridiculously overactive dog, this toy is a god send. It also has plenty of other benefits. For one thing, it doesn't squeak. My dog loves squeaky toys; I don't. It's good to have a toy that doesn't make an irritating noise. The material it's made of apparently cleans the dog's teeth, which is always a bonus. Another thing I like about the Kong is the way it's designed. Someone has clearly thought about what would appeal to a dog. Everything about it, from the fact that you can hide food in it, to the fact that it bounces at weird and unpredictable angles has been carefully considered by someone.

In summary, I'm very happy with this product, as is my dog. We've had it for about a year now and it is still perfectly intact. It's outlived every other beloved toy he has owned. It's versatility means that he'll never get bored of it and will keep him happy for years to come. I'd gladly recommend to anyone with active, playful dogs.