Best Dog Stuff
From DDOG
Let's face it... dog toys are expensive! They seem to average somewhere between $5-$10, so when something lasts less than 30 minutes, this buyer gets bummed. There are also a lot of products out there, like shampoos and treats that are just so stellar that we want to share them with the world!
This page is not to be construed as product endorsement by DDOG, as the wiki is built by our community members. Reviews include an estimated price, so visit our Davis Dog Resources page to find the best price in town. Products available at a significantly lower price outside Davis are noted. Tell us what works for you and why it's the bomb!
Contents |
Product Safety
The definition of product safety is ever-changing. 2007 alerted us to concerns about pet food additives and lead-based coloring in toys. For dogs, additional hazards may include non-digestible bits such as cotton thread and rubber that some dogs may consume. Unless otherwise noted by the manufacturer, please keep in mind that most toys are not intended for human or pet consumption. If your dog has a tendency to consume toys, please don't allow them to play unsupervised! Plastics and rope, over time or when consumed in large quantities, may not pass safely and can result in life-threatening situations. It is our responsibility as dog owners to ensure that our pets play safely. That said, go and have fun!
Toys for All Sizes
Fat Cat Toys ($5-$15)
- This range of durable, yet incredibly appealing soft dog toys has been designed for maximum floppability and sound appeal. Not just limited to dirty rotten kittys, there are krinkley fish, crackler birds and floppy squeaky mailmen in a variety of sizes from about 6"-8" long. Despite this reviewer's hesitation to spend more than 25 cents on soft toys for quick gutting, just about every Fat Cat toy purchase has lasted at least a year, with a few repairs along the way. These toys are made of canvas, yet seem to withstand a whole lotta chewin'.
Kong Flyer ($6-$15)
- Sure, it's tempting to use any cheap flying disc as a dog toy, but the plastic can hurt their lips and gums, and you may find yourself going through them at a ridiculous rate. Instead, we suggest investing in the Kong Flyer. This soft rubber disc is more durable than the fabric flying discs that we also love and, like the fabric flyers, won't injure your precious pooch. One Toad Hollow regular who plays frisbee almost daily now swears by the Kong Flyer!
Free and Uber Cheap
- Ice cubes
- Plastic water bottles
- Plastic flower pots
- Thrift store stuffed animals (check first for choking hazards and maybe sew in a squeaker)
Big Dogs & Power Chewers
Rottweilers, labrador retrievers and pit bulls would be an example of dogs in this category. If you have a power chewer, you know it!
Lacrosse Ball ($2)
- For those with dogs that love tennis balls, but consume them at with alarming speed, try substituting a lacrosse ball. No particular brand, just make sure it's an official regulation ball. Some dogs may still prefer the flexibility or softness of a tennis ball, but this is a more durable option.
Classic Kong ($6-$12)
- Most all Kong products are relatively indestructible and seem designed for power-chewers like Labrador retrievers. Though Kong offers a variety of different toy styles, our favorite is the Classic Kong (also available as Puppy Kong and Extreme Kong). This reviewer has had a large red Kong last two dog lifetimes and well into the third. The Classic Kong comes in floaty and land-locked versions as well a variety of sizes to suit your pooches jaw.
- Note: Some Kong toys have a rope attached. This rope is not indestructible, but it is easily replacable. Simply get some soft nylon rope from REI or the hardware store, tie a nice big knot in one end, thread it from the large hole and through the small hole, then tie a holding knot at the free end. Voila! Fix your floaty Kong with marine-grade nylon rope and a closed-cell foam plug.
Jolly Pets Romp-n-Roll Ball ($10-20)
- Not quite as indestructible as the Kong toys, because one pit bull managed to chew a hole in this reviewer's power toy, yet while soccer balls come and go, this slightly-damaged ball lives on. Made by Jolly Pets, this soccer-sized, flexible, non-deflatable ball has a 24" cotton rope. The Romp-n-Roll Ball comes in three sizes. Great for kicking around the yard, but wear stiff shoes. This toy withstands a lot of mouthing and keeps its shape despite being punctured. Great fun for big dogs...and it floats.
Orvis Tough Chew Toys ($20-$50)
- The price range is steep, but this toy's sturdiness makes it a justifiable purchase. While this soft toy doesn't stand the time test of a Kong, it is remarkably resilient for a soft toy and with sizes up to about 21", is available in larger sizes than most soft toys. It comes in such fun shapes as a giant pterodactyl, t-rex and large octopus. With multiple layers of double-stitched ballistic material, a soft overlayer fabric and stuffed with multiple squeakies of various pitch, the large Orvis octopus has survived rottweiler playtime. After weeks of unsupervised play, a small tear may appear and the toy is relegated to the repair bin until its wounds can be healed. Maintained in this way, the Orvis has already lasted a full year. This toy is available locally at Dog Show Specialties.
Disappointments
Oftentimes, we see toys in the pet aisle that seem like they'd be indestructible, and we plunk down our $10. However, some of those toys fail to last more than a day. To save others the trauma of purchasing these less-than-reliable finds, we offer the following warnings.
Kyjen Fire Hose Squeak 'n Fetch ($5-$12)
- Lifespan=10 minutes in the big dog arena. Promoted as a toy for aggressive chewers, this red and black soft toy appears sturdy with its woven nylon construction and thick rubber core of firehose material. Unfortunately, it took just five minutes for one rottweiler pup to remove one end of the toy and five more to completely disembowel the piece.
Food & Consumables
Dog owners, especially those in Davis, can be very adamant about acceptable pet nutrition. These feelings run the gamut from those who cook for their dogs to those who lambast certain high-end kibble as too high in sugar. We hope you'll find these reviews helpful, but make your own conclusions according to your own parenting style.
- At almost $20 for a 6.5oz bag, these treats claim to be "a nutritious, delicious way to help keep teeth and gums clean." Essentially, they're smoked, freeze-dried beef tails. For your $20, you get about twenty-four 4" long tails. These treats go down in about 20 seconds and cost as much as the chewier dental treats produced by Iams, 3M or Greenies. This reviewer was not impressed by Merrick's Texas Toothpicks.
Other Products
Some products, such as automatic dog waterers, bedding and certain crates are so great, they deserve special mention. Tell us what you've found that works for your dog!
Bamboo FurBuster ($14-$36)
- I have always been a fan of the basic shedding blade for taking care of all that excess hair, but a friend at Toad Hollow showed me how great the Bamboo FurBuster is! The FurBuster is much like a hair-thinning comb your hairdresser might use. This wonderfully designed tool allows you to comb through your dog's fur just like you would with a brush, yet the teeth penetrate fur better than a shedding blade, pulling out all the loose hair. But with a $30+ price tag at Petco, I figured it was going to have to wait for a sale. Luckily, Walmart sells the same product at half the price! The FurBuster comes with a standard size handle and either a small (2"), medium (2.75") or large (4") width blade. Most folks can probably save some money by purchasing the medium FurBuster, and replace it with a large blade later, if they wish.
