Knick Knack Paddy Whack Give Your Dog a Rope Toy

Dog rope toys have been around nearly as long as that other doggie favorite: the disgustingly slimy old tennis ball. Where the tennis ball is good for throwing, the rope toy is good for those favored doggie pastimes of chewing and tussling and simply whacking from side to side as it hangs from both sides of the canine grin. In short, a lot of dogs love this toy standard.

Rope toys come in two basic configurations: figure eights and "bones." Whichever you buy, make sure they have knotted ends. They are stiff enough so that you won't want to have to try and tie them yourself, and the fibers are not good for your pet's digestion. Larger dogs are capable of ripping apart even these relatively strong toys, so monitor your dog's play if this is a question.

You can indulge in a little tugging when you play with your dog and his rope toy but use good sense. Avoid real tug of war games with any pet that indicates the least hint of a dominant personality or if there are leadership issues within the circle of people and pets in your home. You don't want to encourage a dog to win a physical confrontation with a human.

With those few cautions, though, dog rope toys are a great option for playing with your pet and enjoying what dogs provide best: mindless repetitive play and affection.