Kong rubber chew toy, large

What it is good at

• Dense rubber gives way instead of shredding the way a plush toy does.
• The hollow centre takes a smear of food or a few broken-up treats.
• One piece, so there is nothing to come loose and nothing to reassemble.

Check before you buy

• Size against the dog: a toy that disappears behind the teeth is too small.
• Firmness against the chewer: soft rubber for a light chewer, firm rubber for a steady one.
• How easy the inside is to rinse after food has been packed into it.

Who it is not for

Dogs who tear soft rubber apart in minutes, and dogs who lose interest in a toy they cannot pick up.

The point of dense rubber is that it deforms instead of splitting. A dog can work at the same toy for a long stretch, and the hollow centre turns it into a dispenser when food is packed inside.

Two rules keep it useful. Size comes first: the toy should be too big to sit behind the teeth, which is why large dogs need the larger sizes rather than the worn-out small one. Condition comes second: rubber perishes at the edges, so check the surface and retire the toy once it splits.