My Life, my photography, my passions
I have to admit, I really like Photoshop. I’m amazed at how I can improve a photo that has distractions or just didn’t turn out like I hoped. Most photos I don’t manipulate but some call for just a little more work than others.
My dog Brody, a Jack Russel, is a perfect example. This is a before and after of a previous post from my 365 Project
Toughest Toys – Squeaky Dog Toys for Aggressive ChewersMany of you have followed my quest to find the indestructible dog toy. Specifically, a squeaky toy, my Jack Russell loves squeaky toys. So far only the toys that have past the survivability test has been his Nylabone Dura Chew and his Busy Buddy.
My postings on this adventure attracted the attention of the Kyjen Company who makes unique and innovative dog products.
They sent graciously Brody a box of challenging and definitely unique squeaky toys and I’m going to do them justice during my by documenting Brody’s experience.
Outward Hound 32039 Squeaker Matz Gator 16 Squeaker Plush Squeak Toy Dog Toys, Large, Green
Kyjen PP02255 Hard Boiled Softies Dog Toys Durable Rubber and Plush Squeak Toy, Large, Multicolor
The day the box arrived Brody just knew it was for him.
Seriously, it was almost like ESP and he could sense all the fun inside. I let Brody pick out of the box and the first one he picked was the Hard Boiled Softies. It honks rather than squeaks and this was different. It is a plush covering with a hard rubber “yolk” inside.
He pushed and honked it and eventually the antennae and the wings came off. Then he went to work on the bottom part of the plush bee because he couldn’t get at the noisemaker.
After a few hours, the egg came loose from its fabric. I was very impressed with the thick rubber construction. Since it was a very large size it was more difficult to puncture.
After the egg was out of the “shell” Brody played and bounced it around all night.
What? All night, a toy actually lasted all night? This is a first!
The squeaker stayed in the egg even. It wasn’t until the next day the squeaker became dislodged and disappeared inside the dog toy cavity. I fully expected it then to be chewed into many pieces. Nope.
A week later I’m using the egg as a treat toy. I break up his dog bones into three pieces and put them inside. It’s a perfect size the egg is large enough in diameter to encourage some serious chewing and tossing to get them out.
This next phase of toy play will last him hours if I keep the treat pieces large enough.
I have put the egg back in it’s shell a few times, but it’s chewed up enough where it doesn’t stay. But I’m impressed.
As you can see from the video Brody really loves his toys, small toys are a challenge to play interactively with him as he plays keep away. Next review is a toy that is the perfect size in my opinion, maybe if they merged the two together?
Thank You Kyjen!
PetSafe Dog Toys the BEST tough dog toys for aggressive chewersIn my years of buying and testing dog toys, I’ve learned that the Petsafe dog toys are really TOUGH dog chew toys and the BEST on the market.
Here are my favorite dog toys that meet the tough, and fit into the truly indestructible category. PetSafe makes super quality dog toys and the Busy Buddy was Brody’s first toy, my request, or wish, they make a tough durable squeaker came true and the Booya is what every dog toy should be like in the future.
PetSafe Busy Buddy Waggle Dog Toy, Medium/Large
Busy Buddy Squeak N Treat Booya Dog Toy LargePetSafe Busy Buddy Barnacle Dog Toy, LargePetSafe/Premier Busy Buddy SQUIRREL DUDE Dog Treat Chew Toy Large
If you’re looking for GUARANTEED indestructible dog toys these are your best bet, but you may have a dog that is a super aggressive chewer and these still won’t last. One tip is to get one size larger than recommended.
The search for the indestructible dog toy continues. Why do I try? Because it’s fun, because I like a challenge, and one day Brody might learn that the fun will last longer if he doesn’t totally destroy his squeaky toys. This time is was with a line from Tuffy Dog Toys.
When I worked for a pet supply company I had a lot of excuses to indulge my dog. I tried different dog foods, various types of dog toys, and all kinds of dog treats. Brody eats anything so that wasn’t really a fair test.
But, I digress, back to the dog toy test. My daughter played tug of war, keep away, and pulled him around the kitchen. It wore Brody completely out. He actually didn’t eviscerate this rabbit for over an hour, but was content to slobber and just gnaw.
It took almost three hours this very determined Jack Russell to break through the 3 layers of fabric and reach the stuffing. then it was an all out war on the dog toy. Kill the Rabbit, kill the rabbit,…isn’t that from a movie, I think Bugs Bunny.
The squeaker came out first, then all the stuffing, all over the floor. When the toy was sufficiently dead and just the skin left the novelty of the toy was over.
I now have a Boxer, in addition to my Jack, and Leah loves stuffed animals and carries them around like a baby. So as long as it doesn’t have a squeaker
This was also a level 9 dog toy from MyDogToy.com and it’s a good thing I participate in the Dog Testing program, otherwise these experiments would cost me a fortune.
Let me introduce Brody. He’s my six year old Jack Russel Terrier that I rescued in 2005 from the Nebraska Jack Russell Rescue. I thought we were going to do agility together, but with three kids and life being as it is, we didn’t get to it, now I wonder if he’s too old to start.
The rescue had a lot of dogs and most of the “Jacks” were bouncing off their kennel and barking. Brody was the only one who stood calmly in his kennel and just looked at me as if to say, “If I’m really good and calm she will take me home, those other dogs don’t know anything.” We walked out and he passed his first “test”, a cat. Didn’t even give the cat the time of day. Now it’s a different story, but only if the cat runs, if the cat ignores him, he ignores the cat.
He was found wandering around Des Moines and based on his aggressive eating had not seen food on a regular basis. The bowl went across the room, food went everywhere. That was the first training step in his education. Sit, stay, wait, then eat.
Brody is my walking buddy we normally go for 3-5 miles on the trail. He also loves to snuggle on the couch and give kisses. When I’m working at my desk buddy as he sits at my feet for a tummy rub, he likes how my toes get all the itchy places.
I love going for walks, but Brody lunges at EVERYTHING, seriously a bird flying overhead, leaves blowing and every time he almost rip my arm from my shoulder.
So how did I stop my dog from pulling on a leash? I tried almost every training technique. But none worked. I tried a body harness, it didn’t work either. The only product that stopped him from pulling was the Gentle Leader head collar. I wish I had taken a video, but literally I could walk him with one finger after just a week.
PetSafe Gentle Leader Headcollar, Medium, FawnPetSafe Easy Walk Dog Harness, Large, Black/SilverJack Russell Terrier Training, Think Like a Dog, But Don’t Eat your Poop!: Here’s EXACTLY How To Train Your Jack Russell Terrier (Volume 2)Jack Russell Terriers For Dummies
I have to give kudos to a fellow blogger, Barking Out Loud, who reminded why I love this interactive dog toy. IT’s not just tough, but it’s a treat dispenser, so a double bonus. Keeps him entertained for hours, okay, maybe not hours, but a long time.
When I first got my Jack Russell Terrier, Brody in 2005, the Busy Buddy “Pet Waggle” treat toy was the first toy he received. Eleven years later, it’s the only dog toy he hasn’t destroyed. Literally, it’s an indestructible dog toy.
It doesn’t have a squeaker, but he loves it still the same. ATTENTION: Busy Buddy makes an indestructible squeaky toy now!!
Brody can destroy ANY squeaky plush dog toy in less than 30 minutes, many times less than five minutes. I’ve actually taken to timing how long one will last. I think the record was 2 minutes. Just take a look in his toy basket below and you can see the “skins” of eviscerated toys and other casualties. He can even destroy Kong toys, which are supposed to be tough. I don’t throw the fluff-less carcasses away, they have come in handy years later when we had our puppies, they like to play with the squeaker-less snakes.
Brody is very food orientated and food driven. I put his dog kibble in the ends of the Busy Buddy dumbbell and he throws it around the room waiting for the treats to fall out. It keeps him occupied, and he thinks he’s getting a treat through out the day.
It can be very challenging as the kibble just doesn’t fall out. I feed my dog IAMS Active Mini Chunk and it fits perfectly in the ends. Unlike Yoda dog, I didn’t remove any of the prongs, Brody has enough chew power to will the pieces of food to come out.
Many times I will just put his dog food in the holes and that’s how he gets his meals. Not from his bowl that he can devour in less than 30 seconds. Thanks Yoda for reminding me how much I love this dog toy.
PetSafe Busy Buddy Waggle Dog Toy, Small
Busy Buddy Squeak N Treat Booya Dog Toy Medium&
