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We've had dogs of all ages--seniors, puppies and in between--and our go-to toy has always been the Kong. It keeps them busy and helps alleviate boredom when they have to be home alone. Now I've discovered that there's a different Kong for every stage and need!

Classic     Puppy     Extreme     Senior

As a Chewy Influencer, I got the opportunity to test and review one Kong for each dog, to see how that particular Kong worked out for them. Ernest is 10, and pretty mellow. He's facing a lot of challenges of older dogs. So we chose the senior Kong for him. At one year old Petey is still basically a puppy, but he is rough on his toys and chews everything in sight, so we chose the Extreme Kong for him.

Today we'll take a look at Ernest and the Kong Senior.

 Ernest may be a senior, but he can chew his toys with gusto. I was a little worried that the senior version, made with a rubber formula that is gentler to again teeth and joints, wouldn't hold up. When I received it I was pleased that it still felt sturdy and durable.

I stuffed the Kong with Kong Easy Treat because...well, because I'm lazy and it's the most convenient thing to squirt inside the toy. I added a couple crunchy treats.
Ernest was excited to get to playing!



After multiple uses, the Kong Senior has absolutely no damage or chunks missing. I feel confident giving it to Ernest for play time. And Ernest absolutely loves it! We recommend Kong Senior for all your older dogs.

Check back Wednesday to see our review of Kong Extreme!

Here is a chart to help you decide which Kong is best for your dog.

*Full Disclosure: we were provided with a Kong Senior and a Kong Extreme in exchange for our honest review. This in no way influenced my opinions. Opinions expressed here are 100% my own.

I never intended to adopt senior dogs. Never planned to have my heart broken over and over again. But then again, I wasn't prepared for the amazing joys either. I never sought out senior dogs. But they keep finding me.

First there was Brooks. He was 11 yrs old when we adopted him. Someone had apparently dumped the old guy and left him to survive on his own.
This was sad Brooks before we rescued him:

Brooks Before

This was Brooks a few months later, after a little love:

Brooks After

I thought I could never love a dog, or be loved by a dog, the way it was with Brooks. Then came Ike. Here's goofy Ike in the rescue group's photo:

Ike Before

  Here's Ike after we got him, and he became a certified therapy dog. He was so loving.

Ike After

 Recently my husband and I decided to rescue a younger dog. But a month ago Ernest found us. He's 8 1/2 years old. Here he is the day we adopted him. He was scared.

Ernest Before

And here he is one month later. He's happy, relaxed, full of energy and nonstop love.

Ernest After

Why do I love senior goldens? They fit my lifestyle. They're pretty mellow most of the time. And mostly, there is a gentle wisdom about senior dogs. They've learned about life, sometimes the hard way, and they understand what they need. Mostly, my senior goldens have just wanted to be loved. 

Other dogs may come into our life. But we'll always have a place for senior dogs. My husband told me recently that when he retires, he'd like to open a retirement home for senior goldens. I can't think of a better way to spend our golden years.

 I've got some exciting news. One of my stories is in the new Chicken Soup for the Soul, My Very Good Very Bad Dog, and it's available starting tomorrow!


















From the publisher: They come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities. From goofy to guard, from hero to ham, and everywhere in between, our dogs are important and beloved members of our families. Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Very Good, Very Bad Dog will have readers of all breeds laughing, commiserating, and maybe even shedding a tear. These 101 heartwarming, humorous and completely true stories about our canine companions are sure to touch every dog lover's soul. Perfect for "man's best friend's" best friend.

















My story is called Golden Oldies, and it's about Brooks, who we adopted when he was 11 years old, and how this led to Mike and I having a heart for rescuing senior dogs. And Ike, 9 years old, is here posing with the book, showing you that he is one of those awesome golden oldies we love!

If you love true, heartwarming, funny stories about dogs, check out Chicken Soup for the Soul, My Very Good, Very Bad Dog tomorrow.