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Non-destructable Chew Toys

20 9:38:30

Question
I'm having a difficult time find things for my lab to play with that can't be destroyed.  He's six months old.  He's always been very good at not chewing things aren't his toys.  As he gets older, we are having to take more and more toys away from him.  I'm scared if I don't have enough options for him, he'll get bored and start on table legs, shoes or worse.  I bought him a Nylabone which to my amazement was half gone after about a half hour.  Of course we saw it again two days later when he couldn't digest it and vomitted up on the carpet.  Stuffed toys are not an option.  He's a champion toy destuffer.  I have one kong that he gets only when he goes into his kennel.  I'd love to keep his toy box filled to the brim but I'm running out of ideas with what to fill it with.  Please help!!

Answer
I would try to find larger Nylabones and perhaps more Kongs.  Avoid the flavored, consumable Nylabones.  You are lucky you didn't have to have the vet remove the end of the one.  Toys that get destroyed are very dangerous.  You were wise to discontinue the stuffed ones.  

Many dogs aren't interested in a slick, new Nylabone.  I think they are putting the nubby texture on more of them now.  I think it is part of the reason so many dogs like the hard to find dinosaur ones.  The ultimate is the Souper Size Galileo Nylabone.  It is about 7 inches long and 3 inches around.  It has the slick surface.  They are more attractive if you rough up the surface with sand paper or by rubbing it on a concrete floor.  Another technique is to jam a Nylabone into a Kong creating what I call a twofer.  The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

You have to go online to find some of the better Nylabone stuff.  I have been pleased with the prices and selection at www.vetvax.com.   For your dog, I would avoid the Nylabone Gumabone toys.  They are softer and don't last near as long.  

Ropes from the pets' store quickly turn to hazardous shreds. Ones I made lasted much better. Go to a hardware or home center that sells rope by the foot. Buy 2' of 3/4" poly rope. Melt the ends, and tie knots in it. Get them as tight as possible, put it in a vise and pound it with a hammer. Watch carefully, and be ready to discard when it comes apart.