Stuffed Animals

[killerz298]

I bought my 7 week old lab a plush puppy stuffed animal (http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?R=5965&Nav=1&Ntt=plush+-+jr&N=30+22&sku=729361&familyID=7844&)the other day and as with all stuffed animals the thing sheds. He was biting it like he is supposed to and the fuzz is getting in his mouth. Is this bad for him? Will he choke on it? I am afraid to leave it in his crate or out for him to play with when I am not home because of the fuzz. When in the store I tested the others by pulling on them and they shed as well. What do you guys think?

[juliefurry]

Those toys never last long with my lab. She'll chew the crap out of them until she rips them apart and pulls out the stuff. She will sometimes choke on the stuffing because she tries to eat it. I wouldn't leave it with your puppy when he's alone and I always give them to my lab for special occasions when we are home.

[showpug]

I have never understood the concept of a stuffed toy for a dog. Dogs are meant to rip and shred until they get to the guts of their prey. They don't treat stuffed versions any differently LOL! My pugs can gut a stufty in no time at all so they don't get them. I am too concerned about the stuffing causing and intestinal obstruction.

[juliefurry]

I have never understood the concept of a stuffed toy for a dog. Dogs are meant to rip and shred until they get to the guts of their prey. They don't treat stuffed versions any differently LOL! My pugs can gut a stufty in no time at all so they don't get them. I am too concerned about the stuffing causing and intestinal obstruction.

I really don't get it either but it's fun to watch them try to get the squeaker out of it. She only gets them a couple times a year because they are too expensive to keep replacing on a daily, or weekly basis.

[Herschel]

Our dog loves stuffed animals and he has ton. However, we have a 'graveyard' of friends departed that he has gutted. His new thing is to rip the ears off! (It used to be eyes and noses)

I really like the Air Kong line:
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444180 9610&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302026216&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023689&bmUID=1161370092362&itemNo=0&Ntt=Air+Kong&In=All&previousText=Air+Kong&N=2026216

I haven't tried these, but the Tuffies look good:
http://www.dog.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=311431&Category=Dog%20Toys

[Barb04]

I only had one dog my lab that loved her stuffed toys and knew them all by name. She never destoyed one of them. That was the only dog I've owned like that. I definitely wouldn't leave stuffed toys with the pup unless you are there to supervise. It's better to be safe than sorry.

[showpug]

I only had one dog my lab that loved her stuffed toys and knew them all by name. She never destoyed one of them. That was the only dog I've owned like that. I definitely wouldn't leave stuffed toys with the pup unless you are there to supervise. It's better to be safe than sorry.

I wonder if it's a lab thing? I wonder if it has anything to do with them having to retrieve the bird and bring it back without damage? They are bred to have "soft" mouths. My sister's lab is the same way. Never destroys her stuffed toys. I wish mine were like that because they love stuffed toys. The second they get their mouths around one they are death shaking it and then immediatley trying to shred it LOL!

[killerz298]

Thanks for the responses but you guys didn't really answer my question.

I am not talking about him eating the actual insides of the toy, I am talking about the outside "hair" of the toy. When he chews on it the hair comes out of the toy and into his mouth. Is this dangerous for him? I don't see how it can as all the toys shedded like that, but I just want to be sure.

[M&M's Mommy]

Mocha adores his stuffed friends. He treats them as the baby his/her "baby bottle" or "blankie", which he carries around at days, and needs to have near him at night. It's also the first thing he looks for in the morning. I don't think he purposely destroys his stuffs, just normal tear and wear. I replace them when they're torn.

You seldome see Mocha without a stuff animal on his mouth.

Missy couldn't care less. She prefers her plastic balls :)

Muffin is at the age when she'd take anything into her mouth... She's too young to destroy stuffs now, so I guess I'll have to see what she'll do when she grows up.

[rabbitsarebetter]

showpug, just wanted to say Ruckus has lots of stuffed animal toys and never puts a hole one in them.

oh yeah, and i know a lab who "kills" all of his toys in minutes. even the big black extreme kong was killed in less then an hour.

sorry, i dont know if they hair would hurt her or not. maybe try to brush the shedding hair out?

[moxiegrl]

I dont think the hair is a problem...you need to watch out for the stuffing though when/if they tear it open. Katie had some stringy poop :)

[showpug]

showpug, just wanted to say Ruckus has lots of stuffed animal toys and never puts a hole one in them.

oh yeah, and i know a lab who "kills" all of his toys in minutes. even the big black extreme kong was killed in less then an hour.

sorry, i dont know if they hair would hurt her or not. maybe try to brush the shedding hair out?

Hmmm...I guess my dogs are just in need of some counseling. They are stuffed animal serial killers ;)

[bubbatd]

Until Ollie , all our stuffed animals were in tact . Many still are as they don't have a hole in them . Once there's an eye or nose out ...goodbye stuffing ! He never eat it though . I just remove the rest of the guts and he loves the floppy leftovers . All of Chip's favorites are still intact ! Don't you dares from the Bridge ??

[bumhouse]

My Collie doesn't destroy his stuffed animals - actually he is very gentle with them (as compared to us!!!). His favorite is a green squeaky frog. He does have a green tennis ball that has "hair". He doesn't seem to really eat it though just sort of pulls it off. He has never gotten sick from this. I think it is so fine that it goes through his gut no problem. I would worry about ripping apart a stuffed animal and getting a large piece lodged somewhere. Otherwise, I don't see a problem. Inspect them often for damage and through them away if they look fragile.