Fad to the Bone: dog toys

Showing posts with label dog toys. Show all posts

Wednesday

Benebone Chew toys are a best bet for busy chompers

My dogs love chew toys, but those don’t usually last long around here. I’ve seen them gnaw their way through pricey nylon dog bones in mere minutes. And anything with a squeaker brings out the beast in them. That stuff is destroyed faster than you can say, “Here, buddy.”

Finally, we’ve found a chewable dog bone toy that lasts longer.

Benebones are a little pricey, but they’re a good value, if you consider their durability. I appreciate not having to replace my dogs’ chew toys almost daily.

My Border Collie and my Lab both love the giant bacon-flavored Y-shaped Benebones. Those retail just under $20 apiece, unless you can find them on special.

We’ve had a couple of the larger, sturdier Benebones for weeks. They bear teeth marks, but they are still holding strong. Best of all they aren’t splitting or splintering into dangerous choke-hazard pieces.

That’s worth plenty to me.

Image/s: Product promo photo – fair use

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Sunday

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.

No photo description available.

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.

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Monday

Easy fix: Pup chewing dog crate tray?

Puppies love to chew on stuff -- even the trays in their dog crates. Our little dog sure did.

Before we picked her up from the animal rescue, we picked up a sturdy, roomy dog crate with an accompanying tray to place inside it. We tricked it out with a comfy pad (More on that later.) and welcomed the pup to her new den.

Within a day or two, she was chewing the black plastic tray to bits. I honestly worried that she might swallow some of the sharp shards.

But the solution was simple.

I returned to the pet store and purchased a new plastic tray. But this time I bought a larger size, so it could go under the crate, instead of inside it. That way, the young dog would not be able to chew on it. (I picked up a few more chew toys at the same time, because a pup can never have enough of those, right?)

Sometimes we just have to think outside the box. (Or the dog crate.)

Gotta love an easy answer.

Also, if you guessed that our dog crate is lined with a faded old quilted English saddle pad, you’re right. We love to re-purpose old stuff.

Image/s:

Fitness training dogs – personal copyrighted photo.

Product promo photos / fair use

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Dog Shopping List: Top 21 Items a New Dog Owner Needs

Pick out these pet store pick-ups before picking out your new pup.

What does it take to care for a dog? Prospective pet owners may scratch their heads and wonder how many different products and supplies they must purchase before bringing home a canine as a pet. How much stuff does a dog really need?

Basically, domesticated dogs need food and water, exercise, grooming, shelter and plenty of loving attention.

Here’s a simple shopping list (arranged alphabetically) of the 20 essential items that may be needed for basic dog care in the home.

Bowls for food and water – A dog of any age and size will need sturdy, tip-resistant bowls to hold his or her food and water. Pet feeding bowls come in many sizes and shapes. The key features are durability and size-appropriateness for the particular breed of dog. For example, a tiny Yorkie might be fine with small bowls, while a St. Bernard would require much larger ones.

Dog bed or mat – Eventually, if allowed, most dogs will prefer the family sofa or a special person’s bed over his or her dog bed or mat. However, many pet owners and trainers insist that a dog must have a spot to call his own. An outside dog generally requires a weather-proof dog house, set within an enclosure for added protection from the elements and predators.

Dog carrier or crate – A sturdy dog crate, cage or carrier can be an excellent training and restraining tool for a brand-new pet. Used properly and compassionately, this item may also serve as a safe spot of retreat for an anxious animal in the home. The dog crate or carrier is useful for outings and errands as well. Large dogs may be safely transported inside a vehicle, while smaller breeds are often more secure inside a pet carrier.

Dog chew toys – Dogs of all ages, and particularly young pups, tend to love to chew on things. Chewing is also a healthy habit for maintaining a dog’s teeth. By having suitable and safe chew toys on hand, dog owners may minimize damage to household possessions, furniture and structures.

Dog collar – A properly fitting dog collar is an essential for any canine pet. The best varieties are adjustable. For larger dogs (or high-spirited ones), a pet harness may be a more suitable choice.

Dog treats – Yummy, crunchy dog treats are ideal for training a dog and rewarding good behavior. Of course, only dog-appropriate treats should be offered, as many human-friendly goodies are downright dangerous for dogs. How many well-meaning pet owners have offered unhealthy items to their dogs in take-home doggie bags, for example?

Dog vitamins – Pet supply stores offer a myriad of choices of pet vitamins. Some are helpful, although many are not actually needed for healthy dogs. A veterinarian can provide individual insights.

Flea and tick collar – A flea and tick collar is a prudent choice for a pet owner, even if the dog is to be bathed and dipped regularly. Especially in warmer months, this easy accessory can provide excellent pest prevention for the pet and the home.

Food – At the pet store or the grocery store, dog owners may choose from dry dog food, semi-moist dog food or moist canned dog food. The choice of dog foods is essentially a matter of personal preference, although many veterinarians recommend dogs consume at least some dry dog food daily. The crunching is healthy for a dog’s teeth.

Specific dog food formulations are offered for puppies, active dogs, less active dogs, senior dogs and other special needs diets.

Leash – Pets must be leashed on many occasions, particularly in public places, so this purchase is a necessity. A proper leash should be at least five feet long. Handy retractable leashes are available, which many dog walkers find extra convenient.

Pet first-aid kit – A simple first-aid kit usually includes suitable items for treating human and canine emergencies. Even so, prudent pet owners keep separate kids for people and animals, perhaps for added hygiene. Basically, a dog-care kit should include adhesive tape (or vet wrap), eye dropper, gauze pads, hydrogen peroxide, oral syringe, rectal thermometer and tongue depressors. Adhesive bandages (such as band-aids) should never be applied to pets, as these may be a choking hazard.

Pet housetraining pads – These waterproof-lined pads are ideal for housetraining young dogs and even for older pets that may have accidents for any reason.

Pet identification tag – Although pets are often microchipped or tattooed for identification, a simple pet ID tag may be attached to a dog’s collar for simple security. No special expertise or technology is needed to read a dog tag, so neighbors and others can quickly return a lost or errant dog. Ideally, this tag will include the dog’s name and the owner’s telephone number.

Pet nail clippers – Safety clippers are available for trimming a dog’s nails at home, unless the pet is professionally groomed quite often.

Pet odor cleaner – Even the best trained dogs occasionally have accidents inside the home, especially during the initial adjustment time. Special pet stain and odor removers can make cleanups much easier.

Pet shampoo – Gentle and safe pet shampoos are super for at-home bathing of dogs. Certain formulations do not irritate the skin or eyes.

Pet toothbrush and toothpaste – Many people do not realize that a dog’s teeth need to be brushed regularly for oral health. An old soft toothbrush can do the trick, after a cycle through the dishwasher. In addition, annual dental scaling (by a veterinarian) is important.

Pooper scooper – Unless a pet owner lives on acres of private land, he or she will need a pooper scooper (or tons of plastic baggies) to pick up after the pooch.

Safety gate – A child-safety gate can be handy for keeping a dog confined to the kitchen, laundry room or another area during initial training or when company comes to call.

Veterinarian’s telephone number (and appointment) – The single most important item for a new pet owner to possess is the telephone number of a qualified veterinarian. Ideally, the new dog owner will make an initial appointment immediately as well for an examination and the administration of any needed vaccinations.

What other items might a new dog owner need?

Certain pet owners opt to purchase apparel for their dogs, particularly for cold-weather months. This is optional, of course, making the most sense for dogs with frequent clipping and grooming.

Many additional dog-related products may be available as well, including dog seatbelts, dog shoes or boots, dog strollers, dog holiday costumes and a host of dog toys.

Image/s:

Graphic adapted by this user from public domain artwork/s

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Tuesday

Pet product review: Boots and Barkley 5” Brainteaser Toy

Dog toys are meant to be chomped and chewed and tossed and crushed. They’re supposed to hold up to all manner of romping, rolling, and rumbling.

How does the Boots & Barkley 5” Brainteaser Toy take real-life dog play?

This fascinating plaything for pooches, sold at Target stores, looks like a lot of fun. It’s bendy and bouncy and colorful. Essentially, this clever polyester toy is a soft woven sphere with a little plush bumblebee dangling inside, tempting curious canines to try to extract it.

The Boots & Barkley 5” Brainteaser Toy, which retails for $6.99, requires no batteries and is marketed as non-toxic.

All that sounds pretty good.

Personally, I coughed up the cash, hoping to please my brand-new puppy with a perky plaything. That’s a fair amount of kibbles, but the product appeared appealing.

Immediately, my little Border Collie/Labrador mix took to the toy like a little kid on Christmas morning. She loved it.

She fetched and pawed and bounced the thing all over. She stuck her nose through the woven straps and played with the little bee.

Then what happened?

Here’s the drawback.

Puppies chew. OK, that’s no news flash, but perhaps the folks at Boots & Barkley didn’t plan on the degree to which this natural phenomenon may occur.

Puppies chew a lot.

In less than an hour, the stretchy multi-colored polyester fabric covering the straps that formed the ball was frayed. I was picking sharp shards of white polyester lining out of my puppy’s mouth.

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.

The fuzzy little bee, presumably intended to remain inside the sphere (as the brainteaser) was already on its own on the floor. Apparently, my puppy is cleverer than the dog toy designers expected a dog to be.

The $6.99 Boots & Barkley 5” Brainteaser Toy was already trashed. What a disappointment.

Image/s:

Title image adapted from product promo photo – fair use