Pet Product Review » Toys

Kong Braidz

demik3 — Sat, 29 May 2010 19:50:05 +0000

This is the dog toy graveyard we have at the bottom of the stairs. It contains toys that my dogs have played with and de-stuffed, pulled out of shape or put holes in. Toys that I should probably throw out. Something always keeps me from tossing them in the trash right away; I think it is my wallet weeping. When money is tight it can be hard to sit and watch your dog destroy something she’s only had for half an hour ( yes, I’m talking about you, Malarky), but who can resist watching the joy they get from it, even if it’s short lived.

So to help keep my wallet happy, I stay on the hunt for toys that will last a little awhile. When I saw the new toy by Kong, Kong Braidz*, I thought it looked like it might have what it takes to stand up to some rough, tough terriers and a spaniel. A visit to my local store brought Mr. Zebra home with me ( I can not be the only one who names my dogs’ toys, can I?).

Mr. Zebra is one of the large Kong Braidz* (Jack Russells think big), it is about 15 inches in length including his back legs(the head and body part are about 10 inches). He is made out of fleece and has a stuffed head with a squeaker, 4 legs which are also stuffed and a tail. The body is braided (thus the name!).

I wasn’t even home 5 minutes when Mr. Zebra was discovered in my bag. I removed him from his packaging and handed him over to Ricochet, my chief toy tester (seniority rules!). Ricochet loves toys and gave it a good work-out shaking it and squeaking it (and squeaking it and squeaking it…). Once he was done, Mellie took over and after that, everyone took turns.

Mr. Zebra became a favorite toy, they thought it was great for playing tug with each other or having me throw it for them to fetch. Sadly, his squeaker only lasted about 2 days before someone did a craniotomy and removed it along with the stuffing. His appendages have lasted longer. The picture to the left was taken about a month after Mr. Zebra was given to the dogs. He actually looks pretty good except for the deflated head and being covered in dog fur. He did lose one of his legs shortly after the picture was taken. (Note: The manufacturer recommends that the toy not be played with if worn, loose or torn pieces occur. I agree with this and watch my dogs closely to make sure there are no issues. Your dog may need to have the toy removed sooner).

I liked the Kong Braidz* and felt it was worth opening my wallet (I’ve seen it priced from $7 to 12$. If they could make his head sturdier, maybe make it out of a tennis ball (Ricochet would think he was in heaven if they added a tennis ball) or thicker material, this toy would be just about perfect.

Amazon*

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Ethical Products Skinneeez

demik3 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:06:07 +0000

Ricochet playing with his Raccoon Skinneeez

When it comes to buying dog toys, I tend to watch my wallet. While I am sure my dogs get much joy from ripping apart a $12 toy a half hour after I give it to them, I am left feeling like I should have just put the money right into the trash. Because of this I tend to buy toys from the dollar stores that they can happily destroy for much less.

But I still stay on the lookout for toys that are less destructible. I saw the Skinneez Stuffing Free Dog Toys* while shopping in a dog catalog outlet store. It had 2 things I thought might increase its longevity- it had no stuffing that they would enjoy pulling out and trailing through the house and it didn’t really have any small parts that they would pick at until they pulled it off. The only thing that made me reconsider putting it into my basic was the material felt a little thin to me. So I decided to ask the cashier’s opinion before she checked me out. Maybe I should have worded it different and not ask how indestructible it was, because the answer she gave me was “every toy can be destroyed”. Ah, duh, not helpful and it doesn’t provide much information to me.

Luckily, I decided to buy the product anyway because this has actually become one of mine and my dogs’ favorite toys. Yes, they kill the 2 squeakers it contains in no time, but other than that the toy has stayed intact. Over a year later, they still play with the Raccoon originally bought along with a Fox I bought them.

Good points-

No stuffing so nothing to clean up if your dog is one that likes pulling the stuffing out.
They do have ears and feet which may entice some dogs who are really intent on chewing, but they don’t have the boggly eyes or felt doodads sticking off them that some toys have.
Even though the material doesn’t seem sturdy, it holds up to my dogs rough play including playing tug with me and each other. It might not be as sturdy for bigger dogs.
There is a mini-size for the little guys to enjoy. The large is about 24 inches long and the mini about 13 inches.
They can be washed with no problems.

Bad points-

The only issue I had was with my dogs killing the 2 squeakers. Fortunately, they still enjoy playing with the it.

So the Skinneez Stuffing Free Dog Toy* is a toy I would recommend, but as with any toy watch your dog while they play with it and inspect it often to insure it is still safe to play with.

Amazon*

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Petstages Cheese Chase Cat Toy

demik3 — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 17:03:25 +0000

I bought the Petstages Cheese Chase Cat Toy 2 years ago when I added Bitsa to my household. I was really surprised at what a hit it was not just with Bitsa but with all my cats. The Cheese Chase * is an interactive cat toy made of plastic. In the very center is a stuffed mouse mounted on a flexible pole that springs back and forth when swatted at. On the very outside is a track that goes around the circumference of the toy. It contains a plastic ball for the cat to swat and chase. In the center of the circle is another ball for the cat to try and get through the 3 halls in the cover.

My cats thought swatting at that ball on the outer track was the most fun. They would lay there and swat it back and forth for 5-10 minutes (a long time in the cat world). It was funny to see 12 year old Tyke acting like a kitten over this toy. Interesting enough, they paid no attention to the ball in the center or the mouse. The outside ball was the only thing they played with.

After a few months, they lost interest in the Cheese Chase. Bitsa grew and had more fun exploring the house or playing chase with Pyro. Adding Charm to our household has created renewed interest in the Cheese Chase. I moved it to the center of the living room and the older cats were more than happy to show Charm how it worked. She picked it up quickly and has a blast playing with it. Not only does she play with the outside ball, but she also plays with the inside ball and occasionally wrestles the mouse.

Overall, the Petstages Cheese Chase Cat Toy has been a winner in our house. Not only do the cats find it entertaining, but it is well made and easy to clean. Not something I have had an easy time finding in the cat toys that are available.

Amazon*

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The Kong Dog Toy

demik3 — Thu, 31 May 2007 17:02:08 +0000

If you ask a dog owner what a Kong * is, most likely they will reply that it is a toy for dogs, not an over-sized Gorilla who wreaks havoc on Manhattan. The Kong has become one of the most well known dog toy and for good reason. Made of hard rubber, it is very durable. They even make a line for aggressive chewers (note: this does not mean it is indestructible. As with any toy it should be inspected regularly for any damage and discarded when no longer safe).

The Kong is also a great interactive toy for dogs. The center is hollow, making a great place to put food and treats for your dog to work on getting out. Most people know to insert biscuits, but many dogs quickly learn how to get them out in the shortest amount of time. I like to take my dogs’ dry food and soak it in water. Sometimes I mix in other foods (the picture at the top has macaroni & cheese mixed in). Once it is soft, I stuff it in the Kong and freeze. I will also layer kibble and cheese and microwave for a few seconds to melt the cheese (let this cool before offering it to your dog). This keeps my dogs occupied for a little bit. You can find more great recipes to try at Kong Company . Just click on Tips and Advice for the recipe page.

This is one toy I recommend for every dog owner. It’s durability is great for the dog that likes to chew. Its erratic bouncing, keeps the dog who loves to fetch moving and its stuffability provides that mental stimulation that many dogs need.

Amazon*

Only Natural Pet Store*

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Veggie Baskets

demik3 — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 16:54:35 +0000

For most of our small pets, life can be pretty boring. Sure, we may think we want to changes places with them sometimes so we can have the EASY life, but how long could you stand it? By providing different things for them to do, we can enrich their lives, lower their stress and help them be healthier.

In their natural habitat, animals spend a large part of their time looking for food. It doesn’t magically appear in front of them. One way I provide enrichment for my rabbits is to put their veggies in something so they have to work a little bit to get them out. Sometimes, I will cut small holes in paper lunch bag and put lettuce inside, other times I use something like the Veggie Basket*. Made of wire, it is very easy to slide the lettuce leaves and parsley inside. You can even put their hay inside. Once it is hung up, they are ready to eat. Not only do they get some exercise, but they get much needed mental stimulation.

Amazon*

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Tuffys Dog Toys

demik3 — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 16:36:31 +0000

The dog in the picture is my Parson Russell, Ricochet, with one of his favorite toys, a Tuffys Ultimate Rumble Ring*. Can’t you just see the glow of adoration in his eyes for his toy? Okay, so that is my lousy picture taking, but honestly, it is one of his favorites and one of the most durable toys he has.

Made with 3 layers of material, 2 of those are industrial strength nylon. It has stitching across the toy and has multiple rows of stitching on the edges to make it harder for your dog to chew through. The toys also contain squeakers but because they are under the layers of fabric they are MUCH quieter making it nicer for the humans in the household. For dogs who are a bit harder on their toys, they have Mega Tuffys which are made with 7 layers of material, 3 of them PVC! They offer a Tuff Scale on their site for you to see what level of toy your dog would do best with. Check out their site to see which Tuffys toy is best for your dog.

Remember, even with all this durability built into it, the toy is not a chew toy. All play should be supervised and if you have a dog who is super destructive, it would be best for you to play with your dog using the toy rather than letting your dog play by himself. We have had the Rumble Ring that is in the picture for over 6 months and it is almost as good as new. I bought the Tuffys Junior Log * (Tuff Scale 5) and Malarky put a hole in it the first night and finished it off a few days ago. I will probably stick to the thinner Tuffys, like the Rumble Ring (Tuff Scale 9) that don’t have as much stuffing although you never know, Ricochet really enjoyed the Jr. Tuff Log. They also have some real cool Tuffys Dinosaurs*(Tuff Scale 7) and then there is the Sting-ray* (Tuff Scale 6). Decisions, decisions….

Likes:

- very sturdy, should stand up to the activity of most dogs

-quiet squeakers, great for those dogs who have a lot of prey drive and just want to kill the squeaker, plus much easier on our ears.

- Tuff Scale, love having a guide to go by to see what toy is best for my dog

Dislikes:

-I really can’t think of any. This is the toy I would have liked to have invented to stand up to some tough terrier play.

Find more Tuffys at
Just4Pooches.com – A Unique Boutique for Your Furry Friend*

Only Natural Pet Store*

Amazon*

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