Buying toys for your dog can always be hard. You want something fun and durable that won’t empty your pocket. KONG is one of the most respected brands when it comes to dog toys and they make some of the most durable ones you can find.
Today we are looking at their Wubba Classic. We are going to look at its features, durability and fun factor. By the end of this article you should be able to make a decision on whether the KONG Wubba is the right toy for your dog.
How Did KONG Start?
The Kong Company (or KONG) is an American company based in Colorado. They design and develop a range of different dog and cat toys, and they are most famous for their snowman-like chew toy for dogs also named Kong.
Joe Markham founded the company and created the first KONG product in the 1970s. He noticed that his German Shepherd was damaging its teeth by chewing rocks. His dog also enjoyed chewing on a hard rubber Volkswagen bus suspension device, which he used as inspiration to create the first KONG product.
The name “KONG” came about because his friend commented that the toy he designed looked like “an earplug for King Kong.”
What Is A KONG Wubba?
According to KONG, the Wubba “is a fun, interactive toss and tug toy”. It is essentially two balls covered in durable reinforced nylon fabric. The ball on top is a tennis ball and the ball beneath is a squeaker.
Additionally, there are long tails made from reinforced nylon at the bottom of the toy. These make it easy to pick up and play games of tug with. It can also be used for games of fetch and the squeaker makes it a bit more interesting for dogs.
Are There Any Options
In one word, yes, there are a few options to choose from. There is a load of different sizes that cover almost all dogs.
Additionally, there are also different types of Wubba. We are reviewing the classic Wubba in this article, but there is a whole range of different ones available. Some Wubba’s are designed for smaller dogs, however, the one we are reviewing is better for larger breeds.
You can check out the different types of Wubba on the official KONG website.
So Is The KONG Wubba a Good Dog Toy?
Undoubtedly, the Wubba is our two dog’s favourite toy. They go absolutely crazy over it and love the squeaker. It is excellent for games of fetch and tug, and will keep your dog entertained for hours. We have found that our two dogs love to play tug with each other with the Wubba. It is great for play time both in and outside the house, and can even be used for training purpose.
Is The KONG Wubba Durable?
Now, onto the real question. While the KONG is our two Labs’s favourite toy, it certainly isn’t their most durable (that would have to go to their GoughNuts Maxx 50 Stick).
The KONG Wubba won’t fall apart in seconds like some toys, but it will be ripped apart if you leave it with your dog unattended. KONG does say the Wubba is not meant for chew sessions and we believe them. We keep the Wubba locked away when we can’t supervise our dogs and then bring it out for play time.
The Wubba seems to handle tug and fetch sessions incredibly well, showing little to no signs of damage. However, if the toy is left with our dogs during the dog, it wouldn’t last the day.
We are onto our third Wubba now. The first one lasted about six months, which we feel is pretty good for a toy of this nature. The second one (XL Wubba) didn’t last a day. This is because we left it with our dog and she managed to chew her way through the nylon material.
Despite the problems with the third Wubba, we thought we would try again as our dogs love the toy so much. This time we went back to a large size Wubba and only let our dogs play with it when we can supervise. Doing this has been much more successfully and the toy is showing little signs of wear.
Is The KONG Wubba Expensive?
Depending on where you are in the world, the Wubba can either be pretty expensive or relatively cheap. As we live in New Zealand, the Wubba can be quite expensive in local shops, but getting it shipped from Amazon wasn’t too bad.
We paid around US$8.99 for a large Wubba (not including shipping), which we felt was an excellent price for the amount of fun our dogs have with it. The normal price is a bit more expensive, but we still think that even at double the price the toy is worth it.
The sizing and type of Wubba will also effect the price, so remember that.
Would We Buy A KONG Wubba Again?
Definitely! The KONG Wubba has been the most enjoyable toy for our Labs. It may not be as durable as some other products on the market, but it more than makes up for it in fun factor. The Wubba is a great product to supplement other chew toys like the classic KONG and the GoughNuts chews.
Summary
Things We Like About The KONG Wubba
- Great fun for games of fetch and tug
- The squeaker is excellent
- Feels like a quality product
- One of the most interactive toys available
- Not too expensive
- Good return policy
Things We Don’t Like About The KONG Wubba
- Not as durable as some other tough toys
- Can’t be used as a chew toy
- The nylon material and balls could be dangerous if ingested
- Can be hard to clean
Now Read: Ten of the Best Dog Toys for Tough Chewers
