Finding a safe but fun and durable toy for your dog can be a challenge, especially when you have a power chewer like my Staffie cross, Frank.
Last year at Crufts, I purchased two of the GoughNuts Heavy Duty rings and 12 months on of near-daily play (they’re the only toy we actually leave out freely for them), they’re still fully in tact and one of their most prized possessions – for Phoebe, at least. Frank’s penchant for a spherical toy means that he quickly loses interest in the rings.
His obsession with balls often left me frustrated as traditional tennis balls can cause dental wear and everything else would barely last a few minutes before being destroyed. However, my search for a tough toy solution led me to the GoughNuts Pro 50 Ball, and I couldn’t be more impressed.
The GoughNuts ball was first suggested to me by a police dog handler, who swears by the toy for their drugs, cash and firearms dog. Long-lasting, bouncy and perfect for ball-driven dogs, he’d told me, so this year at the NEC, I once again hunted down the TuffToys4Dogs stall and picked one up for the discounted price of £21, instead of £26.
The first thing I noticed about the ball – which is the toughest in the range – is how bouncy it is. For something fairly weighty, it’s got a great bounce to it, which makes for a very fun game of fetch/catch.
But the seriously standout feature of the GoughNuts ball is the multi-axis groove system. Instead of being a completely flat, round surface, the ball has two grooves around the surface, which not only enhances grip and bounce, but serves as a really important added safety feature in case of emergency throat blockage to allow air to continue to flow.
That said, the ball measures three inches across, and is therefore suitable for most breeds. It’s important to choose an appropriately sized toy for your pet, and note that the GoughNuts balls are an interactive toy rather than a chew toy, meaning you do have to play with your dow, rather than leave them to their own devices.
GoughNsuts added: “The GoughNuts Ball is not a chew toy but instead is an interactive toy. Yes the ball is tough and we have made the first GoughNuts Ball in the strongest black recipe. The GoughNuts Black incorporates the original GoughNuts green but then adds carbon technology to enhance strength.”
The Pro 50 ball is recommended for power chewers like Frank, and for any dog who has previously chewed through an Interactive Black Ball on more than one occasion. The strongest toys are identifiable by their yellow marking, and should the toy get damaged, it’s covered under GoughNuts’ Lifetime Guarantee and will be replaced.
The moment Frank saw the GoughNuts ball, his eyes lit up. He is incessant when it comes to a ball – you can’t even say the word without it riling him up and I’m pretty sure he’s catching on to ‘bee ay double-ell’ too. It’s safe to say he absolutely loves it and it’s proven to be just as tough as the GoughNuts rings. After 20-30 minutes of playing, he is mentally stimulated and it can wear him out for hours to come.
One thing I will say is that the grooves do get a bit clogged with slobber, but this easily rinses off under the tap ready to be put away for the following day.
At £26.00, the GoughNuts Pro 50 Ball may seem like an investment, but for owners of power chewers like Frank, it’s worth every penny. Not only does it provide hours of entertainment, but they’ll actually save you money in the long run compared to buying what we consider to be ‘disposable toys’.
If you fancy giving it a try, you can buy them here on the TuffToys4Dogs website.
