[Stacia Porter]

When Achilles was about 4 months old I ordered THE most awesome ball on a rope toys from PetEdge.com. They were made by Zanies, hardest rubber I've ever seen, seriously durable ropes. We trained TWO shepherds with them (our puppy and a friend's 5 yo working line male) and they have JUST worn out (about 10 months of use, used about 1 hour a day minimum for the first 7 months). I paid $3 each for them at the time. Now they're torn up, useless piles of chewed rubber with nice tugging ropes still in-tact.

I can't find them anymore!!! My dog is seriously PO'ed at me -- he's resorting to my old dishtowels as tugs now but it's just not the same. I bought him a kong and he just sniffs at it and then sighs. He wants his ball on a rope!

So anyone know of any good brand with a hard rubber ball (he hates the soft ones) that doesn't cost $15/ball? My Achilles baby would be seriously appreciative LOL.

And while I'm at it, jute suggestions? He's finally worn that out, too, and hasn't had his "jute flossing" in about a week. He also tore up his favorite retrieving ball and then destroyed the giggle ball I bought as a replacemetn in ONE bite (it said it woudl stand up to even the hardest chewer...I don't think they had a GSD in mind when they wrote that). And I wonder why he's not eating????

 

[Bob Scott]

One of the gals at club has a curtain making business (heavy duty sewing machines) She took a couple of worn out sleeve covers and made a bunch of AWESOME bite toys.

 

[Stacia Porter]

In my desperation I have turned to ebay to see if anyone has the ball on a rope he really loves for sale. I did find one auction for it, and came across this as well:

http://cgi.ebay.com/German-Shepherd...763309617QQcategoryZ20753QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

You'll note that the title says "German Shepherd" toys. Now would ANY of those toys last even 10 min with a shep? I just found it funny...

Bob, do you mean the lady makes new chew toys out of the older sleeve covers? Does she stuff them? It's an interesting idea...not that I have a sleeve laying around or anything, but I do like useful recycling ideas LOL.

 

[Bob Scott]

She makes bite tugs out of them. Very similar to the typical two handled bit tug. They are holding up lots better then the normal jute tugs I've had.

 

[Sarah Hall]

Here are a few hard rubber balls on ropes:

http://www.activedogs.com/default.asp?S=503&A=E&PKV=507007|0

http://www.activedogs.com/default.asp?S=503&A=E&PKV=507008|0

I also found this (I know, totally off topic) that I'm thinking of ordering. It claims to be useful for a send out. I could see how it would work.

http://www.activedogs.com/default.asp?S=503&A=E&PKV=1501010|0

 

[Woody Taylor]

So anyone know of any good brand with a hard rubber ball (he hates the soft ones) that doesn't cost $15/ball? My Achilles baby would be seriously appreciative LOL.

Just saw some of those black "tire-based" ball tugs at Petsmart this weekend for the first time. Expensive, though. About six inches across.

I bet an Orbee would hold up for a good while and not break your shin, but that's still around $12 for the medium. I have a medium and a small for Annie, but I don't use them for tug.

 

[Stacia Porter]

So anyone know of any good brand with a hard rubber ball (he hates the soft ones) that doesn't cost $15/ball? My Achilles baby would be seriously appreciative LOL.

Just saw some of those black "tire-based" ball tugs at Petsmart this weekend for the first time. Expensive, though. About six inches across.

I bet an Orbee would hold up for a good while and not break your shin, but that's still around $12 for the medium. I have a medium and a small for Annie, but I don't use them for tug.

Sarah, I couldn't see the thing in the link -- it said "product no longer available" .

Woody, no ball yet has held up to Achilles. Even his Rhino football has bitemarks all over it. We bought a Kong ball for his 14 hour plane ride and by the time we got him out the thing was covered in bite marks. He's REALLY hard on his toys! The only reason the ball on a rope held up is b/c it was only used as a training ball and ALWAYS put away directly after drive work. I still like to use it inside the house...

Thanks you guys for the links. I bookmarked that activedogs.com site. It has some nice gear at great prices! And I'm checking out the Orbee. You guys are too awesome :wink:

 

[Sarah Hall]

Oh, hm.. odd I just was there. I'll see if I can find it and post it on the sport page. I love ActiveDogs.com. Most of my gear for my therapy/service dogs comes from there because of their great discounts. Also, I love fordogtrainers.com. Both of those sites are always my first stop for dog gear.

 

[Woody Taylor]

So anyone know of any good brand with a hard rubber ball (he hates the soft ones) that doesn't cost $15/ball? My Achilles baby would be seriously appreciative LOL.

Just saw some of those black "tire-based" ball tugs at Petsmart this weekend for the first time. Expensive, though. About six inches across.

I bet an Orbee would hold up for a good while and not break your shin, but that's still around $12 for the medium. I have a medium and a small for Annie, but I don't use them for tug.

Sarah, I couldn't see the thing in the link -- it said "product no longer available" .

Woody, no ball yet has held up to Achilles. Even his Rhino football has bitemarks all over it. We bought a Kong ball for his 14 hour plane ride and by the time we got him out the thing was covered in bite marks. He's REALLY hard on his toys! The only reason the ball on a rope held up is b/c it was only used as a training ball and ALWAYS put away directly after drive work. I still like to use it inside the house...

Thanks you guys for the links. I bookmarked that activedogs.com site. It has some nice gear at great prices! And I'm checking out the Orbee. You guys are too awesome :wink:

9 lb. shotput might be a nice substitute if all else fails, stop by your local high school track and steal one.

But seriously...curious to hear if the Orbee works out. I think some of the exterior stuff might peel off but the cores of those things must be some kind of nuclear material...lots of bend but no break. Could be wrong, again, I don't use my ball as a tug.