This post is sponsored by KONG Club. We only recommend products we know and love, and all opinions expressed here are our own.
We (Mike and Steph) have been getting our dachshund Django KONG products since we brought him home 7 years ago as an adorable 4.5 lb puppy. One of Django's very first toys was a Classic KONG, a durable rubber dog toy that can be used for chewing, playing, and treat time. To this day, we regularly fill Django's Classic KONG with a tiny dab of peanut butter for a midday snack. Another all-time favorite is Django's KONG Wild Knots Bear plush dog toy. Despite endless hours of aggressive chewing, gnawing, and playing with this toy, somehow the bear is still in one piece!
KONG is one of the most popular dog toy and treat brands in the U.S., and we've been huge fans of this pet brand for years. Therefore, we were stoked to learn that KONG Box was upgraded to KONG Club in March 2022.
KONG Club is a monthly subscription pet box for dogs and cats. Django has received a few KONG Club dog boxes this year already, so we are excited to share our feedback on and experience with the new monthly subscription dog box.
After being customers of KONG for 7 years, what do we think of KONG Club? Is this members-only club worth it? What comes in a KONG Club box, and what is included with the subscription? How much is KONG Club, and is it worth it?
In this DJANGO Dog Blog article, we provide a comprehensive overview and review of KONG Club based on our experience getting KONG Club and using the KONG Club app for our dog Django. If you have any questions or want to share one of your own experiences, please leave a comment below. We cannot wait to hear from you!
KONG Club is a monthly subscription pet service that combines KONG's best-selling pet toys with AskVet’s mobile pet health management platform. Available for both dogs and cats, each month KONG Club members receive a box stocked with a fun assortment of KONG toys, treats, tips, and seasonal recipes based on their pet’s size and age. Members also receive 24/7 live access to licensed veterinarians via a mobile app and access to a Rainy Day Fund which will pay up to $1,000 to help cover emergency vet visits (more on this below).
Here is a full rundown of what KONG Club members receive on an ongoing basis:
Django has received a few KONG Club monthly boxes already. Each monthly KONG Club Box comes with:
To give you an even better idea of what comes inside a KONG Club box, the photo above shows you everything Django received in his first ever box. Here is a more detailed description of each item from his first box as well as some personal feedback on each:
New KONG Club subscribers receive a KONG Classic dog toy and a KONG dog toy cleaning brush. Every KONG Club Box also has a surprise monthly bonus. Here are bonus items that have been sent out in the past:
Ok, I admit that Django cannot use words to explain how he feels about KONG Club. I can, however, explain how Django reacts as soon as a new KONG Club reaches our front door.
The last time Django received his monthly KONG Club box, I took it and put it on a shelf in our garage. If I bring it in the house before I'm ready to open it with Django, Django will go crazy and try to jump up to get it. Given Django had back surgery for Intervertebral Disc Disease earlier this year, jumping these days is a big no.
I thought the cool, fresh air of our garage would prevent Django from knowing it was there. Well, was I very wrong! While working from my home office one afternoon, I heard a scratching noise. It would last for a few seconds, stop for a few seconds, then continue. I finally closed my laptop, went downstairs, and saw Django pawing passionately at the door to our garage. He got more excited when he saw me coming, spun in a few circles with his tail wagging, and began to whine!
What was Django excited about? You guessed it! His KONG Club box was sitting on a high shelf just outside the door to our garage. Django could smell the KONG Club box toys and treats through the door and was determined to get them!
So how does Django feel about his monthly KONG Club boxes? He loves them so much that he'll do anything to get them! And once he finally gets to open his box inside, he goes a little crazy over each and every toy and treat inside.
One of our DJANGO team members received the KONG Club Cat Box for her 7-year old Manx mix cat, Queenie. Queenie is notorious for hating new cat toys and treats. Here is how Queenie reacted to each of the items she received in her first KONG Club Box:
The KONG Club app gives loving pet owners peace of mind no matter what stage of life their pet is in. Below we review the key features of the KONG Club app: the Live Vet Chat Option, Rainy Day Fund, Kong Club Library, and AskVet Clubhouse.
You can schedule a 1:1, 30-minute Zoom session with a Certified Pet Lifestyle Coach on the KONG Club app anytime of the day. Having a licensed vet on hand is invaluable. Our long-haired sausage dog once chewed through a lamp cord and the baseboard molding in our NYC apartment. In situations like these, speaking to someone quickly is key.
If you are not able to schedule a 1:1 Personal Care Plan session (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST), you can use KONG Club's Live Chat option. I asked Dr. Patricia Wilfert what questions KONG Club members ask most often. She said, "What food should I feed my dog?" and "How do I safely treat my dog's fleas?"
After receiving our first KONG Club Box, $45 was deposited into our Rainy Day Fund. The emergency funds were available after 7 days. Thankfully, we did not need to use them.
With that said, the Rainy Day Fund would have been useful when Django started shaking and was slightly wobbly on his back legs in January 2022. Mike and I could have logged into the KONG Club app and immediately spoken with a licensed vet. After the KONG Club veterinarian confirmed that Django might need IVDD surgery, we could go to any veterinary clinic. Then after we paid his $8,600 hospital bill, KONG Club would have reimbursed us up to $1,000.
As of writing, the KONG Club library has 212 blog posts. Approximately 69% of the articles are about dogs, healthy lifestyles, and pet care. The KONG Club library might not be the best resource if you have a small or exotic pet. But you can quickly search for terms like potty training and bookmark your favorite topics.
Mike and I wish we could have accessed the KONG Club library while potty training Django. Dachshunds are very difficult to potty train. As a result, Django had regular accidents in our Brooklyn apartment until he was 8 months old.
With 3,000+ members, the AskVet Clubhouse is the perfect place to swap pet stories and give and get support and advice from other dachshund owners. We have only been members of the AskVet Clubhouse for a week, but we were able to suggest the best winter coat for a 6-month-old field dog. As the parents of a rambunctious 3.5-year-old toddler and a 6-month-old baby, we also love that the AskVet Clubhouse has a webinar on pets and toddlers. We have worked hard to teach our oldest son, William, to respect Django's boundaries.
The cost is based on how long your KONG Club subscription is and what type of pet you have. If you sign up for a 6 month or 12 month subscription, you will save 11%-29%. Here are the current prices as of October 2022:
Your first KONG Club Box is easy to order. Here is how:
The KONG Club Box is the perfect way to spoil your dog. The premium monthly dog subscription box is stuffed with high quality dog toys and treats that seldom disappoint. We (and Django) love the mix of both plush and rubber dog toys; they provide a different style of exercise and entertainment for Django. Django absolutely loves the novelty of receiving new toys each month and, as described above, he goes completely crazy every time he receives a new KONG Club box.
As for the KONG Club app, we love knowing there are licensed vets at our fingertips 24/7. Although the vets on the app cannot write or refill pet prescriptions, they can answer any health and wellness questions that arise throughout the year.
Though we hope our long-haired dachshund does not need emergency care. It is great to know that we are gradually building an emergency pet care fund. After all, peace of mind is priceless.
Overall, KONG Club is a fantastic value, especially if you select a 6 Kit or 12 Kit plan. If you have not already tried KONG Club, join now, and let us know what you think!
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Review #2! It’s been over three years since we wrote our first review of The Farmer’s Dog and over four years since we started feeding this fresh dog food to our long-haired dachshund, Django.
Over the years, The Farmer’s Dog has introduced has launched a DIY Nutrient Mix for homemade fresh dog food and added salmon oil to its increasingly popular fresh dog food recipes.
In this DJANGO Dog Blog article, we provide an updated overview and review of The Farmer's Dog based on our extensive experience with the fresh dog food brand.
Dog backpack carriers have become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. These pet carriers are incredibly functional and useful in countless settings. Do you love hiking, strolling, or shopping around town with your dog? Do you live in a city, take public transportation, or commute with your pup? Do you have a senior dog with arthritis, a puppy that has not been vaccinated, or a dog recovering from surgery like our dachshund, Django?
Dog backpacks are safe and convenient pet travel carriers where your dog can rest and relax comfortably without slowing you down. They are worn like a standard backpack (on your back) and have a dedicated, secure, and comfy place for your pup to ride.
In this DJANGO Dog Blog article, we explore the two types of dog backpack carriers: vertical and horizontal. We explain why natural position backpack carriers are always the best option for dogs with back or health problems. We also discuss what features you should look for in a horizontal dog backpack carrier.
Dachshunds are a small, stubborn, loyal, and adventurous dog breed. Mike and I (Steph) know from experience. We're the proud dog parents of Django, our 7-year old long-haired dachshund and adventure pup. Django has been all over the United States and Europe with us, and we even named our dog accessories and dog apparel business, DJANGO, after him!
Despite being one of the most popular small dog breeds, dachshunds are often difficult to outfit. It can be challenging to find a dog harness that comfortably and securely fits your wiener dog's broad chest, muscular build, and long frame.
In this DJANGO Dog Blog article, we discuss what to look for when choosing a walking harness for your sausage dog. We also examine how often you should exercise your dachshund.