Glenn Polyn //March 1, 2021//
PROMOTING PLAYTIME
Since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020, pets have become a bigger focus for their owners, and toys are a large part of the new normal. Toys come in countless forms, be it chew, plush, rubber, fetch. tug and puzzle toys.
Engaging toys, such as cat wands from Vee Enterprises, are essential for providing physical as well as mental stimulation and enrichment, and they improve a pet’s overall concentration and cognitive abilities. Whether they are Tall Tails braided toys that are designed for interactive play and exercise to Nina Ottosson puzzles that test a pet’s smarts, toys are useful in encouraging the positive development of an animal’s overall health and offsetting problematic behavior due to excessive energy storage.
When it comes to toys, consumers are thinking of safety, durability and eco-friendly products. Diversity of selection is important for retailers, as a wide assortment of toy offerings will enable customers to find the toy that will fulfill their pet’s need. This variety will enable a retailer to be prepared to sell an A&E toy for a bird that requires mental stimulation, a SodaPup nylon toy for a power chewer, a PULLER ring for dog fitness or a Duckyworld toy for a cat that craves catnip.
CHEW-N-TUG
Keep your dog happy with Chew-N-Tug Elk Antler Chews by Wapiti Labs. These Unique chew products are for medium breed to large breed dogs; the 100% cotton rope holds up to serious rounds of tug-of-war. Wapiti Labs Elk Antlers are water rinsed ONLY, with no chemical treatments on our antlers. They are a renewable source—antlers are naturally shed and re-grown by male elk each year.
HIDE-A-SQUIRREL XL
Outward Hound’s hide and seek plush dog puzzle was designed specifically to eliminate boredom, encourage positive play, and feed your dog’s natural hunting instincts. 2-in-1 interactive play means double the fun with options to play fetch or hide and seek to keep your dog mentally-stimulated. Bound to become your curious canine’s new favorite, our plush hide and seek line of puzzle toys are perfect for supervised fun of all sizes! Just remember to consider your dog’s size and activity level when deciding which toy to get.
VEE CAT WANDS
Made in the United States, Vee’s line of cat wands includes the Wispy Bouncer, featuring soft, natural iridescent peacock flue feathers, and the Satin Bouncer, with satin tassels that are intended for batting or biting. There is also the PURRfect Go-Fur-It wand, which has a plastic string coil that stretches over 8 feet, and has an end with faux fur and natural tinted feathers for energetic cats to chase and capture.
DUCKYWORD CAT TOYS
All Yeowww! Catnip products are made in the United States. And as with all Yeowww! Catnip products, the brand’s holiday toys are made of durable cotton twill and filled with a special 100 percent organically grown catnip—no fillers and no chemicals. It’s a combination sure to send even the most pampered cats into orbits of delight and keep them entertained for hours!
www.duckyworld.com
ZOGOFLEX ECHO TOYS
West Paw is challenging canine chewers with its Zogoflex toys. As part of the Zogoflex Echo collection, the Skamp, Rando and Zwig are super squishy with a hollow core, making them super durable and a lot more fun than the humble originals (sticks and tennis balls). Built for moderate chewers, these lightweight toys are beyond bouncy and deliver a satisfying spring.
SODAPUP NYLON TOYS
The SodaPup Hot Dog, Peanut and Corn on the Cob nylon toys are innovative chew toys that are durable and innovative. SodaPup uses a proprietary FDA-compliant nylon material in its toys to ensure safety for dogs. By injecting nylon over nylon instead of TPR over nylon, SodaPup has created fun toys that are more durable than TPE over-molded nylon products.
www.sodapup.com
ENRICHED LIFE
Oxbow Animal Health’s Enriched Life line of enrichment and care accessories includes a variety of toys, natural chews, engaging activity centers and innovative habitats and premium care items. Made of 100 percent pet-safe materials, the Enriched Life line is designed to support natural behaviors that include exploring, playing, hiding and chewing.
PULLER
PULLER is an innovative dog fitness tool that helps owners bond with their pets while dogs get the daily workouts they need. The two PULLER rings have dogs jumping, running and pulling, and 20 minutes of training with it is equal to three miles of running. PULLER is soft yet durable. It can float and comes in five sizes.
FLOSSY CHEWS WITH EXTRA FRESH
The Flossy Chews Rope Toys from Mammoth are made using poly-cotton woven sheath with an added real dental floss fiber coated with a specially formulated beeswax and natural mint blend. Among the SKUs are Monkey Fist Balls, Bar Tugs and Dental Bar Tugs.
BARRETT BALL
Ethical Products tied up with U.S. Army veteran James Hayes to market the patent-pending Barrett Ball. This super-tough dog toy features indestructible rubber that is meant to withstand the powerful forces of persistent pooches who take pleasure in pulverizing their playthings. A portion of all sales will be donated to Dogs4Warriors.
RICOCHET ELECTRONIC DOG TOY
The Ricochet Electronic Dog Toy includes two toys that alternate squeaking sounds to keep dogs intrigued. When a dog investigates one of the toys, the other will make an exciting squeak sound. When the dog interacts with second toy, the sound will bounce back to the first toy. The Ricochet Electronic Dog Toy is durable enough for intense play, and has a pairing range of up to 30 feet.
A&E BIRD TOYS
A&E toys, including the Tropical Punch Cocktail and Whiffle King Happy Beaks bird toys, are made in the United States. The Tropical Punch Cocktail is a party in a cup, with its paper Hawaiian-themed cup that encourages birds’ natural instinct to forage and play. The Whiffle King Happy Beaks is full of bagels, straw, buttons and fun. These toys offer textures and lots of shred-able, natural toy parts.
HAUSPANTHER CAT TOYS
These cat toys are as satisfying for cats as they are for people. Each toy encourages a different kind of play behavior from stalking and pouncing to chasing and tossing, keeping cats active and entertained. The abstract shapes, unique textures and sophisticated modern colors make the toys look like modern art on your living room floor. Who says cat toys can’t be beautiful?
INDIPETS ALL NATURAL ORGANIC RUBBER TOYS
After successfully serving 15 years in feeding products, Indipets has introduced its All Natural Organic Rubber Toys line. Available in various shapes and sizes, the toys are made of durable and safe plant-derived natural rubber, with no plastic or artificial additives. They help maintain oral hygiene and encourage outdoor and indoor play.
www.indipets.us
CHUCKIT! SLOBBER FREE VALUE PACK
Designed for fetch-loving canines, all toys in this value pack are made from the same durable, natural rubber as our popular Ultra Ball and feature the same bright orange and blue colors that Chuckit! lovers have come to recognize. The set comes with one RingChaser, one Ultra Fetch Stick and one Ring Flight.
CRAZY CREW INTERACTIVE DOG TOYS
The Crazy Crew is made up of five unique characters with vibrant “personalities” to fit any dog’s needs. The Crazy Crew is formulated to withstand even the toughest of chewers, with the toys coming in a range of highly durable EVA, TPE and natural rubber blends. Each member has distinctive features, like treat dispensers and random bounces.
TALL TAILS BRAIDED TOYS
Whether your pup wants to play a rousing game of fetch, tug-of-war, or simply nibble for a little while, this toy is made with you and your pup in mind. The special bond between you and your dog is important to Tall Tails, so the brand made sure its braided toys are designed especially for resilience during interactive play.
PUZZLE & PLAY MELON MADNESS
Cats need to be challenged. That’s why our cat puzzle toys are the perfect way to keep cats playing. While humans use vision to navigate their world, cats use their keen sense of smell to gather information, problem-solve, and hunt for food. By providing your cat with daily treat puzzles, you are enriching their life in ways that other toys and activities don’t.
www.nina-ottosson.outwardhound.com
KONG GOODIE BONE
The KONG Goodie Bone toy engages dogs that delight in chew sessions. Made from the KONG Classic unique natural red rubber formula, the bone features the patented Goodie Grippers that turn this entertaining toy into a fun treat dispenser that can be stuffed with your dog’s favorite kibble.
FUZZU STEAMED VEGETABLES
Come and get it! Playing with your food was never better. FUZZU’s provoked produce have their panties all in a bunch, and they’re ready for some smokin’ fun times! These hot-headed bad boys are a super-soft combination of plush and printed poly canvas, and feature an extra-loud squeaker for hours of raucous play. Try them all: Boiling Broccoli, Raving Red Onion and Cranky Carrot.
TOWER OF TRACKS
Your cat is sure to have a ball chasing, swatting, batting and catching these balls as they race around the track! The Petstages Tower of Tracks ball track toy for cats has three-times the levels and balls for three-times the fun!
X-TIRE BALLS
X-Tire balls are molded in durable, safe Flexi PVC. They are available in 3.5-inch and 5-inch sizes and with giant jingle bells, animal sounds, flashing lights and ropes for tug play. This ever-popular fetch ball is phthalates- and BPA-free.