Extreme Kong
The Extreme Kong, with its bulbous black rubber form, is certainly not the prettiest dog toy in production. It is said that both police and security forces use it to train their canine counterparts. I wondered whether a toy, so entirely untouched by whimsy, was an appropriate toy for my pooch. Could it stunt his burgeoning creativity? cause dullness and lethargy? lead to nightmares?
Like any conscientious mother, I fretted. The Extreme Kong had one very important advantage, it was built to withstand a nuclear holocaust. Now while some of the more subtle aspects of Rufous’ character, like his understanding of nuclear physics, were still developing, he had already demonstrated the full maturity of his industrial-strength jaw, deconstructing some bags and shoes before disemboweling our lounge suite.
The implication was clear – when it came to chew toys – durability was a concern.
Brand too played a part in my decision: Kong being the Fischer Price of the canine world, renowned for its design, quality – and capacity to provide entertainment of an active kind. With a sense of the immense responsibility entrusted to me, I put my reservations aside and invested in the future of my child, the rolex of chew toys, otherwise known as – the Extreme Kong.
My concern about the effect of this overtly utilitarian toy turned out to be unwarranted. Pounced upon, trounced, bounced and battered across the floor the thing began to accrue something not unlike a personality. It began, even, to earn my grudging respect. It wasn’t, after all, the turd-shaped rubber shell that was eliciting the attention, but rather its biltong-and-Beenos stuffing. Through this Rufous learnt that even the most unbecoming exterior can be filled with treasure, and is worth bashing about, just in case. And I learned that his aesthetic sensibility was hardier than I had thought. And it is just as well that such lessons endure, because although Rufous did not succeed in demolishing the Kong, he did manage to tussle it outside, through the garden and nose it along the bush into which it eventually disappeared.
