If you’re a new puppy owner, chances are someone’s told you to get your puppy a Kong. Breeders, behaviorists, trainers, dog owners – everyone seems to agree Kongs are a great toy for all types of puppies as well as adult dogs.

What is a Kong?

The Kong is a very strong rubber chew toy that is designed to hold and dispense treats to keep dogs entertained while they chew. Kongs are usually red in color and shaped somewhat like a small beehive. They are hollow in the middle so you can stuff them with kibble, peanut butter or another favorite treat your puppy will enjoy.

The Kong Company now offers a full line of Kong products for all stages of your puppy’s life. Standard adult Kongs are red colored, with a super durable black variety designed for extreme chewers. Puppy Kongs are available in pink or blue and are made of slightly softer rubber. There are also floatable Kongs for playing in water, teething stick Kongs, Kong balls and many other varieties.

What’s so Great about a Kong?

There are so many wonderful things about Kongs, different dog owners will tell you different things. The things most dogs and their owners appreciate are:

1. Kongs bounce. They are a great choice for interactive play games like fetch as well as independent play.

2. Kongs are durable. Although the Kong Company takes great pains to point out “no toy is indestructible,” appropriately sized Kongs can and do last for years.

3. Kongs hold all kinds of treats. You can put hard treats, kibble or biscuits in them for you dog to try to remove. Or, you can put soft foods in them such as peanut butter, plain low-fat yogurt, mashed banana or even brown rice for your dog to lick out.

4. Kongs are easy to clean. You just wash them with water or water and a very small amount of mild dish detergent and they’re good as new.

5. Kongs are inexpensive. Combined with the fact that they’re durable, they’re a great investment.

6. Kongs are crate safe. Although no toy can be considered absolutely, 100% crate safe, if your puppy’s Kong is the right size and it is in good condition, it is probably the safest choice you have for your puppy’s crate.

7. Kongs are fun to chew on. The texture of Kongs is ideal for teething puppies. It is more fun for a puppy to chew on a rubber Kong that holds or at least tastes like a treat that’s already been eaten than it is for them to chew on furniture, shoes or practically anything else.

Kong Size and Replacement

By introducing your puppy to a Kong toy at a very young age, you will help him learn to play with and enjoy a toy he can literally have for years. As your dog grows and matures, you can select the right size Kong for every stage of his life.

To choose the right size Kong for you puppy, take a look at two things: the size of his mouth and his chewing ability. If the Kong fits comfortably in your puppy’s mouth, it is too small and you should go up to a size or two bigger. If your puppy’s Kong begins to show any signs of wear whatsoever such as cracking, it is time to move up to a tougher adult Kong. Since Kongs exercise puppies’ and dogs’ jaws, expect that you will have to go up to a larger size and harder rubber variety in time.