Puppy playtime (Kong Puppy Kong)

Member Name: FourPaws

Product:	Kong Puppy Kong
Date:	24/09/07 (165 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Keeps puppies entertained, good for their teeth & gums, strengthens jaw muscles, easy to clean.

Disadvantages: None

*What is a Puppy Kong?*
This toy is the special, softer puppy version of the hugely popular Kong toy, made by an American company called The Company Of Animals.

*The product itself*
The Puppy Kong is the same shape as the normal Kong toys, which is very difficult to describe- to get a clear idea prehaps its just best to look at the photograph at the top rather than me trying to describe it! It comes in three sizes (small, medium and large) and two different colours (pink and blue). The Puppy Kong is hollow so can be stuffed with treats or regular dog food and can even be frozen to soothe painful gums whilst your puppy is teething. The soft rubber is gentle on delicate teeth, yet strong enough to withstand the chewing of sharp little teeth (providing you buy the correct size for your breed of puppy), this toy is designed for puppies aged 2-9 months- once your puppy reaches nine months old, the toy should be replaced with an adult Kong.

*Packaging*
Like all Kong toys, the Puppy Kong comes attached to a piece of white cardboard stating the size of the toy and decorated with a few pictures. Also inside is a small leaflet which tells you everything you need to know about the toy, aswell as informing you of other toys in the Kong range.

*Price & Availabilty*
I purchased this toy from Pets At Home, where they stock all the sizes, the prices are:
Small (for Small Terriers/ Beagles/ Chihuahuas) £3.25
Medium (for Border Collies/ Spaniels) £4.50
Large (for Rottweilers/ Labradors/ Boxers) £6.00

Puppy Kongs are also usually stocked in small, local pet stores.

*What my dog thinks*
When Benson, my Burnese Mountain Dog was a puppy I brought him the large sized Puppy Kong and it proved to be invaluable piece of equipment. He was going through an arkward teething stage where he was trying to chew everything he could get his paws on- the sofa, coffee table.. even Ruby, my other dog.. if it was in Bensons reach he'd chew it. But once I got him the Kong it all stopped.. he was no longer intrested in chewing things he shouldn't (and Ruby was rather grateful too!), he had the Puppy Kong from when he was around 4 months old right up until he was a year old, and then I replaced it with an adult Kong.

I use to fill it with gravy and then freeze it and Benson would spend ages chewing at the Kong, waiting for all the frozen gravy to melt, although if you plan to do it with your puppy I recommend giving him the Kong in the garden as it gets very messy! It also made a great fetch toy, as it was lightweight for me to throw and soft for Benson to catch.

*Ease of cleaning*
As the Puppy Kong is made from rubber, it is very easy to clean. I use to wash it in warm water and washing up liquid, just make sure it is rinsed out well before giving it back to your puppy. There is a hole at the top and the bottom of the Kong so to clean the inside of the Kong you can just hold in under a tap and let the water run in one end and out the other. The Puppy Kong is dishwasher safe on the top rack.

*Pro's & Con's*
+ Distracts puppies away from chewing you- or your furniture
+ Helps keep puppies entertained when left alone (as long as you are sure your puppy cannot chew pieces off of the Kong)
+ Easy to clean
+ Can be frozen to help soothe your puppies sore gums during the teething period
+ Good price considering they last several months
+ A size suitable for all sizes of puppies
+ Can be filled with treats, or a portion of your puppies regualar food
+ Good for playing fetch
+ Alot more flexible than adult dog Kongs, so are more gentle on delicate teeth and sore gums

- None

Summary: An essential item for all puppy owners.