Inappropriate Dog Toys: Hilarious or Harmful? (Buyers Guide)

Okay, so today I wanted to mess around with some dog toys, specifically, figuring out which ones might not be the best for our furry friends. It all started when my neighbor's dog, a super cute but very enthusiastic chewer named Max, got ahold of a rope toy and, well, let's just say it didn't end well. Emergency vet visit, the whole nine yards. Got me thinking, you know?

So, I started by grabbing a bunch of different dog toys I had lying around. We're talking plushies, rubber bones, rope toys, the works. I even had one of those "indestructible" balls that my own dog, Buster, had managed to put a pretty good dent in.

The "Chew-ability" Test

First, I did a basic "squeeze" test. Anything that felt super flimsy or like it would fall apart with a little pressure, I immediately put in the "nope" pile. I mean, if I can squish it easily, a dog with a powerful jaw is going to destroy it in seconds.

Next, I examined the toys for small parts. Little plastic eyes, squeakers that looked like they could be popped out easily, anything that could become a choking hazard. Buster's a big dog, but even he could get into trouble with something small and tempting.

• Plush toys with easily removable eyes or stuffing? Bad.
• Rope toys that were already fraying? Big no-no.
• Rubber toys with thin, weak spots? Definitely out.
• Anything with sharp plastic pieces.

Then came the fun part (for me, not the toys). I tried to pull them apart. I tugged on the seams of the plush toys, yanked on the rope toys, and basically tried my best to simulate what a dog might do during playtime. If anything started to rip, tear, or show signs of giving way, it was deemed inappropriate. My goal is simulating my dog when he plays by pulling, tugging, and yanking.

I also looked closely at the materials. Some toys are made with questionable dyes or chemicals, and you definitely don't want your dog ingesting that stuff. I checked for any weird smells, too. If it smelled strongly of plastic or chemicals, that was a red flag.

After all that, I ended up with a surprisingly small pile of toys that I felt were actually safe. It's kind of scary how many potentially dangerous dog toys are out there! It really made me realize how important it is to be picky about what we give our pets to play with. Always check the labels and choose the ones that are non-toxic.

This whole thing wasn't exactly scientific, but it was a good reminder to be more mindful of dog toy safety. Better safe than sorry, especially when it comes to our furry family members!