Lori: When I saw we would be product testing a Kong Squiggle Monkey, I wasn't sure Chi-Chi would be thrilled. Of course he can't read so I doubt he knows this long stretchy squeaky plush toy is made by the same magical people that invented the red rubber vessel from which he eats peanut butter.
Chi-Chi began to leap as soon as I brought the Squiggle into sight. He nearly snatched it away from me as I was removing it from the package. We began the tug-of-war this toy seems to beg for. Of course Chi-Chi won and took the toy to his special hoarding spot under his blankets on the sofa. That's how I knew the toy was a winner.
A few minutes after Chi-Chi left his spot, his sister Lola, who had her sights on the Squiggle, confiscated it to play a rousing game of shake -- another game this toy lends itself to.
The verdict:Like Kong's other products it is well made; durable for two 15 pound dogs that pull for their life; colorful; it squeaks; has a cute monkey design; and dogs dig it {and then bury it}. Definitely a toy I would buy for my dogs as well as for gifts for my dog friends.
Reada: I have to say that having this toy during the snowpocalypse was a godsend. It occupied Izzy for hours so I had a happy pup instead of a bored one.
Squiggles at first seemed small and flimsy and Izz is tough on toys. But after constant use while snowed in, the Squiggles is mostly intact with just an ear missing. The best thing about it is that it really encourages interaction between Izz and me. Either I would make it squeak to get her attention and then throw it or we would play tug o' war. After the back and forth got old, she would just grab it and chew on it by herself.
This toy quickly became Izzy's favorite and she is rarely without it. I would recommend the Kong Squiggles to any dog. Pros: Encourages me to play w Izzy; Almost indestructible; Not a lot of stuffing. The only thing keeping me from giving this 4 paws is the fact that Izz tore off an ear immediately.
The verdict:
Ashley: When I first opened up the package, my lab mix Zoe and dachshund Winston were going nuts trying to get a look. How they knew it was a toy for them I have no idea -- they are NEVER this interested when I'm opening up bills!
It is a little weird looking but the dogs didn't seem to mind. As soon as the toy hit the floor, several games of tug of war began. It was very easy for both dogs to hold onto, which was nice. It seemed to withstand all the tugging and pulling.
The new toy excitement wore off after about an hour. My dogs tend to go for bigger, plusher toys, with lots of squeaking. While this toy is good for tug of war, it didn't lend itself to chewing, squeaking, and carrying around. If you have two dogs that love to play together, this toy might be a great fit. Since it is light and flimsy, it isn't a good fetch toy.
The verdict:
Kathy: When I gave it to our Akita, Shijin (Shishi for short), she carried it around for a few minutes, and then took a nap with it. Since that is her response to almost everything, I believe she liked the toy. It looks like a stretchy donkey; that is, it's a fuzzy, colorful toy that stretches in the middle. For those dogs who like "squeakys," this one has two: one in each end of the toy.
The toy is great for tug of war, and since it stretches in the middle, your hand is farther away from the dog's mouth when she is grabbing for the toy (less tooth nicks). I would say this model is made for larger dogs, since the donkey head and tail are tennis-ball sized. Finally, it has minimal stuffing (mess) if your dog likes to tear into a soft toy.
The verdict:
Jill note: Squiggles come in small, medium and large. The price varies by size.