Back to Basics: The Kong

My first job in the pet industry was in 1994, when I got a job cleaning the clinic, kennels, and walking dogs being boarded at a small veterinary practice. Within a few months, I was learning how to monitor anesthesia machines, give fluids subcutaneously, vaccinate, intubate small animals, develop x-rays, and eventually insert catheters. Being…well…me, I always wanted to learn more and do all the things; one job has never been enough. Besides, the practice was very small, so I also learned how to manage the office. This included billing, managing surgery schedules, and even vetting and ordering new product.

Ah! Here we are.

Back in the mid-90’s, not everybody knew what Kongs were. Where I lived at the time, people had mostly working dogs who stayed outside and were more than happy to do so. I imagine it was a lot like that in a lot of places. In fact, until relatively recently not many really understood how important it is to provide their dog with mental stimulation and enrichment. Kong was a thing, but only freshly so and from a small company only making a few sizes at the time. But here I was, 20-ish years old (shhh…) with a shiny catalog in hand and the only ordering instruction given to me by the boss was a fairly large (in my baby-management experience) budget to stay under. I remember clearly the three items I chose to bring in that week: Kong, Nylabone, and Crackle Ropes. Nylabones weren’t new; just new to the clinic. And Crackle Ropes as they were have fallen by the wayside for more exciting (and probably more durable) rope toys.

Back then, I don’t think it occurred to us to STUFF the Kongs. They were simply an incredibly sturdy alternative to tennis balls and healthier on teeth than rocks. They looked funny, bounced funny, and dogs seemed to like them as-is. Now whenever I recommend the old stand-by (and I ALWAYS do,) it goes hand-in-hand with suggested stuffers. Canned food, pumpkin, smashed banana, applesauce, yogurt, peanut butter, sweet potato, all of that mixed with kibble, large treats or dental chews…! The possibilities are endless!

And after trying all of that, pick your dog’s favorite stuffers…

Stuff the Kong…maybe put a bully stick, No-Hide, SmartStick, turkey or beef tendon, gullet stick, or some other type of chew or jerkey in it, and…freeze it.

For best results, get multiple Kongs - enough to fill a muffin tin! - and keep backups. Power chewer? Kong Extreme. Baby teeth? Kong Puppy. Senior citizen pup? Get the purple one (it’s called Kong Senior but we won’t tell that fur baby!)

Twenty-some-odd years later, Kong is still around and the old classic will always be a favorite of mine (well, the Extreme for my crazy chewers at home.) But, I think the thing I love most about it is how recognizable it is. It’s a house-hold name, and often one already owned by new dog parents, just waiting to be filled.