Maddie the Dane

Zanies Rope Pom-poms

2008-05-19T19:00:00-08:00

We went out of town on business for a few days, and Maddie had the kennel blues. So we decided to cheer her up with a new chew toy. What dog can’t have enough chew toys anyway? And since it was cheer we were looking for, the Zanies Rope Pom-Pom seemed appropriate.

The tag on the pom-pom reads “Start a playtime pep rally for your pooch! This soft rope pom-pom is great for tossing, tugging, chewing and all-around good canine cheer.”

We bought Maddie’s Zanies Rope Pom-Pom at a local pet store called Cold Spot Feeds. You can also purchase one online at PetEdge.

And Maddie does love her pom-pom! Not only does it stand up moderately well to vigorous chewing, but it has inspired her to romp around, pushing, flinging, and tossing her pom-pom. This was a good buy. One word of caution, though. Maddie is able to pull some of the flossy strings out; so this toy requires extra supervision to make sure that these strings aren’t swallowed.

Collar Mania Custom Dog Collars:

2008-04-21T20:00:00-08:00

About a month ago we discovered Collar Mania, and Maddie’s dogwear will never be the same!

Collar Mania is an online custom collar store. The store allows you to create a one-of-a-kind collar for your dog from thousands of combinations of options. You pick everything! Pages and pages of material are available, along with many leathers, metallic leathers, and jacquard ribbons (which the company describes as the evening gown of collars). Beyond that, you choose the hardware from nickel or brass buckles or buckle slides, or you can choose a plastic or metal release buckle. From there, the collars can be lined in satin or matching fabric. Finally, you can add rhinestones, spikes, and embroidery. The company even makes custom leashes to match.

We chose a multi-colored stripe in a wide, two-inch collar. Maddie’s collar has a nickel double-bar buckle and a large nickel D-ring. The company also attaches a very small ring for tags (pretty ingenious since it would be nearly impossible to thread the ring that attaches the tags to the collar around the thick D-ring). Maddie’s collar is lined in teal satin (Since you’re ordering online and can’t see all of the fabrics together there is an option for the company to use the color that best matches your fabric choice--this worked out great!) Finally, Maddie’s name is embroidered in teal on the back. We love things that can be personalized. Better yet, with the weight of the buckle in front, the embroidery always stays perfectly centered on the back of her neck!

When we put Maddie’s Collar Mania collar around her neck she instantly perked up. It’s like she knew it was special and especially for her. She thinks she looks hot. And with the satin lining, she doesn’t scratch at it like she has other colors in the past.

These collars are absolutely gorgeous. And it’s a good thing that they are affordable because they are so nice and fun to design that we will definitely be ordering many, many more!

Mammoth Pets Paw Tracks Tire Biter:

2008-04-15T20:00:00-08:00

We’d been thinking about purchasing this toy for Maddie for a while. The Mammoth Pet Paw Tracks Tire Biter with Cotton Rope looks like it would be a very durable toy. What could be more chew resistant than a tire? You can drive on them? Mammoth Pet even advertises them as “Real Tire Tough.” But what’s more tough, the open road or Maddie’s jaws?

I confess, we didn’t actually buy this toy. This week we’ve been dogsitting Maddie’s best friend, Fennis the Alaskan Malamute. He brought a few of his toys with him, and one of them was the Mammoth Pet Paw Tracks Tire Biter with Cotton Rope. We thought it would be a great opportunity to try out this very interesting toy.

The company claims that “TireBiters are made real tire tough for heavy-duty chomping and interactive play. The patented two-ply nylon formula flosses while dogs chew.” The toy couldn’t have looked or sounded like a better prospect for our Maddie. At first it looked like a perfect fit. Maddie put her nose in the TireBiter’s hole and started scooting it around the living room in pure glee. For about five minutes we thought we might have discovered another great toy, but then Maddie laid down and started chomping. In about three minutes she had destroyed her friends toy. I guess we will be buying one after all...

Maddie did love playing with this toy and chewing it. Mammoth Pets’ website says that they make a TireBiter PawTrack without a rope that is “Extra Strength.” It does seem nice that this toy might help clean Maddie’s teeth, but it should be crumble resistant at least... Perhaps we’ll give the “Extra Strength” version a whirl. Who knows. It could actually be tough...maybe...

Let us know if your dog has tried the TireBiter. How did it hold up? Is the Extra Strength version any better?

eGGe: Super-Tough Dog Toy

2008-04-07T19:00:00-08:00

"eGGe zigzags. eGGe is tough--nearly indestructible. eGGe provides great exercise. eGGe is fun for you and your dog." But can this unique new toy achieve the Maddie the Dane seal of approval...

To be honest, we bought this toy on a whim. We were browsing through a local pet store called Pet Stuff when we spotted all of these huge, plastic egg-shaped dog toys. We’d actually been thinking about getting Maddie a Jolly Ball for a long time. We’ve always had horses, and they loved to pick up Jolly Balls and swing them around while running through the paddocks. Since we think of Maddie as our little horse, we thought she definitely needed one. It’s easy to picture her trotting around with a Jolly Ball in just the same way. However, when we picked up a Jolly Ball the rubber seemed a little softer than we had remembered. In the eleventh hour we decided that we would hold off on the Jolly Ball; maybe we’d get one when she isn’t quite so fixated on chewing (if that ever happens). So we went with a big, bright green eGGe...

Petoria, who manufactures the eGGe, describes this dog toy as “a unique, almost indestructible dog toy that is especially designed for the most high-energy, toy-destroying dog!” (Note that Petoria warns that this toy is recommended for all but the smallest dogs.) It's just so different than anything we’ve seen. We had to try it! As far as being indestructible, it is. It’s made of a hard plastic that is probably pretty chew-resistant, but its shape and size prevent dogs from getting a good grip--it seems impossible to chew. Believe us, Maddie tried! When she first got her eGGe, Maddie immediately attempted to chew it, but the harder she tried the more it rolled and wobbled away from her. This toy is interesting in that it doesn’t just roll like a traditional ball, it wobbles and teeters. This hopefully makes it more interesting and engaging for dogs.

Maddie really likes her eGGe. She’s played with it a lot in doors, but is a little reserved with it. Our living room has wood floors; so the toy is a little loud as it rolls around. And when it crashes into the walls, Maddie gets a little shy. She looks at us like, “Should I really be allowed to play with this inside?” She likes it best when we spin the eGGe for her like a top. She gets down in a little play bow and pounces. The eGGe is probably Maddie’s toy that is the most fun for us to watch her play with. We also hear that her best friend, Fennis the Alaskan Malamute puppy, absolutely loves his eGGe and can’t get enough! Once it warms up a little more, we’ll try the eGGe outside. I bet it will be an even bigger hit!

Bottom line, the eGGe is a very cool, different toy. Maddie says there should be an eGGe in every big dog’s toy box!

Has your dog tried the eGGe? If so, does he or she give it two paws up? We'd love to hear either way!

ECO Dog Braided T-Shirt Bone

2008-03-31T19:00:00-08:00

Maddie’s gone green. Poking through our local Barnes & Noble, we stumbled across an intriguing book by Corbett Marshall and Jim Deskevich called ECO Dog: Healthy Living for your Pet. As a family, we haven’t gone totally organic yet, not even close. But we try to eat organic foods and use organic cleaning products around the house as much as we can. So this book peaked our interest. ECO Dog has tons of great ideas for your dog that you can make yourself and will help reduce your pet’s carbon pawprint. The first one we tried was the Braided T-Shirt Bone...

The Braided T-Shirt Bone is described on p. 100 of ECO Dog. It’s very simple to make. You cut strips of fabric from old t-shirts (or new ones if you want). Gather the strips into three groups of strips, tie them into one big knot at one end, braid the three groups, and tie a big knot at the other end. There you have it, a Braided T-Shirt Bone. We call Maddie’s her T-Bone.

ECO Dog didn’t call this toy particularly durable or tough, but it just seemed like it would hold up. Plus, it’s made out of an old T-Shirt! Who cares if she destroys it in seconds? But maybe, just maybe it would actually last...

And it has!!! Maddie has had an absolute ball with her T-Bone! She’s been playing with it for over a month now. While her T-Bone has gotten a little worn, and she’s ripped a few of the strips of fabric and pulled them out, all in all the toy has survived. And since it’s just a braided up T-Shirt, you can throw it in the washing machine when it gets dirty.

The best part about Maddie’s T-Bone is that we’ve come up with a new game to play with it--we’ve taught her to play catch. The T-Bone is light enough that we don’t feel bad tossing it at her, and it’s long enough that novice catcher Maddie can manage to snag it. This T-Bone was a great idea! You may even be able to make a variation with polar fleece or old sweatshirts. Definitely watch for us to try more ideas from ECO Dog: Healthy Living for your Pet!

Bamboo Combat Extreme Bone Tug Dog Toy

2008-03-24T19:00:00-08:00

“Battle-Tested” is boldly printed on a banner attached to the Bamboo Combat Extreme Bone Tug Dog Toy. We took these words as a dare...

Could this toy really withstand combat with our Maddie? She may look sweet, but our little girl is ruthless when it comes to dog toys. When she gets a new toy there’s a little flicker in her eyes that seems to say, “Hurry! Hurry! I must decimate this toy! It can’t beat me!” We have found just a few toys, like the Nylabone Big Chews for Big Dogs Turkey Leg, that are tough enough and that Maddie loves. However, we wanted to branch out from toys that are purely chew toys. We wanted something that was more interactive. So we took the Combat Extreme Bone Tug challenge...

We purchased the Combat Extreme Bone Tug from a local pet store called Cold Spot Feeds. It was one of Maddie’s graduation presents from her Beginning Obedience class. You could get one online at Dog.com. We were attracted to this toy because it is made of “Heavy-duty ballistic nylon.” Ballistic sounded very promising. Plus, the toy’s tag says that it is “Battle Tested: Our dog toys have been ‘Battle Tested’ to ensure they can withstand rigorous play.” The company even has a real guarantee. It’s not one of those guarantees other companies have that guarantee only against manufacturer’s defects. You know the one’s that seem to only be on the packaging so that the company can say its product is guaranteed but it doesn’t really have to stand behind. Rather Bamboo gives a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. The company explains that “your pet will love our product. If for any reason you and your pet are not completely satisfied, return the product to us with your purchase receipt for repair or replacement.” Now that’s a guarantee you can sink your teeth into. How could we lose?

Well, Bamboo was right. Maddie is insane over her Combat Extreme Bone Tug. She loves to play Tug of War, and the handle makes it easy for humans to hang on. But beware! If your pup is anything like Maddie watch out! She gets scrappy and plays for keeps. She will inch her mouth up and up the bone tug to try to grab hold of the handle. She’ll even dive through the air, swinging a paw over the bone tug as she is gripping one end in her teeth and we are yanking on the other, trying to use some extra force to strong arm the toy away from us and win. It’s a ton of fun! And the best part is that the fun has lasted and lasted. We’ve been playing with the Combat Extreme Bone Tug for about a month now, and while it has become a little worn from battle, the edges beginning to fray in some places, all in all it has remained intact and in good condition. Finally, a soft toy with a squeaker that is interactive and lasts! There is hope for Maddie to gather a wide variety of durable toys yet! This toy is so great, watch for us to try other Bamboo toys in the near future. Four paws, way up!

Kong Snugga Wubba

2008-03-17T19:00:00-08:00

We thought adding colorful, nappy fleece to the Kong could only improve upon a good dog toy. Maddie has a more traditional Kong, but she seems to be most into it when it is filled with treats or chunky peanut butter. We thought that the Snugga Wubba would keep her interested without being sticky and remain just as chew resistant as the original Kong.

We were so wrong. In fact, there’s not even a Kong inside there. This we learned way too soon. So disappointing...

We bought Maddie this large Kong Snugga Wubba from a local pet store called Cold Spot Feeds, but they can also be purchased online at Dog.com. At first, Maddie absolutely adored her Kong Snugga Wubba. She took off galloping throughout the house, swinging its pink, fuzzy fleece tails around in her mouth, shaking them in pure glee every step of the way. But then she plopped down and went to work on the toy.

Within probably 30 seconds, without exaggeration, the smaller round part of what had appeared to us to be a fabric covered Kong was ripped from the rest of the toy. The packaging proclaims that this toy has “Reinforced Fabric and Stitching.” Well, Maddie handily tore through that reinforced fabric and stitching, in what seemed to be record time, revealing to our shock that this Kong product doesn’t even include a Kong. In fact, a little flimsy-looking part of what looked like a tennis ball fell out of Maddie’s mouth. Now in fairness to the company, their website does say that the fabric covers two rubber balls (however the packaging fails to reveal this bit of information). We’ll do better research next time...

Anyway, after the little top came off, we held out hope that the toy might last in it’s newly altered condition. Maddie still loved the toy and couldn’t stop playing with it, still delighting in swinging the fleece tails, but the next day, and maybe a few hours of play later, she dismantled the whole thing. While the packaging says to “Replace Damaged Toys,” we simply will not be replacing this one with another Kong Snugga Wubba. This toy was great in concept, but poor in excecution. Maybe it would have been better if Kong would have stuck to Kong. Maybe a Kong inside that cuddly fleece would have had less give, keeping Maddie from getting such a good grip on it, keeping her from ripping the toy apart, keeping her cuddling with the toy she loved. At least she still kind of like the fleece shell... Generally, we like Kong. Keep your paws crossed that the next new Kong product lasts at least a little longer...

Four Paws Ruff & Rugged Drumstick v. Nylabone Turkey Leg

2008-03-10T19:00:00-08:00

Both Four Paws and Nylabone advertise these products as “virtually indestructible." Both sounded promising, but could either stand up to Maddie?

They are somewhat similar in shape; so, we decided to compare them rather than review them separately. Besides, could Maddie have two drumstick type toys that were truly “virtually indestructible.” We hoped at best one would last...

We purchased the Four Paws Ruff & Rugged Drumstick first, from Petco. We were drawn to it not only by its wild, tie-dyed appearance, but by the fact that the words “Virtually Indestructible” are boldly displayed at the top its packaging. The company boasts that this “natural gum rubber” toy has “maximum strength and durability.” This drumstick sounded like just the ticket!

When we gave Maddie the Four Paws Ruff & Rugged Drumstick she liked it enough. She bit into the narrow end right away and started ripping little pieces of rubber off of the toy. Here we go again, right? After all, we started this quest to find great dog toys, toys that withstand our dog, because she was leaving toys crumbled rubber or a pile of fluff after just a few minutes. Well, the packaging on the Four Paws Ruff & Rugged Drumstick warns to “[r]emove toy from pet immediately if any part becomes loose or detached.” But she hadn’t had it for 30 seconds yet! If we took every toy away as soon as a piece of rubber fell off Maddie would never have anything to play with. Luckily, she’s good about ripping pieces off of her toys and promptly dropping them. I guess swallowing little pieces would get in the way of her goal of total destruction. But after a few more pieces came off she stopped ripping the toy apart, leaving it generally intact. The drumstick did suffer a lot of teeth marks, but seemed to hold up well. Maddie does go back to this toy every once in a while, but she’s not totally enamored with the Four Paws Ruff & Rugged Drumstick.

Would the Nylabone Turkey Leg prove a better fit? The turkey leg was actually one of her presents for graduation from her Beginner Obedience Class. We purchased this toy from a local pet store called Cold Spot Feeds. You could also purchase one online at Drs. Fosters and Smith. We were a little leery about a Nylabone because Maddie’s best friend, Fennis the Alaskan Malamute puppy, had a Nylabone (however not one of the “Big Chews for Big Dogs” variety like the Turkey Leg) that got pretty rough after being chewed up and cut his mouth. However, we decided to give this “virtually indestructible” product a whirl. Plus, the packaging proclaims that this toy that was “designed to stand up to the most POWERFUL CHEWER” has been tested “in clinics and kennels, so [Nylabone is] sure they satisfy even the most aggressive dog!” We took this as a challenge. Secretly, I really like this turkey leg because it reminds me of one of those jumbo, roasted turkey legs that people walk around eating at Disney World and fairs. Yum!

When we introduced Maddie to her Nylabone Turkey Leg she showed an instant infatuation. She has chewed and chewed on this turkey leg like everyday is Thanksgiving. And after a week, both the love affair and the turkey leg are still intact. Finally, a great buy and a wonderful chew toy! Maddie absolutely LOVES this toy.

If we had it to do over again, we would have probably just bought the Nylabone Turkey Leg. While both toys have the same draw back--they are pretty heavy and difficult for Maddie to swing around in her mouth as she prances around the living room--she just loves the turkey leg more. We would recommend the Four Paws Ruff & Rugged Drumstick for dogs who either don’t rip rubber toys apart when they chew them or don’t make a habit of eating those tiny pieces when they do come off. The drumstick is also probably a good choice for a dog with a more sensitive mouth. The gum rubber of the drumstick does have some give, and the nylon of the turkey leg is pretty rock solid. While Maddie has chewed the Nylabone Turkey Leg a lot, it has remained one of her all time favorites, and hasn’t gotten too rough. This is definitely a toy that Maddie the Dane can stand behind.

Tuffie's Ultimate Stone Bone

2008-03-03T19:00:00-09:00

This is the toy that started it all, the toy that made us so disgusted that we started our search to find dog toys that can withstand our dog. We purchased this toy from a local pet store called Cold Spot Feeds. You could also buy it from Tuffie's online store.

Maddie is about seven months old now. About a month ago she started being a lot harder on her toys. We didn't think much of it at first. After all, most of her toys were still puppy toys, but as more and more of her toys ended up a pile of fluff or rubber rubble in seconds we decided to look for more durable choices.

That is actually what drew us to the Tuffie's Ultimate Stone Bone in particular. We were picking up Maddie's food at Cold Spot (she eats Eagle Pack Holistic Select Large and Giant Breed Puppy food) and noticed the Tuffie's toys. They are advertised as the "World's 'Tuff'est Soft Dog Toys." Tuffie's ranks their toys from one to ten on a Tuff Scale. According to the company, "[s]ome dogs are aggressive and can only have the tuffest toys ranked 8 and above." We didn't really think we needed a 10 out of 10 Tuff toy since she's still just a puppy; so, we settled on the Tuffie's Ultimate Stone Bone. It's ranked 8 out of 10 Tuff, supposedly meaning it's "long lasting and really tuff." Sure it was kind of a tacky pink and purple leopard print, but she's a girly girl. And it seemed "tuff" enough...

Maddie absolutely loved it. We could barely even get the toy out of the packaging fast enough. We played keep away for a few minutes, but when Maddie finally captured the Stone Bone she promptly took it over to the couch, plopped down, and commenced destruction. She was thoroughly impressed with herself when she figured out how to make it squeak, but that only seemed to make her chew more vigorously.

About ten minutes later the toy was destroyed. Well, not according to Maddie. In her opinion, she could have kept going, but according to the packaging you should not "allow your pet to remove or ingest any part of the toy," and "[i]f your pet reaches the white stuffed core of the toy discard immediately." (See the picture above to see how the Tuffie's Ultimate Stone Bone stood up to Maddie.) She was so sad when we had to take it away. She did love the toy, for the short time she had it. What a waste of money.

In our opinion, Tuffie's Ultimate Stone Bone is simply not "Tuff" enough. We don't recommend it if your dog has a knack for tearing his or her toys apart without much effort. However, the Tuffie's toys do look and feel like they would be great quality dog toys. If you would describe your dog as "easy" on toys... Maddie suggests that you try Tuffie's Ultimate Stone Bone. Look for us to try a 10 out of 10 Tuff toy soon. Keep your paws crossed...