Kong Training Dummy

I'd like to start by saying that I didn't purchase this toy for Louie and it's not accessible to him on a daily basis. That being said, the rating and review may be a bit skewed. Dan's mom, Carol, bought it for her Golden Retriever, Chase. So when Louie goes over for play dates, they like to play tug-of-war together (as seen above) and whip it around.

This 'dummy' toy, is a fun interactive toy for him and Chase to play with together. It has held-up for about 6 months now of occasional tug-of-war between the two of them. It's usually outside and since it is Chase's toy, and he doesn't have an issue with destruction, it's available to him always. I've seen people use it at the lake as a retrieval toy (which is what it is supposed to be for) and held-up really well in the water and with other dogs.

It's basically a classic Kong filled with foam and a rope going through it. It does have a tendency for the foam inside the kong to pull-out when the rope is pulled hard. I'm not blaming that on a strong-jawed dog, since it seems like a common problem when you play tug-of-war with any dog. The rope part is beginning to fray a bit which I do contribute to Louie's tendency of destroying ropes. But I will say that the rope isn't made of 'soft' fabric (like cotton or a blend), instead it is made of woven plastic which is way more durable. This is definitely a fun toy for them to play with and provides us with entertainment!

Side Note: If you haven't purchased a Kong toy for your dog yet, get one. It was a lifesaver when we were training Louie as a puppy. It curbs boredom, separation anxiety, and keeps him occupied for hours. It is made of a very durable soft, thick rubber and it is made to stuff treats into. There are so many different shapes, sizes, and uses for Kongs, there really is no reason to not have one for your dog.