KONG Classic Review: Does This $11 Rubber Toy Actually Keep a High-Energy Dog Busy?

Introduction

Let me set the scene: Three months ago, I brought home my 6-month-old golden retriever puppy, Max. He was 35 lbs of pure chaos, teething and bored out of his mind when I was at work. I came home one day to find he had chewed a hole right through the arm of my $200 couch. I’m not even exaggerating. I had been gone for 8 hours, and he had destroyed the couch, my favorite pair of sneakers, and half of a remote control, all because he was bored and teething. I had tried every puppy toy under the sun, every plush toy, every rubber bone, every puzzle thing, and he destroyed all of them in 5 minutes flat. I was this close to hiring a dog walker, which would have cost me $25 a day, way more than I could afford. That’s when I saw the KONG Puppy Classic. It was $11, this weird blue rubber toy, and it was supposed to keep high energy puppies busy for hours, while being gentle on their baby teeth. I ordered it same day, because I was desperate enough to try anything. After using it for 3 months, I have so much to say about it, the good, the bad, and the weird little thing no one warned me about.

KONG Classic: A KONG Classic Review of Its Toughness

First, let’s break down what this thing actually is, right? It’s this weird, hollow, snowman-shaped rubber toy, from KONG, you know, the brand that’s basically the king of tough dog toys. It’s made from their soft puppy rubber formula, which is supposed to be gentle enough for growing puppy teeth, but still tough enough that they can’t destroy it in 5 minutes. It’s hollow in the middle, so you can stuff it with treats, or peanut butter, or whatever, to keep your puppy busy, instead of chewing your couch.

The one I got was the medium size, which is supposed to fit medium breed puppies, which is exactly Max’s size, 35 lbs, perfect. It’s supposed to bounce weird, too, so when you throw it, it bounces all over the place, which makes fetch way more fun for puppies. And it’s supposed to be non-toxic, too, so if your puppy chews little bits off, it’s not going to hurt them, which is a huge relief, because Max chews everything.

It sounded too good to be true, honestly. $11, and it was supposed to stop my puppy from destroying my apartment? I didn’t believe it, but I was willing to try it. $11 wasn’t that much, compared to the $200 couch I just had to replace, anyway.

My Story: Putting the KONG Classic to the Test

When the package arrived, I opened it, and it was just this big blue rubber thing, it smelled like rubber a little bit, but not bad, not that chemical smell that cheap toys have. I washed it real quick, then I grabbed some of Max’s favorite peanut butter, the no xylitol kind, obviously, and I stuffed it right into the hollow part of the KONG. I packed it in there, as much as I could, so it would take him a while to get it all out.

Then I gave it to Max. And you know what? He stopped, he sniffed it, he licked it, and then he just sat there, and he started licking and chewing at it. For 2 hours. He didn’t move, he didn’t go for the couch, he didn’t go for my shoes, he just sat there, working on that KONG. I couldn’t believe it. I had never seen him focus on anything that long, not even his favorite treats.

The next day, I had to go to work, so I did the same thing, stuffed it full of peanut butter, stuck it in the freezer overnight, so it would take him even longer to get all the stuff out. And when I came home? The apartment was intact. No chewed couch, no chewed shoes, no destroyed remote. He was still laying there, working on the KONG. I was shocked. It worked! I finally fixed the destruction problem!

The One Thing Nobody Warned Me About

But here’s the thing no one told me. After he was done with it, I tried to wash it, right? Because there was peanut butter residue left in the little hole at the bottom. I thought, I’ll just rinse it out with some warm water, easy peasy. Wrong. That peanut butter had dried, and it was hard. Like, cement hard. I rinsed it, and rinsed it, and nothing. I stuck my finger in there, and I couldn’t scrape it out, it was stuck so tight.

I thought, okay, I’ll soak it in warm water for a little while, that’ll soften it up. I soaked it for 2 hours. Nothing. The peanut butter was still hard as a rock. I tried using a bottle brush, I tried using a toothbrush, I tried scrubbing it, nothing. I ended up having to soak it in warm soapy water for 24 whole hours, before that peanut butter finally softened up enough that I could scrub it out. I had no idea! No one warned me that if you don’t wash it right away, the peanut butter dries into cement in there. That was such a weird little surprise, it wasn’t a big deal or anything, but it was definitely something I wish someone had told me before I ended up with a peanut butter brick for a day.

What I Liked and What I Didn’t Like About the KONG Classic

After using this for 3 months, I went through all the pros and cons, and checked out a ton of other reviews to make sure I wasn’t the only one with these experiences.

What I Liked

• It actually keeps Max busy for hours. For the first time ever, I can go to work for 8 hours, and he doesn’t destroy my apartment. He just spends the whole time working on that KONG, getting the peanut butter out. It’s amazing.
• It’s actually gentle on his puppy teeth. Max was teething, and this rubber was soft enough that it didn’t hurt his gums, but still tough enough that he couldn’t destroy it. Before, he would destroy every other toy I bought him in 5 minutes, but this one? It’s still in perfect shape after 3 months.
• It’s so cheap. $11? For a toy that’s lasted 3 months, and saved my couch? That’s the best deal I’ve ever found. I’ve spent more than that on lint rollers in a month.
• It’s natural rubber, no weird chemicals. I don’t have to worry if he chews little bits off, it’s non-toxic, it’s safe for him. That’s a huge relief.
• It bounces weird, which makes fetch way more fun. When I throw it, it bounces all over the place, and Max loves chasing it, it’s way more fun than a regular ball.

What I Didn’t Like

• The cleaning thing, obviously. If you don’t wash it right away, the peanut butter dries into cement in there, and it takes forever to clean. I’ve started washing it as soon as he’s done with it, now, which fixes that problem, but it was a pain the first time.
• It’s not tough enough for adult heavy chewers. A lot of people with adult dogs, like pit bulls, or really strong chewers, said their dogs destroyed this in a day. If you have an adult heavy chewer, you need the KONG Extreme, not this puppy one.
• You have to get the size right. I almost bought the large size, because I thought bigger is better, but that would have been way too big for Max, he wouldn’t have been able to get the stuff out. You have to measure your puppy, make sure you get the right size.
• It’s a little weird to throw at first. The weird shape means it bounces all over the place, which is fun for the dog, but the first time I threw it, it bounced right into my TV, almost broke it. Oops.

Is the KONG Classic Right for Your Dog？

So, is this thing right for you? Well, that depends on your dog, honestly.

If you have a puppy, like a golden retriever, or a lab puppy, that’s teething, high energy, gets bored when you’re at work, and destroys your stuff? Then yeah, this is perfect. It works, it keeps them busy, it saves your furniture, it’s gentle on their baby teeth, it’s cheap, it does exactly what you need it to do.

But if you have an adult dog, especially a super heavy chewer, like a pit bull, or a dog that can destroy every toy in 5 minutes? Then no, this isn’t for you. This is the puppy version, it’s softer, for baby teeth, it’s not strong enough for adult heavy chewers. You need the adult KONG Classic, or even the Extreme one, for that.

And if you have a tiny puppy, or a really big puppy? Just make sure you get the right size. Don’t just buy the medium one because that’s what I got, measure your dog, get the size that fits them, otherwise it won’t work right.

And if you’re the kind of person who forgets to wash things right away? Well, just remember, wash the KONG as soon as your dog is done with it, otherwise you’ll end up with a peanut butter brick, like I did. That’s an easy fix, just don’t forget.

Common Questions About the KONG Classic

I got so many questions from my friends after I posted about this, so I wanted to answer the most common ones right here.

Can you put this in the dishwasher?

Yeah, you can! A lot of people said they put it on the top rack of the dishwasher, and that cleans it perfectly, gets all the peanut butter residue out, no problem. I haven’t tried that yet, but a ton of other people swear by it.

Can you freeze it?

Yeah, that’s what I do! I stuff it full of peanut butter, then stick it in the freezer overnight, and that makes it last way longer, it takes Max hours to get all the stuff out, which is perfect for when I’m at work.

Is this safe if my puppy chews bits off?

Yeah, it is. It’s made from non-toxic natural rubber, so even if he chews little bits off, it’s not going to hurt him, it’ll just pass through, no problem.

How do you clean it if the peanut butter dries?

Soak it in warm soapy water for 24 hours, that’s the only way. Trust me, I tried everything else, that’s the only thing that works. And then next time, wash it right away, that’s way easier.

Does this work for teething puppies?

Yeah, it does! That’s exactly what it’s for. The soft rubber is gentle on their sore gums, and it gives them something to chew on, instead of your couch. A lot of people use it for crate training, too, to keep puppies busy.

My Top Takeaways on the KONG Classic

At the end of the day, this thing works, for what it is. It’s a cheap, soft puppy toy, that keeps your high energy puppy busy for hours, so they don’t destroy your apartment. It saved my couch, it saved my shoes, it saved me from having to hire a dog walker, which would have cost me way more than $11.

The problem is, it’s not for everyone. If you have an adult heavy chewer, it’s not going to work, you need the adult version. And you have to remember to wash it right away, otherwise you end up with a peanut butter brick. But those are easy things to work around, right?

I was so shocked at first, because I didn’t think a $11 toy could fix my puppy’s destruction problem, but it did. It’s not perfect, but it’s exactly what I needed, when I needed it.

Would I Buy This Again With My Own Money?

Are you kidding me? I already bought three more. I have one in the freezer, ready to go, I have one that I use for fetch, I have one that I keep at my parents’ house, when we go visit. This thing is worth every single penny, and then some.

$11, and it saved me from having to replace my couch, which cost me $200? That’s the best deal I’ve ever found. I would buy this again, and again, and again, no question. It’s the best puppy toy I’ve ever bought, hands down.

Final Thoughts on the KONG Classic

All in all, the KONG Classic Puppy toy is the best $11 I’ve ever spent. It’s not perfect, you have to remember to wash it right away, it’s not for adult heavy chewers, you have to get the right size, but none of that is a dealbreaker, as long as you know what you’re getting into.

If you have a teething puppy, a high energy puppy that gets bored and destroys your stuff when you’re at work? This is perfect. It works, it keeps them busy, it saves your furniture, it’s cheap, it does exactly what it says it will do.

If you’re like me, and you’re tired of coming home to a destroyed apartment, this is worth trying. Just don’t forget to wash it right away, trust me, you don’t want a peanut butter brick.

If you’re interested in trying it out, you can check it out here: Check Price on Amazon

You Might Also Like

• Outward Hound Dog Brick Puzzle Review: Is It Worth $12?
• How to Stop Dog Chewing – 5 Proven Methods (Amazon Picks)
• How to Choose a Dog Slow Feeder Bowl – 3 Options

A Quick Disclaimer

I’m not a vet or professional trainer. This is just my personal experience.