As you can see, the Kong is getting quite a workout.  (Better it than my door frame, furniture, shoes, hands, face, etc)  Murphy is crated for several hours during the day, and the Kong seems to keep him occupied!  Thanks for the suggestion, folks.  I think I better get a couple of extras...

Okay Mitch, I have to say it,  in your avitar you look like the guy from Office Space, the same one who played Berger on Sex in the City. Do you get that in  person??

Okay Mitch, I have to say it,  in your avitar you look like the guy from Office Space, the same one who played Berger on Sex in the City. Do you get that in  person??

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Hm... did he also have a dog attached to his nose?  Otherwise I don't see any resemblance.  I LOVE Office Space, though.  Actually, I've been told I looked like a tall Ben Stiller.  It wasn't a compliment.

Another pic:

It has to be the picture, I totally think so LOL:

I don't see the Ben stiller thing. Your dog is freakin adorable though.

if he likes that then go get him the new Yellow Kong WABBA! its doesn't have a hole just looks like a fishing lure!for  pups! so far it has not been chew'd up ....very sturdy heavy nylon cover w/squeeky throw's and floats! Cash will fetch this for hours! and they have even got in a three way tug with it! and its still in one piece!well see next week.... if shamus gets his JAWS! into it!

Have you tried peanut butter in the Kong? As far as no Kong in the crate,  I cannot imagine they can chew a piece off.

OK... sigh.  Now I'm worried about the Kong.  The thing just looks like a toliet float, but it's pretty tough!  I don't want to underestimate the power of Murphy, though. 

As for peanut butter... sounds cheaper than the Kong brand treats that I bough for $8.  They fit in the Kong fine and the dogs love em, but they also would eat trash if I let them, so....

And if anyone suggests a bully stick... well that is just disturbing and  the answer is just NO.  I know what those are and no. No.  No. 

No.

What are they?

Sorry to worry you but I have the same fear. They do seem very tough and I read about dogs chewing off pieces but it may have been because they had the wrong size toy.

I, too, paid too much for the liver stuff to go in a Kong. My husband brought home a can of cheese whiz once and they liked that but they don't get it often. Usually I fill with something wet, stick in a hard treat, and then freee. They get these in the summer. I am thinking of freezing a vienna sausage in them next because they look to be just the right size.

Vickie

Emma had a "baby" KONG and she chewed the top of it off but the baby ones aren't as tough as the red ones or the black ones.  Right now my three have the red ones and they have yet to chew any part of the KONG off.  They love to have theirs with peanut butter in them. 

string cheese!! is a perfect fit!! and pretty hard to get out too! takes some time compared to p-nut-butter...I have never herd for a dog chew'n a baby KONG even SHAMUS!never did that and he is a SHARK!

My girls have the Kong "bones" that I order from here:  http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/201163/product.web where they sell them for $3.99 vs. around $9.99  (if you can even find them) locally. I mostly seem to find the Kong bones make for puppies, or the sizes that are made for large dogs here locally. The Kong bones are great for dogs that you want to put in treats.. but hold a lot less than the regular Kongs, so still lots of fun... with less calories!  I have to watch our JRT's weight.. since she's blind... and not as active as she normally would be... so the bones work out best for us. They also have little "grips" inside the holes in the ends, that help to massage their gums as they work to get the goodies out inside. I usually take just 1 string cheese stick, and cut eight 1/2 inch slices to use as "plugs" for 2 Kong bones. I put in 1 plug, then add a small piece of soft meat jerky in the middle, and then plug the other end with another slice of cheese. I do this on both ends... and it does keep them busy for a LONG time! I have several sets of Kong bones... and I also fill a few with peanut butter, and put in the freezer,  for when I need/want them to stay busy for an even LONGER period of time!  

On my "tips" page for people with blind dogs... I also have a link to a web site that had some great ideas for "filling" all types of Kong toys here: http://dogs.thefuntimesguide.com/2006/02/dog_recipes_for_kong_chew_toys.php

Just a note... on the concerns of leaving a dog in a crate (or just unsupervised) with their Kong. Just from my own experience... I know that neither of my own dogs are "aggressive" chewers at all. No matter how many of the Kong bones I've given them (they are made of the same material as the regular Kongs) they have not once chewed a hunk,  or even a piece out of the Kong bone. But... in fostering dogs for Ratbone... several were VERY aggressive chewers... and I was shocked at the small "hunks" they could chew out of the regular Kongs... OR the Kong  bones... trying to get to the goodies in the hole!  

So... I just plain don't leave ANY dogs, mine or fosters, with ANY type of chew items -rawhide,  bully sticks etc... or chew toys like Kongs. It's just not worth the risk of losing a dog to choking!

Happy Kong-ing!!

Oh, come on Mitch.  You're denying Murphy a LOT of happy chewing.  Lots of us have used Bully sticks for our dogs.  They LOVE them!

Regarding looking like the guy from Office Space:  If you say so.  Much rather be told I look like him than Ben Stiller!  So thanks.

Regarding Bully Sticks:  No.  Even Murphy understands this word!  Just no.  no.

Kongs as a choking hazzard: I think it all depends on the dog.  Murphy gets really involved in his chewing and has swallowed all kinds of things from wood (from furniture and door frames) to the rubber tires off of my son's toy truck, to... I don't know what else.  The one I bought was called the "Extreme Kong for Extreme Chewers" and was a little thicker than the red Kongs.  I'm going to watch him closely with it, but I would be really surprised if he could tear a hunk off of this thing.

Kongs in General:  Too  Many!  I looked it up online, and they have too many Kongs!  Kong balls, Kongs for Puppies and for Seniors, Kongs for Cats. Kongs for Retrievers... it went on and on.  There are Kong recipes and "the story of Kong".  I'm in the wrong business!  Link to the plethora of Kongs.

Mitch, it's ok.  I don't give my dogs bully sticks either for the exact same reason... I KNOW what they are!  LOL!!!

Hello?........Noone has answered my question. What is a Bully Stick made of?

Bullysticks are bull penis! 

My dogs love love love bully sticks. Guy thinks that is makes Fred gay but he is one happy dog when they get them as treats. Sometimes they smell but other than that they are a good healthy treat that keeps them busy for a loooooooooong time.

Jimmy Kimmel. LOL, yeah I can see that. Totally more Berger too, I am sticking with Berger, that's who the picture resembles LOL.

In your avatar you totally look like the guy from Office Space  ~ don't see Ben Stiller at all.

Never tried a Kong ~ will try it for sh*ts & giggles ~ to see how Dink will do with one

Dink's a chewer too ~ driving me nuts ~ the apple bitter on my couches is not working ~

He LOVES the rawhides but I've stopped buying them on everybody here & my vet's advice

I have been trying the bully sticks ~ he LOVES them ~ but he's done with a 6" bully stick in a matter of minutes so I bought a 12" one and it made a mess and stunk

So we're in the same boat  'cept I'll try anything even the bully sticks

I love the kong!!!!  I put peanut butter in it, definitely easier on the budget than kong squeeze stuff.  freezing does make it last longer...I think I'm gonna have to get a kong wubba  Our dogs LOVE toys that squeek.  this past week-end I found a hard rubber ball that squeeks and has feet on it-it's called "bad-cuz" (the brand)  so far it has really held up great...we'll see...anyone tried them?

Also - yep, I see Berger - Ben Stiller, not so much

 Our dogs LOVE the squeekers!!!! Yes. It drives us insane, esp. my hubby in the early a.m.-he is still trying to sleep and they always manage to find the squeekies Dean & I always joke & say "the squeekies-they are a blessing and a curse"

I found a toy that EVEN "SHAMUS THE SHARK'! couldn't eat up! and it reminds me of the toysthey make for horses! same co i think? its sturdy!!!has a squeeky but they'll NEVER get this one out! great handle for throw'n and retreaving for 2!funny they get soft out in the sun then get really HARD when the cool...it might not last if they figure this out! 10$