Is the Puppy Kong Toy worthwhile?

Your first question is probably “How is this Kong different to a regular Kong?” The Puppy Kong is designed with your teething puppy in mind.

The rubber in these Kong’s is slightly more flexible
and therefore more appealing to your teething
puppy as it is less likely to hurt their gums. It
should also have the same results as a normal
Kong toy by helping occupy your puppy and
promote good dental care.

What benefit does a Puppy Kong Toy have for your dog?

The great thing about the Kong toys is that they usually have multiple benefits. In the case of the Puppy Kong, it will be a great chewing toy that will hopefully keep your puppy happy and away from chewing your shoes! However it also promotes good dental care and soothing of your puppy’s teething gums.

What are the different ways to use the Puppy Kong Toy with your dog?

A great way of introducing and encouraging your pup to use the Puppy Kong is to place treats inside it. This will keep them occupied in our experience it is absolutely adorable to watch them try so hard to get the treats out.

It is important to find the right treat as far as size and taste goes. Obviously if the puppy struggles too much to get the treat out with no reward, they will become bored with it. At first it is best to find a treat that will fit in the Puppy Kong and is able to be removed by your puppy relatively easy until they get the hang of it, then finding more challenging treats can be good idea. You might want to use treats that have a stronger smell to them to help your pup realize that you are putting them inside the Puppy Kong. Treats we have found quite good are liver treats, regular dog biscuits and peanut butter.

Also on hot days you might want to freeze the peanut butter inside the Puppy Kong. This will help cool down your pup and keep them entertained for longer. To do this simply put the peanut butter in the Kong and then place it in the freezer until ready.

Another good function of the Puppy Kong is using it as a fetching toy for you to throw for your pup. With its odd shape it does tend to be unpredictable in its bounce which is definitely going to keep your pup guessing. It might be a good idea not to place anything in the Kong whilst playing fetch as your puppy may not bring it back! This is just another way to get some energy out of those puppies that never seem to run out of steam.

What sort of dog does the Puppy Kong Toy suit?

Well as the name suggests, this Kong is best suited to puppies. Its specially designed flexible rubber formula is made for your puppies at their teething stage. The rubber is usually too soft for your adult dog who more likely to destroy it.

We recommend this for puppies from 8 weeks of age to around 9 months, depending on the breed of pup that you have. If you have a pup with a strong jaw, you may need an adult Kong earlier than others.

What are the negative points to the Puppy Kong Toy?

Being the softer more flexible rubber you’ll most likely find that one day your pup will get too strong for it and chew it to pieces. The puppy Kong is definitely not indestructible. Once your puppy does chew through it, it is time to throw it out and go for the adult Kong’s. You won’t want to keep it around as your dog may swallow pieces of it which can cause digestive problems. It is best to get rid of it as soon as you see big chunks chewed from it.

The other issue to think about is if your puppy likes to bark at their food. This can be quite irritating for you as your dog will bark for as long as there is treats inside the Kong. If your puppy already barks at their food, it is likely that this toy may not be ideal.

What is the general cost of the Puppy Kong Toy and where you can find it?

If you wanted to buy the Puppy Kong online, you will generally find it from around $5 - $9 US dollars depending on the size. It is likely to be more expensive for countries outside of the USA. There are quite a few reputable online stores that you can buy from. Your best bet to find the Puppy Kong as cheap as possible is through EBay. The other alternative is to search your local pet store for one.

eBay Listings of the Kongs are below: