SearchChew toys or bones that last!!
Hi all:
My dear Loki would like to know if there is a chew toy or even a bone that can last more than a few minutes! Loki has been doing great, he now weighs in at 78lbs and is nine months old, I was shocked. Now I know why my knees hurt, being the velcro dog that he is, he enjoys sitting in my lap with his toys.
I have given up on stuffies, he just plops down searches out the squeaky and promptly rips it apart within minutes. I take it away (no easy task since he enjoys the stuffing all over the place) and remove the rest of the stuffing that is not all over the floor. Then there are the bones, I feed him raw beef bones and recently started with smoked ham hocks. It seems impossible to find any large ones at my local store. But these treats only last if we're lucky an hour. Tried the Kong, he has destroyed them all, we do have a ball with a rope on it, the only one he has not completely destroyed yet but getting close.
One thing he does enjoy is our game of "recycle", I am teaching him to shred the soft drink boxes which he is very good at, then he is to drop it in the garbage, not so good at yet but he's learning! It's hilarious and a bit messy but a great cheap toy. Any suggestions?
Haha I like the whole 'Recycle' idea you have going for your boy good luck with him mastering the rest. Im sure he likes the fact he is given the opportunity to destroy something on command. That would definately be a trick I would like to see done. I'm sorry I don't have any suggestions because I haven't had this issue fully surface yet. I've only seen my boy destroy his tennis ball and attempt to pull the stuffing out of an already worn out squeaky toy.
Loved reading that Loki recycles. LOL I'm teaching Ziva to recycle, also, only her's is plastic water bottles and soda bottles. If I tap the side of the recycle box and tell her 'recycle' she SOMETIMES will pick it up and bring it in and drop it at the box. It's a work in progress.
I have a stuffie destroyer, too, and those rubber toys dont last long here, either. I have a bleached white (not baked, just a bleached raw bone) femur bone that I swear I bought my last doberman something like 7 years ago, and it is STILL around. It's hollow in the middle, and I can put peanut butter down in it, or just leave it empty and Z loves to just chew on it and try to break it.
Ziva's Dad I would love to try the plastic bottles but those will never make it to the garbage bin he loves to destroy those too. That's even more hilarious because he pushes it then chases it down, pounces on it, then chew, chew, chew!
I can't even get a bone to last more than a few days... I haven't tried the black Kongs yet, but I hear they are really good for heavy chewers.
I know I have the same problem everything must be destroyed I thing is him motto. So far nothing in the house but flip flops. Stuffies are a long thing of the past. Such a shame he loves the squeaky toys
Paul I bought those bones for my kids...had to take them away after a daytime or so. Athena was chipping large sharp pieces off
Gideon does the same thing. He has a couple of kongs that have lasted the best. I also found a big knotted rope tug at Petsmart that has lasted a couple of weeks now. It's partially shredded, but still intact enough to tug with him.
Good luck, and if anybody finds anything I would sure be interested. Rope thingies last about a day, and what a mess. Nothing stuffed lasts more that literally about 2 minutes, thanks to my rescue Mystic. I broke down and bought one of those expensive black kongs for Fancy, but the littles have kidnapped it and it's safely hidden away SOMEWHERE. I can't find it, not even under the couch, the little brats. I do have a big nylabone that's managed to last, but it gets boring.
the KONG!!...lasts long...and you can stuff it with treats if you like.
I will try one of those black Kongs, maybe it might last we will see. All other Kongs have bit the dust! If you notice in the avatar he has his first Kong he ripped it in half somehow. I will keep searching.
Phin has a "stuffingless" stuffy, that has lasted since about last July, a really good investment in my opinion. I got him the rabbit for about $7 at Walmart and it still has the 2 squeakers in it and not one hole, he just whips it around trying to kill it!
http://www.dog.com/item/skinneeez-stuffing-free-dog-toy/490513/
I always buy a certain type of bone from the dog shows that last really well. Another I just tried recently was the deer antlers! those are really hardy and the dogs love them. Other that that my dogs basket is filled with kong type chews.
I second the deer antlers! Best thing ever. The last one we bought was an Elk antler and Harley LOVED it! I know they are a little pricey, but they last much longer!
Red was a real problem chewer as Loki seemed to be. When he was yoAlung I used the red balls, but within a week, it was missing chunks. Then I went to the red kong, and they lasted about a month. Finally I went to the black large Kongs and they would last 3-4 months. He would carry it everywhere with it in his mouth looking like a big fat black cigar.
Once after boarding him, I forgot to ask about it and he was really upset that evening. Fortunately, I had kept the previous one so he was good for the night. I stopped by the vet on the way home from work the next day to retrieve his good one.
As he got older (over 6) he seemed to slow down on his chewing. Of course that's also when Princess came into the household. Although it has now been over 7 months since he went to the rainbow bridge, there is still one of his black Kongs on the bathroom counter and a second on the kitchen counter. His collar is on the chest of drawers in my bedroom. Reminders of my good friend. But not taking anything away from my current buddies, Princess and Jake.
I'd try an antler too - a good sized one. that and black kongs. I also have the bad cuz squeaky for Harvard, but he only plays with it outside since the squeak is really really obnoxious!
@ Happydance - I laughed at the picture of your little (brats) kidnapping and hiding the kong. Archie does that but he is predictable, everything gets hidden in our bedroom.
Cleo destroys toys quickly too but anything made of rubber seems to last. Tennis balls last 2 seconds; stuffies - too quick to time; anything with a squeaker - well they deserve to be pounced on, thrown about and then killed don't they. Archie has had stuffed toys since he came to stay with us 3 years ago and we don't let Cleo near them because he loves to play with them. However, she is biding her time I am sure !
I crochet 'stuffed' toys out of cheap (Red Heart) Acrylic yarn. Sasha played with them and now Dexter. They seem to hold up very well. Non broken or ripped appart yet (4+ years)! We have a red Nylabone that seems undestructable and of course lots of Kong Toys! Black ones last longer than the Reds.
I get beef marrow bones from our butcher. They are cut in 3 inch pieces and have always been one of our dogs favorites. Last all day :)
Thanks all for your suggestions, antlerz and kongs seem the way to go next. @SirPhin I tried the "stuffingless" stuffie, lets just say it lasted a little longer. Loki pounced on the 2 squeakies and did not leave it alone until they were dead...about an hour, LOL. It was worth trying. 
Death of a stuffie...
R.I.P. Stuffy... You were a good stuffy, and you will be missed. lol
lol @ wolfgirl 
Plastic coke bottles seem to last a while around here, too. Gideon loves to "crinkle" 'em, but doesn't tear them apart.
Well I dont have much to add to the discussion, other than I whole heartedly agree with the black kong ball. Its indestructable. My dogs also enjoy the plastic coke bottles. We have a race with my dogs. We tighten the cap on the bottle with plyers. Then we give the bottles to the dogs and the first one who loosens the cap wins a treat. Its a big hit.
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Last toy that lasted all of 5 minutes, I thought it looked strong and felt sturdy, alas...it was not.