Thursday, July 26, 2012

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.




29 comments:

  1. Great review! I have to watch Nola like a hawk wity any and all toys since she chewed up her 4th (black) Kong
    Nola's mom

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  2. Kongs are not for me but we know lots of doglets who love em. Have a great Thursday.
    Best wishes Molly

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    1. Elka likes them! There was a time where we only fed her from her Kongs, to use up some of that puppy teenager mental energy!

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  3. Looks good!
    Misaki loves her kongs but keeps loosing her red ball one - am about to replace it for the 3rd time. I'm sure one day I'll open a cupbaord and they'll all come tumbling down on me lol

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    1. Check under the couches! And under the bathroom sink, if the cupboard has a space there. I've found Elka toys in such places.

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  4. looks like a good toy! might try this one with Nanook

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    1. I'm very pleased with them so far! Most squeak toys die a horrible death if supervision drops only for a moment, because mysteriously, they're also made out of fragile stuff. These Kong ones have taken a beating, though.

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  5. I wish more toy makers would make toys in blue, a color dogs can see, instead of making them all red and green.

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    1. I realize, every once in awhile, that A LOT of Elka's toys are green...and of course the Kongs are red...it is counterintuitive, isn't it?

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  6. Oooh, looks like a good choice for my guys! They're extremely rough with toys but love squeakers... it's tough to find something durable that also squeaks. I think we'll have to give these a try!

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    1. Awesome! I hope they like them as much as Elka likes hers!

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  7. I love that Elka had so much fun playing by herself! For that reason alone I am tempted to seek this one out. We generally have to put all her toys away when we're not playing with them otherwise she will just destroy them but I this one may be worth the risk. If they are durable enough for Elka the Doberman, they must be durable enough for Shiva the Crazy.

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    1. It was pretty miraculous! Elka is not one for solo play, typically. There are also only some toys that we can allow her to have unsupervised. For instance, she never used to chew up her ropes, when she was little. Now? She gets them between those big molars as soon as possible and scissors them apart.

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  8. The blue balls with rope definitely look fun. Our foster Cheri liked tossing around a Kong Wubba recently. I can see her doing a lot of damage with those two balls flopping around.

    I haven't seen these in the stores yet. But thanks for the review.

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  9. Thank you for the review! We are always looking for durable and fun toys. Soft toys are destroyed almost instantly around here. I'm going to check out these kong toys!

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    1. Yes, we hardly ever end up with soft toys, for the very same reason!

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  10. we think every buddy likes Kongs but us. We think they are stinky. Thank you for a good review
    Benny & Lily

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    1. Kong has lots of toys other than plain ol' Kongs! Squeaky balls, and stuffies.....

      But, you're allowed to like what you want! You're unique! ;)

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  11. I am sure my monsters would chew that up...lol.

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    1. I was pretty sure Elka would! I always take the time to get at least one "before" picture prior to landing something in Elka's waiting maw. Other than the one blue ball not squeaking anymore, the toys aren't really worse for the wear at all. I expected at least a few tooth gouges, if not outright rubber chunk massacre.

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  12. My mommy has heard that people shouldn't let their doggies play with squeaky toys bc it imitates a dieing animal. POO! I say play with them! I love to get inside to that noise thing!

    ~Stinky Kisses, Mason

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    1. Interesting! I've never thought of a squeaky toy like that, but I guess it makes sense. They do seem intended to tap into a dog's prey drive.

      Elka wouldn't play with squeaky toys for a really long time (and I can't say I necessarily minded). When she was a puppy and we taught her that biting isn't fun, we would squeal or cry out, and stop playing immediately. She also got kind of freaked when I bought her a squeaky chicken with big eyes...she wouldn't look at it if the eyes were "facing" her.

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  13. Oh those look fun! I could very well see Kyuss enjoying the green dumbell. The blue balled one however, I could just see him whipping it from side to side, smacking his shoulders with it. =O
    He used to have rope toys and would shake them 'to death' smaking his sides all the while with the free end. I ended up getting him smaller ropes but he would cut them in half in no time.

    I may try out the green one though!

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    1. Yeah, Elka doesn't seem to mind smacking herself in the face with a toy. Our dogs are weird!

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  14. OMD - she is soooo cute sleeping with her Kong.

    I have to tell you though, we got one of these to test as well but I have no idea how to write the review because, you guessed it, Bella's afraid of it. :( Ack! Actually, she's afraid of it and worried about it. Good grief.

    She's afraid of the size but gets 'worried' when it squeaks and whines. Sounds like she and Elka are going backwards from each other because Bella used to love squeaky toys but now she gets too upset by them. Can you even stand it?

    Great review though. And yes, you have to get some video of her mumbling at it. ;)

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  15. This is just fantastic--and what great pics you got, too! I absolutely want to go buy these toys now. I know Des would love them.

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