Product Review: Scratch 'N Squeak Ball Launcher

Scratch 'N Squeak sent us a Scratch 'N Squeak Ball Launcher, and it's everything I hoped it would be! It scratches, it squeaks, it launches tennis balls, and it does all of these things quite nicely. This is a tennis ball launcher with a squeaker in the handle, and grooming bristles on the back so you can give your dog a good brushdown after you play. It is currently available in three colors, and fits standard tennis balls.

It Squeaks!

We've destroyed a lot of squeakers around here, so I had some concerns about this one. Sometimes they're just built flimsy, and they give out in a few squeaks. Happily, the Scratch N' Squeak contains a nice, hefty squeaker that won't just fall apart. 

Why put a squeaker on a ball launcher? Because some dogs aren't natural retrievers, and need a little encouragement to bring the ball all the way back. The squeaker can help keep you dog focused on you, and the game, instead of the awesome ball they just captured.

It Throws!

I've been launching tennis balls with the same blue Chuckit for 17 years now, so I was eager to compare the performance of the Scratch 'N Squeak. This one's a bit shorter and doesn't launch the ball quite as far, but it also works in my smallish yard and doesn't have to be stored like a piece of sporting equipment. 

The circular ball compartment means I can also pick up and launch other toys with it. The Dogegg works if I balance it right. The Wox flops nicely over the end.

 It Grooms!

If you've used a ball launcher and then not scratched your dog's back with it, you're probably doing it wrong. This one goes step further with grooming bristles along the back. You can have a nice game of fetch, and then brush some loose hair off your dog in the great outdoors where you wont have to sweep it up. 

Pros

• Allows you to pick up and throw tennis balls and other 2.7" balls without touching their slobbery wetness
• Tough and durable squeaker built into the handle for building excitement
• Brush bristles allow for a quick groom while on the beach or at the park
• Long enough to throw balls a long way, short enough to fit comfortably in a bag or backpack
• I am significantly less likely to whack people nearby with this thing (may not be true for everybody)

Cons

• Currently only launches standard tennis balls, large and small sizes are not out yet.

Bottom Line

I love the amount of innovation that went into designing the Sns launcher. It was clearly developed by people who used existing products and went, "you know what would make this even better?" We haven't been doing much with standard tennis balls lately after learning about some unfortunate choking incidents, but I am thrilled to know that a large size is in the works. I can't wait to see this product in stores!

Product Review: JW Evertuff Squeaky Barbell

The Evertuff Squeaky Barbell by JW Pet is a durable nylon chew toy with a soft squeaky toy inside. It is available in several colors and two sizes, medium and large. I believe ours is a medium.

Photo by Erin Koski

This somewhat awkward toy arrived in our September BarkBox. It's a hard nylon toy with one squeaky end, and I thought it was pretty heavy and unappealing.

Sisci's mission is to play with All The Toys, so she immediately ran off with the Squeaky Barbell and started chomping it. The novelty wore off pretty quickly though, and she hasn't touched it since that first week.

It's just...kind of a weird toy. I don't like throwing it because it's so heavy and clunky. Ours is supposed to be a medium size, but overall it seems a bit small even for 28 lb Sisci.

Pros: Durable. Several people have reported that this is the only squeaky thing their dog hasn't demolished in minutes. Affordable, so giving it a try is not a huge investment.

Cons: It's hard plastic and a serious chewer is going to gnaw it into sharp bits eventually. Too heavy for throwing.

Bottom Line: The relatively small price tag makes it worth trying if your power chewer shreds everything else. This might be the one thing that holds up, and either way you're only out ~$10.

Product Review: Kong Tuff N' Lite Pig

This Kong Tuff N' Lite Pig is definitely one of Sisci's new favorite toys. It's durable enough for tons of biting and squeaking fun, but weighs almost nothing. This toy is marketed for power chewers, is light enough to be tosses around indoors, and floats. We have a pink pig, there is also a blue octopus and a green frog available.

As advertised, this toy is incredibly lightweight and bounces harmlessly off most indoor surfaces. We don't really have winter here in California, but I'm sure it would be great for indoor playtime when it's seriously cold outside. Ours spends a lot of time laying around the yard.

 We haven't yet tested the seaworthiness of the pink pig, but I would be shocked if something this lightweight could possibly sink. I've heard that they can take on a bit of water, though.

Photo by Erin Koski

While this is advertised as being for power chewers, it isn't really a chew toy. The Kong Tuff N' Lite products are definitely for supervised, interactive play. They are, however, more durable than the average "indoor" dog toys. They are also lighter than the usual 2 lb. hunk of rubber toys for serious chewers.

Sisci loves to bite her pink pig. She insists on carrying a toy in her mouth every time she goes outside (but not when she comes back in) and the pig is the first thing she grabs if it isn't already laying out in the yard.

Pros: Really, really lightweight, as advertised. Squeak is not annoyingly loud. More durable than a tennis ball, and bigger than one so it's safer for larger dogs.

Cons: After one day ours was full of punctures. It hasn't taken any further damage, but it's not exactly pretty now.

Bottom Line: I'm kind of disappointed that Sisci hasn't torn it open yet, because I'd really like to see what's inside there. Maybe open-cell low-density foam? It doesn't feel empty.

Product Review: PetProjekt Dog Meat

ProProjekt's Dog Meat toy is the most realistic fake meat I've ever squeaked. Made from their durable plastic, this thing makes a great squeak and stands up to obsessive squeaking. Also, it looks gross. They also make a steak and a dead fish.

Photo by Erin Koski

This squeaky raw chicken leg arrived plastic-wrapped to a styrofoam tray in last year's November BarkBox. Doesn't it look amazing? It's not as realistic as PetProjekt's squeaky seashells, but it's pretty good.

Like the Squeeki Tiki toys, this is a somewhat bouncy, hollow plastic squeaky toy. It is lots of fun to squeak, and pretty easy to chew a hole through if that's how your dog plays. Mine just like to throw it around and then lay there squeaking it though, so it will last us a while.

Photo by Erin Koski

See the end of it? It actually has a protruding bone with accompanying blood spot, just like a real chicken leg. So gross, but I appreciate their attention to detail.

Pros: Looks bizarrely and horribly like a raw chicken leg. Has a great squeak. Somehow durable enough to handle ten-minute-long squeakfests.

Cons: Not a chew toy, and easy for even small dogs to gnaw into pieces if they feel inclined.

Bottom Line: I don't know why PetProjekt made this toy. I'm not sure I want to keep finding it under my couch. It's weird.

What is the weirdest dog toy you have encountered?

Product Review: Outward Hound Lil' Rippers Rhino

Outward Hound's Lil' Rippers are durable stuffed toys with a removable shell. Dogs can get their stuffy-shredding urges out by ripping off the squeaker-filled shell, which can also be tossed like a flying disc. Ours is a rhinoceros, there is also a warthog and a turtle, which is an animal that actually has a shell. I have no idea why there is a rhino and a warthog in this collection.

Photo by Erin Koski

I like the idea of toys that can be disassembled without being destroyed. We had a few in Brisbane's younger days, mostly made by Kyjen. As Kyjen has changed their name to Outward Hound, this is basically by the same company.

We started selling these toys at work a while back, and the ones in our first shipment were much bigger than this. Those may have been under the Kyjen Plush Puppies brand. When the first Lil' Ripper of this size showed up, I couldn't resist buying it.

Photo by Erin Koski

I brought home the Ripper rhino when I was watching two of Sisci's brothers for a week. They thoroughly enjoyed the toy, but somebody chewed the tip of the horn off almost immediately.

Both halves of the toy get a lot of love around here. The shell is basically a squeaker mat, and that's hard to resist. Sisci makes sure that the two parts are never joined for long. After three months and four puppies, there is now a hole in one ear, and some fraying along the edge of the shell.

Photo by Erin Koski

Pros: Pretty durable as far as stuffies go, can stand up to multiple puppies at once as long as nobody deliberately intends to destroy it. Ours even spent a few days outside in the dirt and still cleaned up nicely.

Cons: Unlike real turtles, it doesn't take much work to separate the shell from the rest of it. (Fact: A turtle removed from its shell would look a bit like you removed from your ribcage.)

Bottom Line: Having no horns or ears, the turtle is probably the sturdiest of the three Lil' Rippers. Also, rhinos and warthogs don't have shells.

Product Review: PetProjekt Squeeki Tiki

The Squeeki Tiki, by PetProjekt, is one of the most annoying dog toys ever invented. These are sturdy vinyl toys with heavy duty squeakers that ensure they will continue splitting your eardrums for weeks to come. Like most toys from PetProjekt, these come in a variety of colors and two sizes so any dog can enjoy terrorizing their family.

Photo by Erin Koski

The lime green Moai Squeeki Tiki has been banished to the bottom of our toy box for years. I'm pretty sure it came from a clearance bin at PetSmart. The orange Tiki arrived in our April BarkBox and makes a slightly less offensive noise.

Part of what makes these squeakies so horrific is their appeal. Dogs love them. A lot. Brisbane loves squeaking the big green one continuously until I revoke his Squeeki Tiki privileges.

Pros: Sturdier than most flexible vinyl squeaky toys. Will hold up for an infinite amount of squeaking, nose punching, and obsessive-compulsive chomping.

Cons: Not really a chew toy. Also highly enjoyable to chew for some dogs, so it will not survive a mission of destruction. Super loud and horrible squeak from the big one. Seriously. Not kidding.

Bottom Line: I wish one of the dogs would de-squeak that big green one. The little orange one isn't nearly as bad.

What is your dog's favorite squeaky toy?

Product Review: Dex & Penny Squeaky Stick

The Dex and Penny Squeaky Stick arrived in our January BarkBox, and I have yet to find a dog that likes it. This a wonderfully durable toy with a great squeak, it bounces a bit and takes some effort to compress enough to make a sound.

Photo by Erin Koski

I thought this toy was pretty cool when it arrived. It has a nice loud squeak and it bounces erratically when I hurl it to the ground. The texture is nice and grippy. Brisbane just...doesn't like it. He'll take it to be polite if I hand it to him, but he doesn't want to play with it.

Pros: Durable, loud, and squeaky.

Cons: I'm not sure what the drawbacks to this toy are, but the dogs know.

Bottom Line: I need to pull this one out again for the current foster pup. If she doesn't like it, I should probably hand it off to someone with a less discriminating dog.

Puzzle Toy Review: Busy Buddy Squeak 'n Treat Booya

The Busy Buddy Booya is part of PetSafe's Squeak 'n Treat toy line. It is made from a durable, bouncy material and is designed to dispense treats randomly during play. This toy is dishwasher safe and comes in three sizes.

Photo by Erin Koski

Like several Busy Buddy toys, the Booya has flexible rubber fingers extending into the food opening. These can be trimmed to change the rate at which the food is dispensed. Of course, tiny kibbles are going to come out much faster than larger ones.

Puzzle Toy Rating

Capacity: 1/5
Maybe a quarter cup, this is definitely not a meal-feeding toy.

Loading Speed: 1/5
Most of the interior of this toy is taken up by the squeaker chamber, and there's not enough clearance in the treat chamber to use a funnel.

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 3/5
It takes Xena a while to get the last treat out of the Booya.

Unloading Speed (superdog): 1/5
Brisbane is a pro at emptying this toy, he definitely enjoys it, though.

Size: 4/5
Ranging from 6-8" long, the three sizes of Booya should be usable by most dogs.

Durability: 5/5
Several users have reported that this toy outlasted their Kongs! Definitely one to try for destructive chewers, or at least dogs that rip out squeakers immediately.

Noise: 1/5
Sure it rolls quietly across the floor, but it also makes an unholy shrieking noise.

Locatability: 2/5
It rolls a bit, and the dogs like to carry it around. It's a bit bigger than a Kong, though.

Washability: 2/5
This is a hollow toy that is dishwasher safe, so it should be fairly cleanable. It's definitely not easy, though.

Versatility: 2/5
The squeak makes this toy fun for Xhuuya the raven, but it needs to be more easily washable before I'm willing to give it to someone who eats carrion as a hobby.

Total: 22/50

Product Review: BarkBox Flower Bouquet

The BarkBox Flower Bouquet is an adorable plush toy made up of four different toys. It consists of four pretty plush flowers held together by a velcro sleeve printed with some doggy news. It is available exclusively from the BarkShop and made just for BarkBox subscribers.

Photo by Erin Koski

I had seen this uniquely adorable toy in pictures of other dogs with their BarkBoxes for a couple of months before ours arrived in our April box. My expectation was that the bouquet would be a little too large and awkward for anyone at my house to really enjoy.

Happily, Brisbane enjoys chomping the flowers. Foster puppy Xena likes to carry them around the house. The bouquet might be a little too awkward for Ru to carry around.

This toy is so adorable that I haven't even tried taking it apart and handing out the individual flowers. I've been waiting for the dogs to disassemble it but they haven't shown any interest in that particular feature.

Two of the flowers crinkle, and two squeak. Brisbane and Ru really don't like crinkly toys, but they can just stick to chomping the squeaky ones here. I like that they have options.

Photo by Erin Koski

Pros: Excessively cute toy makes it appear that your dog has brought you a flower bouquet when they really just want to play. Splits into multiple toys. Velcro sleeve and multiple pieces can give smaller destruction-happy dogs a project to do without actually shredding a toy.

Cons: Probably easy for a large or determined dog to destroy in short order, lots of seams and bits to grab.

Bottom Line: This is easily one of my favorite BarkBox treasures. The dogs like it, too.

Product Review: Petprojekt Dogegg

The Petprojekt Dogegg is a durable rubber squeaky toy. It is heavy, thick, chewable, and made from natural rubber. The Dogegg comes in two sizes, ours is the larger one.

Photo by Erin Koski

This is an interesting toy, there aren't many like it. It is very sturdy and has quite a bit of heft. It's a strong toy with a big squeak. Not unlike a Cuz ball, but with much thicker walls and no chewlicious feet.

So far nobody at my house has fallen in love with the Dogegg. I'm a little surprised. I was pretty sure that it was tickle Brisbane's slightly-obsessive compulsion to bite things, but I think it's too stiff for him.

Photo by Erin Koski

Pros: More durable than a Cuz ball. Great squeak. No easy bits to chew off. Heavy and solid, very sturdy. Bigger than a tennis ball, larger size is suitable for Labradors and other big dogs. Wobbles across the floor in an exciting fashion.

Cons: Light color starts looking filthy immediately. Large Dogegg is too big for 40-pound Brisbane to squeak.

Bottom Line:  I would get the smaller size for Briz, but if he liked it I would end up having to confiscate it for being too loud. I should probably give it to someone who has a bigger dog.

What is your dog's favorite squeaky toy.

Product Review: Kong Squeezz Jels

Kong Squeezz Jels are squeaky, bouncy toys shaped like animals. They are durable, colorful, and bounce unpredictably. They are available in medium and large sizes.

Photo by Erin Koski

Brisbane loves squeaky toys, especially annoying ones. He prefers to ignore them until someone is making an important phone call and then squeak wildly at the worst possible moment. His squeaky of choice is the Cuz ball, but the Kong Squeezz Jel seemed like it would fill the same role.

I was surprised to find that Briz didn't really like the Squeezz Jels toy. He'll humor me if I toss it to him, but won't pick it up and play of his own volition. It's not just Briz either, none of my foster dogs have found this toy appealing either.

These toys are supposed to be translucent and look almost like candy, but ours is really cloudy. I suspect this happens to Squeezz Jels as they age. We tend to keep dog toys around for a long time, so I really prefer ones that age well.

Pros: Durable and annoyingly squeaky.

Cons: Translucent material grows cloudy with age. None of my dogs like it.

Bottom Line: I think these toys might be made to appeal to people more than dogs.

Product Review: Aussie Naturals Squeaky Bacon

The Aussie Naturals Squeaky Bacon is a stuffed toy made from leather. It contains a squeak and is bacon-scented.

Photo by Erin Koski

The Squeaky Bacon arrived in our March BarkBox, and was promptly ignored by everyone until Ulysses arrived in May. I like the Aussie Naturals company, their products are made with a focus on the natural and sustainable. Leather, jute, coconut fiber, wool, cotton, and natural gum rubber are their primary materials, and they aim to produce quality products with a minimal carbon footprint.

I like the concept, but I can't help but notice that the Aussie Naturals website has changed recently. AussieNaturals.us is a very professional-looking web store with a wonderful backstory about the original company, ABO Gear, and how they branched out into the pet market. The new site, AussieNaturals.org, is done primarily in Comic Sans, with an abbreviated "about us" page and an overall rough and unpolished look.

Photo by Erin Koski

The company and their website aside, the Squeaky Bacon is pretty amusing. Brisbane and Ru ignore it entirely. Uly will occasionally toss it around. Nobody here has gnawed on it yet, but a friend got the same toy in the March BarkBox and reported that her Jack Russell Terrier mix ate it. As this was the only toy that particular dog had ever felt the need to devour, it appears to have some sort of strange attraction.

Pros: Biodegradable, non-toxic, environmentally-friendly toy made without plastics or petroleum products. Sturdier than fabric squeakies, and the leather provides a novel chewing texture for most dogs.

Cons: Small size make it unattractive for dogs that love great big mouthfuls of squeak. Some dogs consider it a snack. Manufactured in India by a company that is based in Georgia, nowhere is Australia involved except in the name.

Bottom Line: It seems to be a good company making quality products. I wish they were manufactured in the USA as I have some concerns about quality control and the potential for toxic materials in the leather. Not something I would have purchased on my own, but the Squeaky Bacon is certainly a welcome addition to the toybox.

Product Review: Kong Wubba Classic

 The Kong Wubba Classic is a toy designed for tugging and tossing, consisting of two balls covered in ballistic nylon, with four strips hanging off the end. The Wubba comes in three sizes and a variety of colors for dogs of every size.

Photo by Erin Koski

Sometimes Kong comes out with  things that make me wonder whether anyone involved in the design process actually took the product home and used it on a regular basis. I am absolutely certain that anyone with hard floors would rapidly take the Satellite right back to the drawing board in less than a week, and nobody involved in the making of the Starpod ever tried to washed the damned thing.

And then sometimes Kong comes out with a spectacular invention that makes me wonder how I ever lived without it.

Photo by Erin Koski

The Wubba if definitely in the second category. Like the company's flagship product, this one feels like it is filling a void in the otherwise huge selection of dog toys. It is a durable, floating squeaky toy with flappy tails. Brisbane thoroughly enjoys biting it, even after it has ceased to squeak. The tails, along with the weight, make it easy to throw a very long way. It's soft enough for indoor play, quiet enough for hardwood floors, and tough enough to last for years longer than a stuffed toy. The tails also make the Wubba incredibly fun to shake and "kill". Most dogs seem to figure this out right away, I like to cheer them along with encouragements like "That's right! Break its neck!"

We have several Wubba Classics in both the large and small sizes. There are several variations that range from "great idea" to "trying way too hard". The floating water Wubba with the neoprene fabric? Totally awesome until Brisbane feels compelled to rip the fabric off. Fleece Wubba with stuffed animal heads? Quit while you're ahead, guys. Wubba Classic is the only worthwhile Wubba.

Pros: Super durable, strong enough for a good game of tug. Squeaks for a while, but not in a fashion that makes dogs want to tear it apart to kill the squeak. Sturdy enough to swing the dog around during a good game of tug. Super fun to shake, throw, and catch. Does not inspire dogs to disassemble it. Soft and quiet enough for indoor play on hardwood floors, tough enough to muddy water play and rustic games of fetch.

Cons: I've never had a Wubba squeak for more than a few days. I have no idea what happens to them, Briz doesn't compulsively chomp them like he does tennis balls, they just rapidly cease to squeak. Most iterations beyond the Wubba Classic are just stupid.

Bottom Line: I haven't found anything quite like the Wubba, and it is a cherished part of our toy collection.

Product Review: Sprong Cone and Dome

The Sprong Cone and Dome is a foam-filled squeaky ball with a fuzzy velvet texture. The manufacturer's website doesn't say that Sprong toys float, but the packaging for ours specifically mentioned it. Our Sprong is a large Cone and Dome, there are a dozen different shapes to choose from, and several of those come in different sizes. Sprongs come in a ton of different colors.

Photo by Erin Koski

These things are kind of cool and unique, I haven't found anything with this texture before, and I love the fun shapes. I don't think there are any other toys out there like this. I particularly like the fuzzy velvet texture, I've always found foam-filled smooth latex toys to feel kind of weird. The Sprong has a great squeak, not terribly long or annoying or loud.

Briz isn't totally in love with the Sprong, but he'll play with it if I initiate. We actually have it because Josie picked it out at work. She was a shameless shoplifter, and it was usually easier to just buy the bully stick or rawhide she grabbed rather than pry it out of her mouth. This was the only non-edible toy she ever showed an interest in, so I immediately purchased it. She ignored the Sprong from then on, apparently toys are only fun when they aren't ours.

Sprong toys are made by R2P, Ready2Play. The company actually owns quite a few pet brands, but I've never encountered any of the others before. It's possible I just haven't noticed, I'll be watching for them now because I'm kind of strange like that. There is also a cat line of Sprong toys specifically intended for nighttime play when cats tend to find the most obnoxious object in the house to bat around. For my cats, that thing is a small and extremely resonant piece of metal that fell off a windchime.

Pros: Fun-to-squish texture, firm yet supple. Fuzzy surface reminiscent of those furry My Little Ponies that were such dirt-magnets. Tolerable volume and pitch when squeaked. Lots of fun colors and shapes and sizes. Visually appealing to humans. Pretty darned durable, ours spent several months laying out in the yard in the sun, got peed on, and still scrubbed up quite nicely.

Cons: Probably not super durable for destructo-dogs. Might be more fun for humans than dogs, probably shouldn't leave within reach of toddlers.

Bottom Line: If my dogs loved these we would be swimming in them. I've been very impressed with the one we have. The dogs don't find it nearly as attractive as ratty old tennis balls for some reason. Anyway, I think it looks really cool so it can lay around on the floor with the Mighty Dinosaurs as part of my decor.

Product Review: Hear Doggy! Flats Deer

The Hear Doggy! Flat Deer is a plush toy with a squeaker that operates at a pitch undetectable by human ears. It is stuffingless and blissfully silent.

Photo by Erin Koski

I'm not a huge fan of stuffing-less stuffies, I always feel like I'm depriving Briz of one of the joys of being a dog. He's not a militant unstuffer, but he does enjoy emptying out his stuffies when they are finally breached.

That said, this is the best squeaky toy ever, even better than that Kong thing with the off switch. It is the best squeaky because I cannot hear it. Hear Doggy! toys obviously make noise, because my dogs perk up and get excited when I squeeze them.

Hear Doggy! is a brand in the Quaker Pet Group family, along with goDog and Sherpa.

Pros: Finally a squeaky they can enjoy without driving me nuts. Awesome for OCD dogs that Just. Can't. Stop. Squeaking. Cannot be used as an attention-getting device by annoying dogs.

Cons: I have no idea if this thing still squeaks or not because I can't hear it. Did they break it yet? Should I sneak up and start squeezing it when they're sleeping?

Bottom Line: We got this in a BarkBox, otherwise I may not have purchased one. I am not totally in love with our flat deer, but I will probably get Briz a flamingo or a starfish in the future because these things are pretty awesome.

Product Review: goDog Dragon

The goDog Dragon is a sturdy plush toy with a squeaker inside. It uses the company's Chew-Guard technology, a type of fabric that makes it difficult to destroy the toy. There are several different goDog dragons, and the company makes a huge variety of hilarious and awesome stuffies that I wouldn't mind having scattered all over my house.

Photo by Erin Koski

I like this dragon because it's pink. Brisbane likes it for reasons he hasn't specified. Right after I removed the tag he grabbed it and began squeaking it. Ru also loves the pink Dragon.

The lack of stuffing in this toy is pretty cool. It isn't totally limp like the Skinneeez toys that feel like a sad remnant of a toy. The Dragon does have a bit of stuffing, so it isn't flat and lifeless. It just isn't overstuffed, the squeaker is easy to locate, and it's fun to bite.

Photo by Erin Koski

Pros: Durable enough to not become an immediate unstuffing project. Minimally stuffed so it won't look like it snowed inside my living room when the inevitable does occur. Super cute, looks great casually laying on the floor. Dog toys count as interior decor at some point, right?

Cons: Probably won't stand up to seriously destructive dogs. The bright color probably means I will be washing it a lot.

Bottom Line: The Dragon is so cute I can barely stand it. The dogs grab it to play without being prompted. It's definitely a winner over here.

Product Review: Kong Airdog Off/On Squeaker

The Kong Airdog Off/On Squeaker is a revolutionary new toy that I wish someone had invented years ago. Quite simply, it is a squeaky toy with an off switch. It is also made from that tennis ball material that dogs find so irresistible for some reason.

Photo by Erin Koski

Once upon a time, when he was under a year old, Kong came out with the Airdog products. Originally they were simply tennis ball material toys in various shapes. We had a big bone-shaped toy, and Briz enjoyed tossing it, pouncing on it, and stripping the fuzz from it. The Airdog stayed in our toybox for many years. When I tried to buy another one, I found to my horror that they had added squeakers to every single Airdog product.

Photo by Erin Koski

I've mentioned before that Brisbane has an obsessive compulsion to chomp tennis balls. He also has an obsessive compulsion to squeak things, so squeaky tennis balls are basically crack for him. Once in a while I buy him an Airdog squeaky tennis ball as a special treat. Those things last for about 15 minutes of continuous compulsive squeaking before the squeaker gives out and they become utterly pointless to Brisbane. This is why we need a squeaky toy with an off switch.

All squeaky toys have a hole plugged with a squeaker tube, and a chamber that forces air through the squeaker when compressed.
If you remove the squeaker tube from a squeaker toy, you will find that you can blow through it and make a continuous horrible squeaky noise that will gnaw at the sanity of anything within earshot. The Airdog Off/On Squeaker toys have a little switch that routes the air either through the squeaker tube, or through a plain hole with no squeaking. I am seriously in love with whoever invented this device because it is amazing. We have the rattle-shaped toy, and Brisbane thoroughly enjoy biting it.

Pros: The squeaker can be turned off. THE SQUEAKER CAN BE TURNED OFF!!! These toys come in two sizes and the large ones are big enough for big dogs. The felt is supposed to be nonabrasive and shouldn't wear down the teeth of compulsive toy-biters.

Cons: Although the regular Airdog toys are made in the USA according to Kong's website, the Off/On Squeakers are made in China. They come in a variety of shapes, but "average tennis ball" is not one of the options.

Bottom Line: Brisbane loves this thing, and it's one of the few squeaky toys he's allowed unlimited access to because I can shut it off instead of confiscating it when I'm on the phone with a client and he suddenly needs to make a bunch of noise. It has held up through a whole lot of compulsive biting so far, and I will certainly buy another one if/when this one needs to be retired.