Rough and Tumble--Balls That Last

Toys get hard use in my home and balls in particular get thoroughly tested. Not only are the toys Lab tested, but they are also terrier tested, German Shepherd Dog tested and Jaws-of-Death Doodle tested. You want to know what toys go the distance? These do:

Orbee Balls
Sure, they are cute, but they are tough, too. Left outside through a long, cold New Hampshire winter, mowed with our lawn tractor and abused by numerous dogs our Orbees still just fine. Not usually a favorite toy, Pip has recently taken a shine to their “Snowball,” adding it to this week’s golluming pile.

Everlasting Fun Balls
Add these to the list of great food dispensing toys. Soft yet hard wearing, ours have seen daily use here for many months with no noticeable wear. We’ll always have a few of these around. My only criticism is that opening where the food comes out is the same in all three sizes, meaning that toy-breed sized mini kibble simply falls out.

Fantastic Foam Balls
These make no sense to me at all. When I got my first one, I laughed. This will last a few minutes, I thought as I tossed it to PJ, an experienced toy destroyer. But it has lasted for nine or so months now with only one small nick out of it. Amazing.

Jolly Ball Tug-n-Toss
Okay, Jolly balls aren’t durable but they are, apparently, just as fun flattened, chewed, and handle-less as they are fresh out of the box. We have one “Jolly Chunk” that’s been around for several years now. It is no longer even remotely “ball” shaped but it remains a favorite toy among our gang.

–Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
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Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Sarah’s books include, “Dogology“, “My Smart Puppy“, and “Tails from the Barkside“, all available now.