Product Review: Kong Squeezz

Ever since our recent Gummy Bear success, Elka has been a lot more interested in squeaky toys. She no longer seems to think that she's hurting the toys when they squeak, and will actually play by herself with one. This is nothing short of miraculous, I assure you. Elka is a sharer, of the highest caliber.

So, when I received an email asking if we'd like to review the Kong Squeezz with rope toys, I said "Yes please!" We love new toys at Casa Elka, and I love Kong toys pretty much as a rule. They're durable, they don't smell funny, and Elka tends to react well to them.

The fact that these were squeaky toys with ropes made me think Elka would like them especially, because she will try to play tug with just about any toy. Not these, surprisingly! My second prediction, though, was correct. At least for the dumbbell one. See, if Elka doesn't want to play tug with a toy, she wants to chew it. What will she chew first? Ropes.

Really, though, the Dumbbell is just as amazing to her, if not more so, without the rope. It bounces erratically, it's just the right chewable texture, and it squeaks! The clever thing about the squeaker is that the hole the "noise comes out of" is inside the tube through which the rope was threaded. So, Elka can't chew on just that area the way she normally would.

I in fact watched her, on two separate occasions, play with the dumbbell without soliciting human interaction for half an hour or more. She chews it, shakes it, throws it around, and every once in awhile stomps on it with her paws when it's on the ground. At least one of our friends has remarked that he's never seen a dog go after things with her paws the way Elka does. Whenever she's mouthing it or moving her with her nose, she's also mumble-growling at it, which is completely adorable. I mentioned it on Twitter, and now I have to try and get a video of it. 

It alos amused me greatly to realize, belatedly, that this is yet another green toy for Elka. The other one is blue, though. Elka doesn't much want to tug with this one, either, and plays with it in much the same way. The way the ropes are looped, though, has preserved them so far. There isn't a single knot for her to focus on and destroy.

One of the balls mysteriously doesn't squeak already; I guess she chewed on the edges just enough that the air escapes from more than just the squeak valve. Or whatever technical term you might want to use for it is. This one Elka will bring to a person, so that they throw it. The double ball design means that it bounces erratically as well, something she never much seemed to care about with the plain ol' food holding Kongs. When it squeaks and bounces though, it's a hit. 

Elka even fell asleep with it in her mouth (of course her eyes opened when I got the camera, but I still got the shot).

It isn't very many toys that Elka will fall asleep with, or seek out to bring with her to different rooms of the house. Gumby is still a strong contender. But the blue Kong Squeezz with rope is one too, apparently. When I leave it out, that is. Because the rope has survived so far does not mean that I trust Elka implicitly and unsupervised with it! Additionally, the double ball one flops a good deal more when she shakes it, so that is another bonus in the Doberman book.

In conclusion, I think that the Kong Squeezz with rope, at least in these two iterations, is a pretty rocking product. It's durable, and I've mentioned before that Miss Elka isn't exactly gentle with her toys, especially toys that she loves (seems counter-intuitive, doesn't it? For all her remarkable qualities, I sometimes need to remind myself that she is still "just" a dog). They squeak, but miraculously, the noises that are produced aren't completely obnoxious. They don't smell bad. And they keep her attention all on their own, without having to share the play! Definite thumbs up, Kong. Well played.

FTC disclaimer: I received the two Kong Squeezz with rope toys pictured to test, but was not compensated in any other way for this review.