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KONG NEWS
Thank you for being part of our fourth
issue of the KONG Community Newsletter. We now have over 8,500 members
and growing daily. Volume 4 contains descriptions of KONG’s
latest products, delicious KONG Stuff’N recipes, KONG photo
contest and KONG training and activity tips.
For a printer friendly version, click here.
KONG Quarterly Photo Contests
Last issue the KONG Jump’N Jack Photo Contest grand prize
winner was Trisha Morton of Marietta, Georgia and her dogs Dillon
and Maddie. They have won $500.00 and a KONG gift basket.
Our second place winner is Joanne and Chris Korpesio of Calgary,
Alberta Canada, and their dog Baxter. Joanne, Chris and Baxter have
won a large KONG gift basket.
The third place winner is Tricia Lim of Singapore and her dog. Tricia
and her dog will receive a medium KONG gift basket.
The KONG Company would like to thank all
the community members who submitted KONG Jump’N Jack photos.
Your involvement in the contest was overwhelming and the photos
superb. The process of choosing a winner took two weeks, but we
loved every minute of it. All participants will be receiving a “thank
you” gift for making this contest a success.
Check out the new KONG Photo Contest in this issue for another chance
to win $500.00 or one of three KONG gift baskets.
KONG Featured on Front Page of Wall Street Journal
The KONG Company, maker of the legendary line of rubber chew toys
already beloved by millions of dogs and their owners, now has an
even wider following. The company was recently featured in a story
on the front page of the Wall Street Journal.
The article told the story of O’Neill, a black Labrador learning
to become a bomb-sniffing dog, and explained how KONG toys play
a vital part in the months of arduous training these dogs must complete.
Each time they find an explosive, the diligent canine trainees get
to play with a KONG toy as a reward. Samples of explosives are hidden
next to a KONG toy, and in trying to hunt down their reward, the
dogs learn to discern the different odors of various explosive materials.
On finding the explosives, they are taught to sit and stare at the
source of the odor until given the toy. Eventually, the dogs learn
to sniff out the explosives by odor alone, without the hidden KONG
toy. Long recognized as an ideal training aid for any dog, KONG
toys are often used to train police dogs and other working animals.
The rugged, hardwearing natural rubber toys are so appealing that
they give hardworking dogs the perfect reward for a job well done,
with or without a tasty treat tucked inside.
 All
this comes as no surprise to Joe Markham, inventor of the toy and
founder of the KONG Company. Over the years, he’s heard countless
anecdotes and glowing testimonials about the success of his famous
red rubber toys in calming destructive chewers and motivating reluctant
learners. Speaking about the Wall Street Journal article, Markham
said: “We’ve long been proud of our association with
police departments around the country, but we’re truly honored
to have become a part of the ongoing fight to keep our nation’s
transportation systems safe and secure. We were delighted, and deeply
flattered, to read about the success of our toys in training O’Neill
and his canine colleagues,” he added.
The
full article can be found in the Wall Street Journal, December
19th, 2005 edition.
Welcome to the KONG Community
This month the KONG Company would
like to share another letter sent to us by a grateful member of
the KONG community. It is refreshing to be part of a community and
product line that truly makes a positive difference in the lives
of companion animals and their owners.
Dear KONG,
I have had three wonderful dogs over the years and sadly they all
passed one by one. My favorite, Seamus “Love of my life”,
died in my arms here at my home. When cancer took Seamus, I was
heartbroken.
Months later, I went looking for another dog and found Fionna and
Finneghan. Both dogs have brought me so much happiness and have
helped me replace the void I felt after losing Seamus.
I rescued Fionna the English Coonhound from a Shelter in Virginia,
where she was scheduled to be put down. She had lived most of her
life in a crate and had much to learn about home life. Even simple
things, like going up the stairs were a challenge for her. Fiona
progressed quickly into a wonderful dog. The only thing missing
was a canine companion.
A week later, I made an appointment with a breeder who had a small
problem. He raised beautiful, show-quality German Short Hair Pointers
and Australian Cattle Hounds. Apparently, there had been a mistake
and one of the Cattle Hounds (Momma) got together with a Pointer
(Papa).  The
result was four beautiful, mixed breed puppies. I chose the only
male and what a great dog he is.
The two dogs became close companions. All was well at home….except
for one problem day. After returning home from work, I was shocked
to see my dinning room furniture and china closet had been destroyed.
It seems Finneghan and Fionna had it for lunch.
Worried that the two dogs would eventually eat the whole house,
I turned to my local trainer. Our trainer told us all about KONG
products and my husband went to the pet store to purchase them.
Well, months later the dogs still have their KONGs and I still have
my new dining room set.
Now, each morning I stuff the KONGs with an assortment of goodies
before I leave for work. The KONG toy is tough and keeps them busy
and out of mischief. Both dogs happily chew on the KONGs to get
the treats I put inside. I like the KONG Pastes, KONG Snaps and
roast beef. Yes, I stick roast beef in the KONG as an extra bonus
for not eating my furniture.
Thank you KONG people for the good work you do. Especially, for
helping the animal survivors of hurricane Katrina.
My happy ending,
Barbara Malakuskie
Your letters of success, like the one above are always welcome and
appreciated. If you would like to share your KONG experiences or
any KONG news with the KONG community, just email us at:kong@kongcompany.com
If your letter is chosen for the next KONG Community Newsletter,
you will receive a KONG Gift Basket.
NEW
KONG PRODUCTS
The KONG Company is proud to be the
recognized leader in quality pet products. All of our new products
have been thoroughly tested by happy family pets; we never use laboratory
animals for our product testing. Veterinarians have also approved
and tested all of our new products. Here are the latest additions
to our ever-expanding product line.
New KONG Toys:
 KONG
Tug
The new KONG Tug Toy represents the
highest level of tug toy innovation, comfort and strength. Our dual-material
KONG Tug Toy is constructed of two KONG-shaped nylon rings with
molded KONG Rubber grips. The KONG-shaped rings are molded together
with a thick KONG Rubber center connector. The KONG Rubber grips
or bite-zones provide outstanding comfort and safety for both dog
and owner. The KONG Rubber center connector with Control-Flex Technology
eliminates potentially dangerous snap-back and provides a comfortable
and controlled playtime.
 KONG
Binkie
The Puppy KONG Binkies are made
with our exclusive Puppy KONG Rubber formula. Perfect for teething
puppies, the Puppy KONG Binkie will sooth sore gums and provide
a proper outlet for a puppy’s chewing needs. Most of all,
the bouncy Puppy KONG Binkie is pure fun. Puppy KONG Binkies are
available in two sizes, small and medium, and are available in both
blue and pink KONG puppy rubber.
 Dr.
Noys Strawberry (Cats With an Attitude)
The Cats with an Attitude Strawberry
is a refillable catnip toy. The small, lightweight plush Strawberry
cat toy is double stitched for lasting durability and comes with
two FREE T-Nip Catnip refills.
Dr. Noys Feathertop Duster (Cats With an Attitude)
The Feathertop Duster is an interactive
teaser toy that features an array of natural feathers and a dangling
fabric carrot to tantalize and excite the cat.
New
KONG Stuff'N Treats:
 FREE
KONG Stuff’N Liver Paste, Puppy Paste and Hounds 27 Peanut
Butter Sauce.
Free sample pouches of KONG Stuff’N Pastes and Hounds 27 sauces
will be included in selected KONG toy packages. Look for free samples
with your next KONG purchase.
KONG
TRAINING TIPS
 Every
quarter we will explore different topics related to training and
behavioral issues. Some issues will also include feature articles
from world-renowned dog trainers and behaviorists.
Growing Up KONG
 Much
like a human baby, your puppy has special needs and requirements
that must be met to ensure his health and happiness. This guide
will give you an overview of some of the toys and treats we recommend
for your puppy now and throughout adulthood.
Click here to view the full booklet.
KONG
STUFF'N RECIPES AND ACTIVITIES
KONG Toys are the original treat-dispensing toys;
a properly stuffed KONG Toy will keep your dog busy and content
for hours. Along with relieving boredom, a stuffed KONG Toy will
provide an enriching activity that stimulates both physically and
mentally. Remember to reduce your dog’s bowl feeding when
offering two or more stuffed KONGs daily. Clean KONGs thoroughly
after each use. Top shelf of dishwasher is recommended.
Basic Stuff'N Suggestions:
For quick and easy KONG stuffing use any of our KONG Stuff’N
treats or pastes. KONG Stuff’N treats are specifically designed
to fit KONG toys. Experiment with combinations of two or more KONG
Treats, Pastes or Sauces for a longer lasting stuffed KONG session.
Winning KONG Stuff’N Recipe:
The KONG staff will be choosing a winning KONG Stuff’N Recipe
from those sent in by KONG community members. Recipes can be entirely
original or utilize any combination of KONG Stuff’N Treats
with any KONG toy. Winners will receive a KONG Gift Basket stuffed
with a variety of fun KONG toys and tasty KONG Stuff’N treats.
This newsletter’s winning recipe comes from Bobbi Jo Lundt.
Layered Dog Delight
Recently, we adopted our first puppy. Prince is a mixture of German
Shepherd, Border Collie and Siberian Husky. He was eight weeks old
when we brought him home.
Soon we noticed Prince loved to chew on everything. My husband and
I went to Petsmart to speak with a trainer. She told us all about
KONG toys. We bought the classic, red KONG. Prince loves it. When
he sees me making his favorite KONG stuffing recipe, he sits by
my feet with excitement in his eyes. His favorite recipe follows:
Layer 1: Start by adding a small amount of dry kibble inside the
KONG. Top with warm hotdog slices. Then add a small slice of cheese.
Layer 2: Add more kibble and push it all down, more hotdog slices
and then more kibble, pushed down again.
Layer 3: Top off with creamy peanut butter. He eats it all up and
wants more!!!
Family friends also got a puppy (a Shih Tzu) the same day we got
ours. Prince liked his KONG so much we gave their puppy Lizzie a
Puppy KONG. Lizzy also loves her Puppy Kong.
Thank you so much for making amazing toys.
Sincerlely,
Bobbi Jo Lundt
Featured KONG Activity:
Bucket O’KONG
Bucket O’KONG is a fun and challenging game your dog will
love to play. Adaptive and thought-provoking, this game can be made
more challenging as your dog masters each step. The potential game
variations and varied use of treat/rewards is endless.
I realized while writing the following instructions that this particular
game may sound a bit self-serving of the KONG Company. Considering
its best played with six or more KONG toys. But, after testing the
game on many KONG dogs, we found Bucket O’KONG to be a fantastic
game for the dog, and extremely entertaining for the owners. Please
keep in mind that the additional “cover-up toys” could
be any other type of rubber KONG toy. However, we found that the
original KONGs worked quite well.
 For
Bucket O’KONG you will need:
• One sturdy plastic bucket, sized appropriately for the height
of the dog. Your dog should be able to reach the bottom without
tilting or tipping the bucket. A Shih Tzu, for example might use
a smaller plastic one gallon tub, where as a Great Dane would need
a six gallon paint bucket (found at most hardware stores).
• Six or more Classic KONG toys, sized appropriately for the
dog. The more KONGs you use the more challenging the game.
• A variety of KONG Stuff’N Treats or other healthy
treats that fit inside the KONG toy. KONG Stuff’N Pastes,
Snaps and Beef&Liver work great for this game.
To Play Bucket O'KONG:
• Step 1 – This is Easy
 Ask
your dog to sit while you prepare the KONG toy in front of him/her.
Stuff one KONG toy with your favorite KONG Stuff’N Treat (use
one or two small treats that are easy for your dog to remove). Place
treat-filled KONG in bucket. Allow your dog to retrieve the single
KONG from the bucket. Let him/her enjoy their treat/reward.
Your dog should be able to easily retrieve the KONG from the bottom
of the bucket. If your dog cannot reach the bottom or has to tilt
or spill the bucket, the bucket is too tall. Use a shorter bucket.
• Step 2 – Which KONG is it?
 Repeat
Step 1 in front of your dog. Place the treat-stuffed KONG in the
bucket. This time add two or three more empty KONG toys to the bucket.
Allow your dog to find and retrieve the treat-filled KONG.
At this stage, there is more than one way for your dog to find the
treat- filled KONG. Some dogs will zero in on the scent and immediately
grab the correct KONG. They may even remove the other empty KONGs
just to check for more treats. Other dogs will grab KONGs at random,
eventually finding the treat-filled KONG. Either way your dog is
learning and adapting to the challenge, setting the stage for more
complicated versions.
 If
the bucket is sized correctly three or four KONGs should cover the
bottom of the bucket in one layer, with the possibility of the fourth
KONG starting the second layer. If you still have room for more
KONGs on the bottom layer, your bucket is too wide. Use a narrower
bucket.
• Step 3 – This is Getting Harder!
Repeat Step 1 in front of your dog. Be sure to vary the treats to
keep your dog interested and driven. Place the treat-filled KONG
in the bucket. In this step, take the game a little further by adding
four to five extra, empty KONGs on top of the treat-filled KONG.
You should now have two to three layers of KONG toys in the bucket.
Allow your dog to retrieve the treat-filled KONG.
At this, more challenging level, your dog will almost certainly
need to remove a few KONGs to get to the reward-KONG. This can be
time consuming. Your dog may even give up for a while, but will
eventually return to the challenge and the treats. Be sure to use
high-value treats at this level and praise your dog for his/her
attempts and successes.
Also, at this level your dog may decide to tip the whole bucket
to save time. You may view this as cheating, but in reality your
dog is learning and adapting. Be sure to praise this solution.
If your dog successfully applies the tipping solution many times
and becomes bored with the game, try securing the bucket to a 4’x4’
piece of plywood or particle board. Drill several holes through
the bottom of the bucket and screw it to the wooden platform. Now
your genius-dog, unable to tip the bucket, will need to learn and
adapt once more.
• Step 4 and Beyond – Canine Einstein
After months of adaptive learning your dog has become accustomed
to Bucket O’KONG and its many variations and solutions. Below
are some advanced variations. Caution: closely supervise the following
advanced variations. Know your dog and use your best judgement.
1. Repeat Steps 1 & 4 in front of your dog. Place the treat-filled
KONG in the bucket. As you add empty KONGs, fill in the spaces with
your dog's other favorite toys. Your dog will have to pick through
both the empty KONGs as well as the other toys to find the reward.
2. Repeat Step 1. Place the treat-filled KONG in the bucket. Add
enough water to just cover the treat-filled KONG. Use treats that
stick to the inside of the KONG and do not dissolve quickly. KONG
Stuff’N Beef & Liver or Snaps work well. Peanut butter
also works well if applied to the inside surface of a dry KONG (recommended
outdoor activity).
This variation can be made more challenging by gradually adding
empty KONGs to cover the treat-filled KONG. You can also gradually
add more water to the bucket.
Use your imagination and experiment with additional variations.
Your dog will love it. If you find a clever variation, please write
the KONG Company. We would love to hear from you. Have fun and keep
those doggies busy.
 KONG
Stuff - A - Ball
PHOTO CONTEST
Win $500.00 or valuable KONG Gift Baskets! It’s simple. Photograph
your dog using a KONG Stuff-A-Ball and email digital image to: kong@kongcompany.com.
Or mail photograph to:
KONG Stuff-A-Ball Contest
16191 Table Mountain Pkwy
Golden, CO 80403-1641
(Photos mailed to the KONG Company cannot be returned)
KONG Stuff-A-Ball
Treat dispensing fun with a dental cleaning advantage. Treat-dispensing
features keep dogs content and out of trouble, while the patented
Denta-Ridges effectively clean teeth and massage gums. KONG STUFF’N
treats and pastes work great to initiate play sessions.
Rules:
1. The photo must contain a dog(s) interacting with a KONG Stuff-A-Ball
toy.
2. Make sure your photo is clear and of good quality (300 dpi preferred).
If your picture is blurry, or the KONG Stuff-A-Ball unrecognizable,
it is not likely to win.
3. Limit two photos per contestant per quarterly contest.
4. The dog owner’s mailing address and phone number must be
included. Any prize won will be mailed to that address. Contestant
information will never be used or distributed for any other purpose.
5. The KONG Company will pick one “Best Photo” winner
from the images received.
6. There are three guaranteed prize categories: Grand Prize Winner,
Second Place Winner and Third Prize Winner. Grand Prize winners
will receive $500.00 US and a large KONG Gift Basket. Second Place
winners will receive a large KONG Gift Basket (worth approximately
$120.00). Third Place winners will receive a medium KONG Gift Basket
(worth approximately $85.00).
7. Photo comments and captions are welcome, but not necessary to
win.
8. All entries must be received by April 20, 2006. No entries accepted
after April 20, 2006. A winner will be selected by April 30, 2006.
9. Winning photos may be used in KONG Company advertisements and
promotions. By submitting photographic images to the KONG Company,
you grant KONG Company a perpetual, royalty-free license to use,
reproduce, modify, publish, distribute, and otherwise exercise all
copyright and publicity rights with respect to those photographic
images at its sole discretion, including storing it on KONG Company
servers and incorporating it in other works in any media now known
or later developed including, without limitation, published books.
The KONG Company reserves the right to select, edit and arrange
submissions, and to remove images from the KONG Company website
at any time at its sole discretion.
NEXT
KONG NEWSLETTER WILL BE SENT
May 1, 2006
If
you have any comments or suggestions for future newsletters, please
let us know. Click here
to send comments, and please mention the newsletter in
the subject line of the email. Thank you!
KONG Newsletter Archives
•
Volume 1 - March, 2005
• Volume 2 - June, 2005
•
Volume 3 - October, 2005
For More Information Visit www.kongcompany.com
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