It's Playtime

Topaz is a destructo dog...I guess destructo is a real word. Oh well, I just made it one :)

Some dogs have toys that they play with gingerly making sure the precious toy lasts them a long time. My uncle has a dog that loves her stuffed animals and boy does she make her toys last. Topaz is not one of these dogs.

 Her mission is to destroy the toy as quickly as possible. Stuffed animals are destroyed in under 5 minutes...under 3 minutes is probably more accurate. Tug a war toys...5-7 minutes. Tennis balls...under 30 minutes (unless they are taken away from her as soon as she is done enjoying chasing them).

Therefore, I typically only buy one type of toy for her...bones, bones and more bones. Oh, how I love her bones. One usually last 3 or so months, will undergo surgery during that time to remove any thinning pieces and finally there will come the day when I deem it done for and throw it away. This would be when she has worked it down to a nub that will fit inside her mouth with her mouth closed.

Sometimes, I will also buy her tennis balls and frisbees (for outdoor play), however, these toys she only is allowed to play with so long as she is willing to chase them. Once she has decided that it is time to rip the toy apart the toy is put away.

We have also used Kong toys in the past and she loved the Kong toy, however, with all her food allergies I have not found a good filler to put in it and so the toy is not near as much fun her her to play with now. Her favorite filler was peanut butter, sadly peanut butter days are gone for us. 

All other toys are DIYed and then she gets to have all the fun in the world destroying them (in moderation). She only is allowed a set amount of time with the toy...otherwise she would destruct all her toys (minus the bones) in under half a day and then I would have a very bored, sad dog on my hands.

So what becomes DIYed into a dog toy? Old towels that have become worn thin and holy, sheets that have holes in them, and old, worn out jeans that will not work for hand me downs.

For the towels and sheets, I just cut them into strips, braid the strips together and tie a few knots into the fabric (after washing them one more time of course). For the jeans, I cut the legs off and then cut the strips, braid and knot. If you have a dog that is more easy going on its toys you could just cut the pants legs off and tie a few knots.
 
I also, on occasion will allow her to play with items I already intend to toss prior to junking them. Most often the item is Kens 2 liter soda bottles. All he ever drink is pop- so we end up with lots of pop bottles. I have made a large pile of the bottles and then hidden things in the pile and let her use her nose and brain to find the item. I have used both toys and food for this game. I have removed the plastic wrapper and let her chase the bottle, however, the plastic is not very durable so that usually lasts for about 3 throws. Next, I intend to put large enough holes in the bottle so that food will come out and let her try to solve the puzzle of how to get to the food...hopefully, her answer is not to chew the cap off.