Just need a little favour from any CDers whos dogs use Kongs, or even those who have a kong(s) but don't use them :D

I'm trying to collect a big of info, so if you could tell me the following I would be most grateful and will send you a piece of cake as a thank you............not strictly true but if you see my at a show then feel free to ask for your piece of cake!!!

Where did you buy your Kong(s) from?
About how much did you pay.....was this, IYO, value for money?
What size did you buy, ie puppy, small, medium, large, the giant black one?!
What do you use them for, training, ie as a reward like anyother toy, for teething pups, to occupy a bored dogs mind....etc etc
And finally, did you go to a shop with the aim of buying one or did you see it and impulse buy, but on the premise that you kew what it was and had heard about them?

Thank you in advance, oh, yes and if you think they are a load of pants then you can reply too, I need opinions on them so that would be helpful too :)

Emily xxx

I bought puppy kongs for my two shelties at pets at home. They were £4.99 each and decided to try them because shelties love to keep busy. THay love it and it's their treat when we leave them alone. I wouldn't be without them although my older sheltie is becoming too good at getting treats out of it!!

Hi Emily,

No experience myself, but my sister uses kongs for her Cockers, she says they are brilliant. She stuffs them with all sorts of different things, then gives them to her dog when she is going out to the shops or whatever, and when she get's back the dog is still trying to get all of the stuffing out!

I can't do links, so you will have to copy and paste, but this site sells a lot of different ones, I don't know if they are expensive or not, as I don't know how much they are anywhere else, but I know my sister gets hers from PAH so they must be freely available.

http://www.doggiesolutions.co.uk/erol.html

i won mine and its medium size and blue, i use it when im bored lol i normally fill it with chicken mince then bung it in the freezer.

Border Collie Lvr, "i use it when im bored" LOL it is for your dog/s not you!!! :D :D ;)

Thanks so far guys, its for part of one of my assignments, you have to pick a product and collect as much info as poss so I picked Kongs, I think they're great!! The dogs like 'em too :D

I've bought a variety of them ranging from the small ones for a pup through to a black one and the floating blue one on a rope.  I bought them because they are said to be indestructible but my staff can demolish one in a few hours.  after she has eaten the filling she tears apart the kong so they have tended to be quite an expensive toy in my house (ranging from approx £5-£12).  I do still buy them because there doesn't seem to be anything better around so if anyone else reading this has alternative suggestions I would love to hear them.

Yes they make excellent lolly pops for the dogs in the summer
when the contents are frozen.
or used as teething soothers for puppies,

I bought mine off ebay!  I bought three of the XL red ones (the next one down from the black), for £5.50 each - damn good value IMO, even with the postage - the cheapest I can find them in the shops is £13.99 each!

I bought them to keep the dogs amused - I have three large, intelligent (a.k.a. bored very easily!) dogs, and keeping them stimulated is a job - I can't train/walk them all hours they're awake, so the kongs are a godsend.  I also bought them to replace the bones I was using - those cheese/chicken/meat etc filled sterile bones you get in the pet stores.  The dogs were dropping them from the furniture and leaving dents in the brand new very expensive floor!!! :o

I went on ebay looking for them, right after I noticed the dents :)  The only bugbear I have about them is the amount of stuffing I get through - a big jar of peanut butter lasts for two fillings, even when I make a mix of half peanut butter and half kibble/cat biscuits/dog treats/whatever I have that they like!!  It's times like that I wish I had small dogs :D

Yes we use them for our BCs and they love them.  Have used them right from puppies when we used to stuff them with rice pudding and freeze them.  Great for teething.  I was recommended by a puppyschool tutor and have used them ever since.  Use them now if we are going out and stuff them with anything cheese, chicken, naturediet, etc etc Cant remember how much I paid but I do get staff discount at a pet shop so probably cheaper than most.

We did manage to acquire one in 2003 at the Wag and Bone Show whilst watching the Kong Retrieve that Ian Dunbar was doing.  One sort of rolled under the ropes where we were sat.  Unbeknown to me my eldest thought it must be his and grabbed it.  We walked away and found it in his mouth!  Cant be bad. 

Tesco's did one very similar and it was about the medium sized one so I bought 4, they cost £4.99 each.  My Spanish have got teeth that can break the biggest of bones but they love their cheap versions of the Kong!

I have bought my kongs from a variety of places over the years.
I cannot remember how much I paid as I have different sizes and different models.
I use them as toys, for teething and for occupying the dogs when they are left when they are stuffed with a variety of items.
None were an impulse buy.

Our two have a couple of Kongs and I think they're great. Neighbour's dog was obviously impressed too as he pinched one when our gate was open one day (our dog's weren't out) and we've never seen it again!! Am loving the tips on here about freezing them etc as I hadn't thought of that. Very useful with a puppy in the house who'll be teething before long. I have bought them from pet shops and always intentionally, never on impulse. A piece of wafer thin ham stuffed in or a tiny bit of peanut butter can keep the baby busy for ages. our older boy thinks he's very clever as he can get most things out almost immediately so it's become a bit of a battle of wits between us as I keep trying to find new things to stump him with. IMHO, a must have for anyone with dogs! Good luck with the research

I bought the puppy kong from petplanet.co.uk for my sheltie Think it was £4.50.

I bought it on advice from people with the aim of keeping him from getting bored, he hasnt really used it that much but i do think they are a good idea as it has entertained him when he has used it

We have 3 on the go, an XL which I bought in America as a guilt gift for the dogs (Flatcoats) & 2 mediums. 
The first of the mediums was bought about 11 years ago, before the FC's came along, for my Rough Collie & Mongrel to take on holiday with us.  The beagle sized mongrel, Sally, loved it, she took it everywhere with her and when the first FC, Indy, arrived, he wanted it from day one and she never let him have it. 
When we lost Sally, Indy inherited it and was as pleased as punch that he finally got to play with it. 
When the second FC, Bliss, arrived, she wasn't really bothered about it, so not a problem, but third FC, Scout, wanted it, so second medium Kong was purchased for about £5 so a spare is available if needed! :)
The original kong is still going strong and is prefered by Indy, Scout isn't really bothered which one he has :) Funnily, the XL kong is untouched and has been outside for some time, making the odd trip indoors, only to end up outside again, unwanted!!

I bought i kong after my vets receptionist said they were excellent a must have she said just stick some salmon and biscuits in and the pup will be amused for hours, no she's not interested in the slights know matter whats in it, let alone chew it.

Warm regards Susan

Chloe is like that, we bought our first Kong for Kayla and Chloe gave it the weirdest look :D She's picked up the puppy one a few times but we've put that away now that Idõ has all his big teeth thro!

Thanks again everyone, all good stuff :)

which one would you reccomend for a 5 1/2 month old bullmastiff and what size thanks

I would get one that will last her a while, we have a puppy kong but we could only use this for about 3/4 months until all his baby teeth had gone. I'd go for a extra-large classic(red) or one of the really big black ones(extreme knongs, used to be King Kongs), just as long as its big enough not to be swallowed or not too big that she can't carry it then it should be fine.

And you'll fit more goodies in it so it'll keep her amused for longer!

HTH
Emily

I found ours particularly useful when my retriever had just been spayed and wanted to lick at her stitches..kept her mind off it for a while!