Thrashing toy - ok or not ok?

[runlikethewind]

Hi there

I've often wondered if it is ok for my dog to thash his soft and rope toys - it's the sort of thrasing a dog does in a figure of 8 to kill prey. I had to stop using a rope toy in agility because he got so excited, he was thrashing it around and then was visibly wobbly for a second afterwards. Dizzy I guess.

I wonder from a health point of view really and I haven't been able to find much about about it.

[runlikethewind]

Just to add - it's not gentle thrasing either - it's the sort of thrashing that lifts his front legs off the ground.

[Nettle]

Yes, definitely okay. He is getting rid of a lot of energy there and having a wonderful time!

As a generalisation, we humans have a very odd take on dogs playing - I make no apology for saying this again - dogs when they do what we call "playing" are replicating natural behaviours. In this case, the toy is getting killed. Take THAT, you toy!

Ever wanted to really thrash a punchbag or kick the beanbag? Ever done it? Feels better afterwards.......

[runlikethewind]

Knowing our dog and you know him too now I suppose, I can imagine that is why he likes to do that - to get rid of anxiety!! I just don't want to him to get any sort of brain injury - he does it so fiercly!

[Mattie]

I braid strips of fleece for my dogs, they can use them as tuggers or to kill their prey. The beauty of fleece is it is soft and doesn't hurt me when I get hit by them, doesn't hurt the dog like rope etc does. They are very easy and cheap to make. Some people use other materials, denim is strong but none as as soft as fleece.

[runlikethewind]

I'm trying to locate someone who makes recycled fleece or fleece from plastic bottles tug ropes from Natural Dog Store - can't find anyone in the UK! Fancy it?!

[Mattie]

What do you mean by recycled fleece fleece from plastic bottles?

You can get a lot of tuggers from the width of new fleece, but found that owners won't pay much for them and they do take quite a lot of making especially the leads which are really strong.

[emmabeth]

Try abbey saddlery - if they DONT have fleece made from recycled plastics they may well know who does as they sell a fair amount of fleece and other 'plastic' type man made fabrics for horse rugs and stuff.

The other one off the top of my head, would be 'northern fabrics' or northern textiles, something like that - they specialise in outdoors textiles, ill google them tomorrow for you if you havent (am zooming about now).

[runlikethewind]

Thank you Emmabeth!! Mattie - tug toys made from old fleece jumpers etc or tug toys made from fleece made from recycled plastic bottles!