Leather Tug Toy

Tug toy for dogs. A monkey knot with a handle, wide suede straps wrapped around a coconut fibre 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 rope. The first one we found was solid coconut coir, too rough on Zoe's mouth. This one keeps the coir on the inside, where it gives the knot its weight, and wraps it in suede. Soft outside, dense in the middle.

Tug is Zoe's favourite thing in the world, and it is the kind of play you do together: one of you on each end, both paying attention. It works for fetch as well, even with dogs who do not really fetch. She ignores balls. She has always gone for sticks instead, and she chases this the same way. She does not bring it back. She runs it down, picks it up, and waits for the tug. FunnyZoo make it for medium and large dogs, and Zoe is 11kg, so it works below that too.

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. The handle keeps your hands clear of their teeth. Bring it out for play, put it away after.

Product Details

• Materials: suede, coconut fibre core
• Size: about 27.5cm long including the handle, knot about 8.5cm across
• For medium and large dogs, and smaller dogs who like to tug. Zoe is 11kg
• Wide stitched straps woven into a monkey knot, closed suede handle loop
• Coconut fibre core, not spun cotton, hemp, or synthetic rope, and fully wrapped in suede
• For interactive play rather than chewing, always supervised