Rope Toys for Fun & Fitness

   Happy Friday!  I’m jumping on the Fit Friday blog hop.  I appreciate my BlogPaws friends, Slimdoggy, Peggy’s Pet Place, and To Dog with Love for hosting.  All three blogs work diligently at urging humans to get their dogs in shape.  I’m sure you’ve heard that if your dog is fat, then you’re not getting enough exercise!  Be sure to visit each of them for great information mixed with a healthy dose of fun!

   As part of the BlogPaws Community, I have made many great “cyber friends.”  Mark

Damien's Tug Toy With Friends

Scott falls into that category.  He introduced himself on the welcome page and we corresponded.  Mark’s blog is featured on his website http://www.damiensbestdogtoys.com/  His blog is really wonderful and informative.  Along with the blog, he reviews outside gear, and you can follow his journey with Veruca as they work to become ace disc players.  Something else that makes his site cool is that he makes

Ava's Tug and Toss

ROPE DOG TOYS!  I told him that I’d love to test and write a review of his tough-looking toys.  Bentley and Pierre were thrilled when he offered to send us some toys of our very own.

   One other thing that you should know before I let the boys give their opinions on the toys.  When you purchase any of Damien’s Best Dog Toys, Mark donates dog and cat toys to animal welfare organizations.  That makes each

Ava's Large Tug and Toss

toy purchase a win-win situation!  Not only is your dog is getting exercise while playing, a shelter pet is too.  Now, let me turn the keyboard over to my official toy testers, Bentley and Pierre.

Bentley: Hey y’all!  Today my partner and I will be reviewing some toys for mom.  I am beginning to think this blogging idea is pretty beneficial for us.  We have gotten some great things to test and eat.  Last week, the delivery guy whom we now love, came pulling up with another package.  Oh sure, we gave him our most ferocious barking, but it was merely for reputation’s sake.  When Mom finally got the box opened, she held up some fun-looking balls on ropes.  Since Pierre is our resident toy killer, I’ll let him give you his opinion of our first toy.

Tugging with my friends!

Pierre: Thanks Bentley.  Grandma took us outside with the toy that had two balls and a loop handle in the middle.  She said they reminded her of a toy called “Klackers” that she played with as a child.  I just knew that she was going to go into the whole “Back in the day I had a stick and a rock to play with” routine.  For some reason, she then tried to make the balls hit top and bottom in some pitiful attempt to relive her “Klackers” childhood.  Being a smart Westie, I lunged for the toy and began to engage her in a game of tug ‘o war.  She has a good grip for a grandma.  Bentley saw that we were having fun so he had to come over and join us.  I grabbed the toy and tore off at lightning speed across the yard.  Bentley only saw a white streak with a ball.  I am sure that I looked like a comet streaking around the yard.”

Bentley: “Pierre, that’s not how it happened at all.  I caught you and put you in my famous neck lock.  Then, I easily snatched the toy and left you whimpering to Mom.  I shook it like a Polaroid camera until you blindsided me.

Pierre: “Hahaha!  I got you good!  You probably want to call me by my new nickname, “White Lightning.”  I even won our pick up tug ‘o war game.  Westies rule and Bassets drool!  WooHoo!

Bentley: “I let you win and you know it.  It’s called “Feeling sorry for the little guy.  You know what an empathetic breed I am.  Besides, you didn’t even tell everyone the name of the toy.  Sheesh.  It is the Damien’s Tug Toy with Friends Cotton Rope Dog Toy.  Humans can buy one of their very own for only $10.00 at Marks’ Etsy Shop.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/DamiensBestDogToys.  We can both play at the same time and Mom can join in the tussle by holding the loop handle.  I’m telling y’all the truth; this toy is durable.  We played, ran, tossed, and chewed but it still looks brand new.”

Pierre: “Sigh, it’s true.  I hope that I’m not losing my touch but I simply could not kill

"Perfect size for me!"

this super dog toy.  Grandma surprised us by giving us our own special size of Tug & Toss toy.  Mine is an attractive 12” navy, maroon, and green Ava Tug and Toss.  Damien’s Best made it out of three cotton rope strands about ½” thick.  It is proving very durable even though it is soft in my mouth.  It’s a great size for me to run, throw, and play tug.  I hate that I have to kill it.”

Bentley: “How’s that whole killing thing working for ya?  Face it; you just can’t hurt one of Damien’s Best Dog Toys.  You have gnawed your Ava Tug & Toss rope for days now.  You look like a dad gum beaver down there with it between your paws.  You may as well give up, because it still looks new and untouched

"Pierre is about to try to steal this,
isn't he?"

by your pearly canines.  Don’t let me see you going all Hannibal Lector on mine.  It is plus-sized for guys like me.  Please, don’t confuse our toys.  They look similar, mine is designed from the same size rope as yours, but it is navy and green.  Plus, the ball on mine is about 4 ½” in diameter and my rope is 14” long.  The ball on yours is 3 ½” so don’t think I won’t notice if you take the large one.  If we decide to share and you appear to be having fun with mine, I’ll want it back then; I will hold you down and slap you in the face with my ears.  I can’t have mine damaged because I love it.  Seriously, I’m not worried because these toys are made to last.  We have gone through countless rope toys.  Either they break or someone (you) eats them.  I think we will be able to play with these for years!  Everyone should have these great toys.  They are much more reasonably priced than those other wimpy ropes Mom has bought.

Pierre: “I guess that you’re right about killing it, but that doesn’t mean I am accepting

"Grrrr! It's Pierre-proof!"

defeat.  I intend to keep chewing on mine.  Mark’s dogs sure are lucky to have a dad who’s a toymaker.  You know that he names the toys after his dogs.  Damien, Ava, and Veruca are going to be famous and what’s even better is they are all rescue dogs!  They all live in Vermont where Mark was working with the North County Animal League in Morrisville.  That is where his best friends lived before joining his forever family.  While working with the League’s dog trainer, he realized the importance of keeping the rescues stimulated with play and human interactions.  Since shelters rely on donations, he developed his toys as a way to provide toys for shelters and humane societies.  Grandma is right Mark Scott IS a nice man.”

"MOM!!
Pierre is Westie photo-bombing me!"

Bentley: “Yep, he’s a nice man who makes a darn fine rope toy!  He certainly deserves to call them Damien’s Best Dog Toys.  When we got our toys, he had already donated 358 dog toys and 5,087 cat toys.  I’m ready to give my paws rating and can we puh-leeze add a fifth paw.  It’s im-paw-tant!”  (snicker)

Me: “That was a great review boys!  You covered most of the facts, gave links so our readers can order their own rope toys, and told a little about Mark’s history.  I guess you deserve an additional paw rating.  I want you to give them an honest paw rating.  Don’t be swayed by a great story.  I want y’all to consider durability, attractiveness, fun/engaging, and price.  Let me know when you’re ready.”

Bentley & Pierre: “Ready!  Do that drumroll thing that you do before we reveal our paws.”

Me: Slapping palms on edge of table as the boys make a big deal of scoring.

Large Ava Tug and Toss Cotton Rope Dog Toy **Price $15.00

Ava Tug and Toss Cotton Rope Dog Toy **Price-$10.00

Damien’s Tug with Friends Cotton Rope Dog Toy **Price-$10.00

Damien’s Best Dog Toys were a huge hit at our house.  The rating on his Etsy shop is a solid 5 stars.  If your best fur-iend has a tendency to destroy all of their toys, I strongly urge you to try these rope toys.  You’ll quickly become a fan!  To get you started, visit the Etsy store at the link provided in review and enter coupon code “OFFER20” to receive 20% off any item! 

*I received Damien’s Best Dog Toys in exchange for an honest review.  There were no promises for a positive rating and no money was exchanged.  The opinions in this post belong to Bentley, Pierre and me. 

This is the Fit Friday Blog Hop so exercise your fingers by hopping to these other blogs!