This is a specific conversation about Kong and chew toys — for serious chewers — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
A Rottweiler getting into a Lab's Kongs is a classic multi-dog headache — the Lab's toys simply aren't built for Rottweiler jaw strength, and a destroyed Kong isn't just expensive, it can become a choking hazard. The right chew toy for a serious chewer needs to be durable enough to last but not so hard it risks cracking teeth, and the right choice depends heavily on chewing style and jaw strength. To point you in the right direction: is the Rottweiler stealing the Lab's Kongs out of resource guarding, boredom, or just because they're the most interesting thing around? And is he eating through them completely or just mangling them?
Mostly boredom I think — he finishes his own toys quickly and then goes for hers. He doesn't guard them, he just destroys them. He's a big male, about 50kg, and he chews through everything.
inparticular.ai
That makes perfect sense — a 50kg male Rottweiler with nothing left to chew is going to find the nearest available option, and the Lab's standard Kongs are basically a light snack for him. What stuffing are you using in the Kongs currently? And has he ever had a Kong Extreme — the black one — or has he only ever had the red classic?
Just the standard red ones. Both dogs get the same — I didn't realise there was a difference. He gets through them in maybe 20 minutes.
inparticular.ai
Right — the red Classic is rated for moderate chewers, which is fine for most Labs but completely wrong for a dog like yours. Twenty minutes is actually telling you something: he's not just chewing for fun, he's bored and under-stimulated. Here's what I'd do. Get him onto the Kong Extreme — it's the black version, made from a much tougher natural rubber compound and specifically designed for power chewers. Stuffed properly and frozen, a Rottweiler of his size should get 45 minutes to an hour out of it, sometimes longer. Freeze it the night before with a mix of kibble, peanut butter and a little broth — that makes it genuinely challenging. Keep the Lab on her red Classics but feed them in separate rooms or at separate times so he's not eyeing hers up. One Extreme each session for him, frozen, should stop the raiding pretty much immediately.
That sounds really straightforward. Should I get a size XL for him given his size?
inparticular.ai
Yes — XL is right for a dog his size. The Large will technically work but the XL holds more stuffing, which means it lasts longer and gives him more to work through. That extra volume is actually what you're buying for a dog like him — it's not just about durability, it's about extending the engagement time. The Kong Extreme XL is widely available on Amazon UK and it's the single best investment you can make for a heavy-chewing Rottweiler.
Great, I'll order a couple. Should I get the Lab a new one too since hers are probably compromised?
inparticular.ai
Yes — replace hers. Once a Kong has been chewed by another dog, especially a much stronger one, the integrity of the rubber is compromised even if it looks okay. A fresh Classic in the right size for her, and a couple of Extreme XLs for him, and you should have a much calmer household. If he ever does work through an Extreme — which does happen with the most determined chewers — the West Paw Zogoflex Tux is worth knowing about as a backup, but start with the Extreme and see how you go.
