Pet product review: Star Wars Plush Yoda Squeaky Dog Toy

 

Love Yoda? The Star Wars Plush Yoda Squeaky Dog Toy is adorable, especially for families that love the Star Wars movie series. Really, it’s cute and sort of cuddly.

 The 6” version retails for $8.99, but we picked it up a little cheaper on Amazon Prime. (It also comes in 9” and 12” versions for a bit more.)

 

 

The little Yoda toy seemed like a sweet little reward for our dog.

 But the fun didn’t last long. At first squeak, my dog tackled the toy and began chewing. She didn’t come up for air till the squeaker was out … and dead. From then on, she carried the now-limp and hollow cotton plush plaything around for a day or two. Then it got tossed.

 This product reviewer purchased the product described and evaluated here, and the reviewer has no prior or existing relationship (either familial or professional) with the creator, manufacturer or marketer of the product.

 

In all fairness, maybe we didn’t give this product a fair shake.

 

 After all, anything containing a squeaker is pretty much dead meat in our house. But I’m sort of done buying toys that my dog will destroy the first day. I’d rather invest in a couple of Nylabones, some replacement Chuck-It balls, or another sturdy rubber KONG.

Image/s:  Product promo photo – fair use and personal photo (all rights reserved)

 

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Shoveling snow for pets? Yay or nay?

Whew! I just shoveled multiple paths across the backyard – for the dogs. It looks like a wintry labyrinth out there. And my dogs are loving it.

Why would I do such a thing? Have you ever shoveled snow for your dogs? Don’t dogs love dashing through deep snow?

Sure, people shovel patios or small areas for little dogs. One neighbor cleared a spot for her Schnauzer. Another did the same thing for their Dachshund. But I have a Border Collie and a Lab. Did I really need to do all that digging?

• It’s pretty deep out there today. My dogs are not short. They manage pretty well in the snow. But we just had over a foot of heavy, fresh snow, falling on a base of at least 5 inches. The pups leapt outside to join me, as I hefted the snow shovel to carve out trails for them. At first, they were super enthusiastic, but they both hesitated before turning in continuous circles, packing down areas to do their business.
• My running buddies were getting tired. These two canines (my personal fitness trainers), who regularly run 3-8 miles at a stretch with me, were huffing and puffing out there. The Border Collie actually laid down on top of the snow for a bit to rest.
• We have a fire pit, which features a rough metal fire ring. With a smaller snowfall, it's easy to spot in the yard. But with a significant blanketing of snow, it’s hard to tell exactly where it is. Although my dogs are pretty smart and well-acquainted with their own yard, I still worried they might run right into the pit by mistake. That adventure would not end well. So I piled up shovel-load after shovel-load where I estimated the fire pit to be.
• I wanted to fill my bird feeders, but I could hardly get to them without shoveling a pathway. Sure, that’s a lot of work for wild birds, but they don’t have many dining choices this time of year. And I love watching them stop by for snacks. (So do my dogs and the cat, who vie for window space to see the show.)
• Shoveling is super exercise. It’s great for cardio and strength combined. Maybe too great. I’m a little sore now. But I built up a personal calorie deficit, just in time for a frigid winter weekend, when we’ll likely hunker at home with the munchies.
• Plus the dogs are happy. They dart through the pathways I dug out there. They leap off into the deepest snow and drag it back onto the path. Then they shake off their paws in the house, leaving me to wipe down the wood floors again and again. My floors are cleaner than ever. (Again, cardio!)

Hey, there are plenty of worse things I could shovel. So let it snow!

Can you dig it? (Sorry, had to.)

 

 

 

Image/s:  Photos by this author. All rights reserved.

 Feel free to follow on Twitter, and find Features’ Pets on Facebook.. Please visit my Amazon author page as well. And I am happy to share my RUNDERDOG ambassador code for 10% off on Bondi Band Athletic Headbands, Accessories, and Fashions. (Simply enter the code at online checkout.).