Kongs - Fad or Useful Tool?

If you own a dog, or are considering adopting one, you will probably hear about Kongs. They are rubber chew toys that come in different sizes and strengths that allow you to pick which one is best for your dog. They came highly recommended to us by our vet, but I wasn't sure how they would help us with Katy.

When we brought home our little Beagle Katy, she serious issues with confidence. We were told that she was most likely abused before she was found the pound. She had serious separation anxiety and whenever my husband and I left her alone in the house, she would bark, whine, roll her cage and tear up anything she could get a hold of. Once I came home to find her bloody where she had worked herself into such a frenzy that she destroyed the plastic base in her crate.

After my husband left for training with the Army at Ft. Benning, the symptoms only worsened. In desperation I called our vet and they recommended hiring a trainer from a company called Bark Busters, and only feeding her using the Kongs. I bought the Kongs on the way home, after all what did I have to lose, and started packing her kibble in them.

It took her a few days to really get into using the Kong, but after that she grew to love them! After 3 months of use, the Kongs I have purchased for around $8 each don't show any signs of wear and tear. I highly recommend the Classic Kongs, although we also use the Activity Balls, and Genius Kong regularly. as a chew toy and as a method of feeding your four legged friend. For an investment of less than $10 and a little creativity you can keep your pet entertained and happy for hours on end. It's well worth it to me to know that when I leave the house and put Katy in her crate, she has something fun to do to keep her happy.

For more information about stuffing your Kongs, visit the Kong Recipes Page.