PLAY! PLAY! PLAY!
Dogs and people love to play, and the more we play together the better we get along.
In celebration and support of this important part of our relationship with dogs, we are expanding our offerings of toys.
(And speaking of play, don't miss Patricia's new booklet on Play Between People and Dogs, coming out in May)
We have experimented with a variety of toys in both the laboratory (our office) and the field (our homes) with highly trained and discerning testers (Will, Lassie, Cooper, Mia and Zooey). Here are the blue ribbon winners:
Slobberwick Squeaky Buddy
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All Paws Up!
Who couldn't love a dog toy called a Slobberwick? 3 of our 5 dogs didn't care about its amusing name, but they loved playing with it. This toy got an All Paws Up from Will, Lassie and Cooper. Lassie loves to mouth and suck on soft toys, Cooper loves to carry them around, and Will loves to rip them into shreds--and they all adored this toy. Although there's no question a dedicated squeaker-killer could eventually destroy this toy, we found it to be remarkably hardy. It is fast drying, easy to clean and a great addition to the toy chest. |
Orbee-Tuff(R) Orbo
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One of the most durable, pliable, bounciest and good smellingest (!) toys on the market.
We love our Kongs, and wouldn't live without them, but here's a Kong-like toy that our dogs adored. Shaped like a slightly thinner version of a Kong, this stuffable, snow-man shaped toy was a huge hit with Zoe. Will played with this by him self for almost 30 minutes one evening and it's rarely out of Zoe's mouth. It's light and is made of Orbee-Tuff(R), a truly impressive compound developed by Planet Dog that is safe, durable and even smells like mint. It won't hold as much food as a Kong, but our dogs didn't seem to care. Rated "Top Product of the Year" by many doggy magazines, we won't be without this toy ever again. |
Strawberry w/Treat Spot
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Think spring.
Well, your dog won't care that this toy looks like spring, but this hardy, attractive toy was a smash hit at the McConnell household. Will couldn't decide between the Slobber-wick, the Orbo or the Strawberry. Will loves to pump his jaws on it (like so many dogs do with tennis balls) and Trisha loves smiling at a toy that smells good and makes her laugh. With a small hole for stuffing, this toy could be great for dogs who are just learning the joy of object play. |
Bones (Orbee-Tuff(R))
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Mia loved this perfectly shaped, perfectly sized bone when it was stuffed with her favorite treats. After the treats were gone, she carried it around like it was pirate's gold! Cooper carried it around grinning from ear to ear. Willie tosses it in the air and plays with it by himself so Patricia can write about it! We're offering three sizes so you can find the perfect bone for your dog. Surely every dog should have her own bone to call her own! |
Chewber Tug 'n Toss
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Chewber was our first toy pick and it is still a perennial favorite. Made with natural rubber reinforced with nylon, this "Tug n' Toss" disc-like toy seems virtually indestructible and has a pleasant texture and odor, (unlike some other durable dog toys we decided not to offer). Will plays with it every day and it still looks new. It can be used for tossing (our favorite), tugging and even as a water dish. We are no less than astounded at the flexibility and durability of this toy. Another all paws up! |
Classic Kongs!
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Well, we just couldn't help ourselves: we had to add Kongs to our list of "The Best of the Best". Who doesn't love Kongs? |
A Word About Toy Safety
We are all about keeping our dogs safe as well as happy, so keep a few things in mind when you are buying dogs toys, no matter where you get them. The two dangers posed to dogs by toys are 1) ingesting something that is either toxic or that can block their digestive track and 2) toys that can be lodged in a dog's throat and block their breathing.
Shopping carefully can go a long way to keeping your dog safe:
- Be sure to buy toys that are sized appropriately for your dog. Toys must be large enough to avoid being lodged in a throat, and sized such that hearty chewers can't bite off a piece of the toy. Hard chewers do better with round toys, if they are too large to be crunched by the strong molars at the back of the mouth.
- Be sure to remove puppy-sized toys as your dog grows. If you're not sure if a toy is too small--it probably is.
- Always supervise play with toys that could be destroyed (being especially careful of squeaky toys) and partially swallowed.
- Remove toys at the first sign of damage that might put your dog at risk. No toys are 100% safe, but some toys are much less safe than others. Avoid toys with small parts that can be easily removed and swallowed.
So sorry, but for health reasons we can't return toys.











