Writing for the web - a journalism class assignment.
Time tested toys your dog will love
By Sharon Weltz
We’ve all been there. We give our dog a new toy only to see it reduced to tattered bits within minutes. No more. We’ve tested over 20 leading dog toys and evaluated them for durability, value and how long they held a dog’s interest. The following three products scored highest with our test group.
Offering a gentle spin on the traditional flying disc is the flexible K9 Flyer from RuffDawg. Our test group preferred the K9 Flyer over all other flying discs. The K9 Flyer is soft on the mouth, can withstand months of chewing, tugging and catching, and sails through the air accurately and quickly. It is available in two sizes, a 9.5 inch for medium to large dogs and a 6.5 inch junior size disc for smaller dogs. Though not indestructible, these toys will last over a year even with daily use and will provide your dog with hours of catching and retrieving fun. The K9 Flyer can be purchased online or go to the RuffDawg website to search for a retailer new you.
The Kyjen company knows what it is doing, as our test group threw everything they had at Kyjen’s puzzles for dogs. Their Puzzle Plush line of toys includes Hide-a-squirrel, Hide-a-Bird, Hide-a-Bee, Hide-a-Snake, and the Icube. These unique, interactive toys are designed to challenge as well as keep your dogs entertained. The puzzles come in four pieces: three critters and a hiding place. For example, the Hide-a-Squirrel comes with three plush squirrels (with squeakers inside) which you insert into a plush tree trunk. The tree trunk contains three openings which your dog can explore to try and remove the squirrels. Our test group caught on to the process quickly, and once the squirrels were successfully removed, were carried and squeaked enthusiastically. All of the puzzles were durable and long lasting and held our test groups attention.
Eventually a critter’s seams may be breached, and when that happens, Kyjen offers replacement critters, saving pet owners the expense of re-purchasing the entire puzzle.
Our final top toy is none other than the humble tennis ball. I know what you’re thinking; you’ve purchased tennis balls from the pet store only to watch your dog pull the felt off or punctured the ball within days. We tested many tennis balls, and two have proven to be dog worthy. Wilson Championship and Advantage tennis balls, and Penn's Championship and SpinTrak tennis balls came out on top. Not only are they durable, but they are non-toxic. According to Wilson Sporting Goods and Penn Racquet Sports Company, their tennis balls are made of rubber and latex and the felt covering the ball consists of wool and nylon. The dyes used to color the felt are also non-toxic. Wilson Championship and Advantage tennis balls, and Penn's Championship and SpinTrak tennis balls have a good quality felt attached to them which does not peel off easily, and the balls are made of thicker rubber than most other balls making them more durable. Avoid brands which do not advertise balls as being non-toxic. Head to your local sporting goods store to purchase Wilson and Penn tennis balls that both you and your dogs will enjoy.
COMMENTS? What are your dog’s favorite durable toys?
We’ve all been there. We give our dog a new toy only to see it reduced to tattered bits within minutes. No more. We’ve tested over 20 leading dog toys and evaluated them for durability, value and how long they held a dog’s interest. The following three products scored highest with our test group.
Offering a gentle spin on the traditional flying disc is the flexible K9 Flyer from RuffDawg. Our test group preferred the K9 Flyer over all other flying discs. The K9 Flyer is soft on the mouth, can withstand months of chewing, tugging and catching, and sails through the air accurately and quickly. It is available in two sizes, a 9.5 inch for medium to large dogs and a 6.5 inch junior size disc for smaller dogs. Though not indestructible, these toys will last over a year even with daily use and will provide your dog with hours of catching and retrieving fun. The K9 Flyer can be purchased online or go to the RuffDawg website to search for a retailer new you.
The Kyjen company knows what it is doing, as our test group threw everything they had at Kyjen’s puzzles for dogs. Their Puzzle Plush line of toys includes Hide-a-squirrel, Hide-a-Bird, Hide-a-Bee, Hide-a-Snake, and the Icube. These unique, interactive toys are designed to challenge as well as keep your dogs entertained. The puzzles come in four pieces: three critters and a hiding place. For example, the Hide-a-Squirrel comes with three plush squirrels (with squeakers inside) which you insert into a plush tree trunk. The tree trunk contains three openings which your dog can explore to try and remove the squirrels. Our test group caught on to the process quickly, and once the squirrels were successfully removed, were carried and squeaked enthusiastically. All of the puzzles were durable and long lasting and held our test groups attention.
Eventually a critter’s seams may be breached, and when that happens, Kyjen offers replacement critters, saving pet owners the expense of re-purchasing the entire puzzle.
Our final top toy is none other than the humble tennis ball. I know what you’re thinking; you’ve purchased tennis balls from the pet store only to watch your dog pull the felt off or punctured the ball within days. We tested many tennis balls, and two have proven to be dog worthy. Wilson Championship and Advantage tennis balls, and Penn's Championship and SpinTrak tennis balls came out on top. Not only are they durable, but they are non-toxic. According to Wilson Sporting Goods and Penn Racquet Sports Company, their tennis balls are made of rubber and latex and the felt covering the ball consists of wool and nylon. The dyes used to color the felt are also non-toxic. Wilson Championship and Advantage tennis balls, and Penn's Championship and SpinTrak tennis balls have a good quality felt attached to them which does not peel off easily, and the balls are made of thicker rubber than most other balls making them more durable. Avoid brands which do not advertise balls as being non-toxic. Head to your local sporting goods store to purchase Wilson and Penn tennis balls that both you and your dogs will enjoy.
COMMENTS? What are your dog’s favorite durable toys?