Fab or flub?: Kong’s Jumbler dog toy goes the distance and more
In a Fab or Flub feature from last year, I spoke about the trouble I’ve had finding toys for my dog to play with.
If you remember that particular product review, then you know that I talked about how Gizmo (my 5-year-old tri-colored corgi) has destroyed every single squeaky toy encountered, no matter how convincing its toughness claims.
I can only imagine how much money I’ve wasted in my attempts to find one that was up to the challenge, and I often wondered if other pet parents out there had the same problem. Turns out, they do. I have received several emails from kind readers, sharing stories about their pets and suggesting toys to buy.
Unfortunately, Gizmo is a formidable opponent, and I didn’t have luck with any of the items readers suggested.
Even so, once the holiday season rolled around, I knew it would provide me with another opportunity to continue my hopeless quest and let my favorite pooch try out yet another squeaky toy. This time, I chose the Kong Jumbler Football Dog Toy (available at PetSmart for $15.99).
As one of the more expensive dog toys I’ve bought, the Kong Jumbler is a two-in-one ball toy that claims to give dogs twice the interactive fun. Described as being ideal for fetch, the rubber toy squeaks and also has an interior tennis ball intended to entice dogs.
Would the toy actually last for more than an hour? I had my doubts but knew that Gizmo would surely have a blast with it, although that might only be for 15 minutes.
First impression
If you ever happen to come across me at PetSmart or Petco when I’m buying a toy for my dog, then you will see that I take the process very seriously. I squeeze and prod the toys, checking the thickness of the rubber and considering whether there are any weak spots that might be easily punctured by Gizmo’s teeth.
When I first saw the Kong Jumbler Football Dog Toy, I didn’t think much of it. I’ve tried other Kong products, and while they didn’t always end up completely destroyed, they never maintained their squeakiness after Gizmo got hold of them.
My boyfriend, however, thought this toy felt much sturdier than previous Kong purchases, and he also thought the Jumbler’s size and shape might be harder to puncture. I had my doubts because Gizmo usually either removes the squeaker from his toys or makes holes with his teeth that cause air to escape, effectively killing the sound.
Fab or flub?
Fab! Color me shocked. After we made it past 15 minutes of playtime, I started holding my breath and wondered whether, after five years, I might have found a squeaky toy that my dog could not destroy.
It seemed unlikely, so I began trying to predict when the toy would finally meet its demise. But, that moment never came. It has been almost two weeks and the toy is still squeaking. Better yet, it has no visible signs of destruction.
Gizmo plays with it every day and eventually gives up when he realizes that he simply cannot stop the squeaking. If anyone finds themselves in the market for a new toy for their dog, I highly recommend the Kong Jumbler Football Dog Toy. For me, it’s been worth every penny.
This story was originally published January 13, 2015 at 11:24 AM with the headline "Fab or flub?: Kong’s Jumbler dog toy goes the distance and more."