Leather Tug Toy for Dogs

Tug toy for dogs. A monkey knot with a handle, wide suede straps wrapped around a coir rope core.

Knot toys are almost always rope: cotton, hemp, or synthetic. That kind of rope shreds into long threads as a dog plays with it, and a long thread is not great for dogs who eat things. Zoe eats things.

We went looking for a knot that wasn't cotton rope. The first one we found was bare coir, too rough on the mouth. This one keeps the coir rope on the inside, where it gives the knot its weight, and wraps it in suede. Soft outside, dense in the middle. Suede is the softest of the leathers, which is why it goes on the toys meant to be gripped and carried rather than chewed, and why it suits dogs with tender mouths and older dogs who have stopped enjoying hard rubber.

The leather is a byproduct of the meat industry, and the coir comes off the coconut husk. Both break down.

Tug takes two. The handle keeps your hands clear of their teeth. It throws well too, and dogs who ignore balls often still chase this, because it moves like a stick. Tug is Zoe's favourite thing in the world, and it survived her, which is the other half of the review.

This is a toy for playing with, not a chew. It is tough but not indestructible, and it is not meant to be left with a dog to work on alone. Bring it out for play, put it away after.

Product Details

• Materials: suede outer, coconut fibre rope core
• Size: about 28cm long, knot about 8.5cm across
• Durability: medium, by the maker's own rating
• Softer than rope or hard rubber, gentle on tender mouths
• Wide stitched straps woven into a monkey knot, closed handle loop
• No spun cotton, hemp, or synthetic rope to shred
• Recyclable packaging
• Designed in Italy, made in India
• For medium and large dogs, and smaller dogs who like to tug. Zoe is 11kg
• For interactive play rather than chewing, always supervised
• Natural product: colour and grain vary from piece to piece