Mike's Doghouse

We currently have 3 dogs. Joella (85lb Rottweiler), Sam (95lb Catahoula x), and Mike (55lb Rottweiler x). It is Sam who is the Destruct-O-Dog.

Today we picked up a new toy our fave store had gotten in. It is was the Mega Ring Tuffy made by Vip Products. On the info tag hooked to it, it says “Worlds Most Durable Soft Dog Toy” and “Tiger Tested, Dog Approved”. It also has a “tuff” rating of 10. So we got it.

It lasted less than an hour with Sam.

Now, like all dog toys, it says This toy is designed as a “play” toy and is not a “chew toy”. It goes on to say don’t let them play unsupervised, etc. But we all know that isn’t how it goes. If I wanted a toy specifically between me and the dog(s), I wouldn’t necessarily go for one that is supposed to be “tiger tested, dog approved”. I’d go for its usefulness, my hand comfort, their joy, etc. No, we get a toy with that phrase to give to a heavy chewer and hope it lasts longer than the last alleged super tough thing.

It didn’t. While we are saddened to have wasted nearly $30, we are even more sad that once again, Sam doesn’t have a toy of his own. But we weren’t surprised because it has a notable design flaw that most “tough” dog toys have. The seams are heavily stitched, folded multiple times BUT they stick out in a nice, flat, chewable way. Why can’t they make it inside out like footballs are made?

PROS:
The ring shape was perfect for Sam to grab hold of and play tug.

CONS:
Heavy, hard, like most allegedly tough toys. I would not have wanted to throw it for fear of knocking Sam unconscious. Didn’t last an hour. Wonder how long it lasted with the tiger?

Bottom Line:
If you play rough with your dogs then this toy would indeed make a good tug toy. Tug wise, it’s not going to warp and tear. It might make a good tossing toy but I’d use caution. But if you are wanting it as a soft toy for your Destruct-O-Dog, then don’t bother. Even if you are supervising, even if you take it away if you see progress being made, well, damage is already done and it is only a matter of time before it is dead. We’ll keep this one up and give it to him at times when we can supervise. Not so we can take it away if we hear ripping, but so we can pick up the stuffing and make sure he’s not eating anything.

Toy is sold via stores and online through MyDogToy.com. The website calls it “Mega Gear Ring – Tiger Print“. If I had researched this before buying, I probably wouldn’t have bought it based on the website design and layout. For example, all over the tags of their toys it says “Mydogtoy.com” yet it is a redirect to another website. That’s not a bad thing, it’s just the first of many odd design issues.

A photo of it (and the amount of stuffing he pulled out!!) can be found in Mike’s Review photo album called Toys.

Mike and I have been slowly training. He has some issues but none would prevent him from being a Service Dog.

For example, let’s look at how Mike perceives the concept of SIT. Most dogs, in learning SIT, are like bouncing balls. SIT means butt hits floor then bounces back up real fast. Not Mike. He figured out that SIT means TREAT so he was not going to move. I tried tossing the treat so he’d have to get up to get it. He’d go get it then promptly sit again, faster than I could give the cue.

Another example: Mike learned DOWN by the word and the hand signal of me pointing to the spot. Now, however, when I point to something to ask him to get it, he lays down. Why? Because I pointed.

I am having to slowly fade out the hand signals and not use them at all. I will also need to closely watch all my cue words so that he can distinguish between them all. I don’t feel he will flunk as a SD at all. I think he will excel at it. Trick will be me finding the proper way to teach him.

Mike and I had an interesting summer. He went with me up Nawth in late June. We were going to stay just two weeks but wound up being there for 4. We came home for 3 then were back up for 5. My mother was ill and had surgery, Lorna’s dad died…it was a very emotional (and hot!) summer. But it did some good bonding between us. I also learned he travels very well and loves other dogs. He doesn’t do the growling thing that embarrassed me so much about Joella. Most of the time if he sees another dog while in the truck, he is quiet about it. Jo would have been half out the window. Not to attack, but that’s what it certainly looked like. Mike does have that Rottie “this is strange and therefore dangerous” thing going. He was a little freaked by my brother and we could never figure out what it was. He was great with the kids, even loud running kids. He came to me if he was freaked about anything which was good!

He’s doing an odd thing now. Lorna got into the habit of taking Sam and Joella out for short walks while Mike and I were gone. She’s continued the walks and of course Mike goes along. Mike can be off leash (Sam cannot) and rarely goes out of sight from Lorna. But now he has this odd habit of saying “Okay, walk over” and he returns to the house. He sits on the porch and waits for her to come back. He does it no matter which dog she takes with them and the only constant is me not going with them. Since he doesn’t run right in and ask for attention, I doubt it is me he is missing or worried about.