[debbiej]

I've decided that toys fall into 3 categories. toys they can play with by themselves, toys they can play with each other with while we watch and supervise and toys that we play with them with.

the first consists of only; nylabones, kongs and a buster cube
the second: tugs, (rope and other tough material) tirebiters, fire hose, both real and a toy called that. I braid fat strips of burlap bags, jean legs and wrap, tape or tie the ends securely. and yes, they play rottie soccer with jugs, and love them.
the third, things we throw, tug toys and some stuffies. I do a lot of training with stuffies, because Boris loves them so. he is very tender for about 3 minutes, tossing them around and pouncing on them. then I give him a treat and we start over.

I've tried almost every toy ever mentioned or seen. my dogs destroy all of them in record time.

I want to just pass on a little I've learned about toys. Boris had a serious impaction/obstruction from ingesting a portion of a fleece tug, I've heard of the strings from rope tugs becoming dangerously hung up. so it is best not to pull them out the other end. when dogs eat pieces of toys, they can become lodged in the intestines, become infected (I guess is the right word) and begin to cause necrotic tissue poisoning them that can lead to death. a member here posted about a near miss with her pup when he ate a squeaker that became lodged and infected. a friend of mine lost her dog when she ate a super ball and the same thing happened, 2 surgeries later. Of course my dog has eaten polyfill, underwear, socks and who know what else that he has passed. Others have posted about dogs eating crazy things....phones, remotes, pacifiers....But it is good to remember, obstructions and infection in the intestines can become medical emergencies and fatalities very fast.