Here’s a Monday question for you – Am I the only pet parent who struggles to find the right plush toy for dogs? I mean – can someone tell me where I can purchase one that is both cute and durable?
Harley is a “menace to the plush toy society.” Those pawdorable little stuffed creatures who dangle from every freakin toy aisle don’t stand a chance once they enter into our house. Yet I still grin, smile and sigh aloud when one comes in here because they are so cute!
John brought over the softest, happiest looking little frog for Harley’s birthday this year…
Now study the photo closely – can’t you can see those beady little doodle eyes calculating a strategy for an attack later?
Oh he’ll love on it and carry it around like it’s his “firstborn” but not for long…
I believe that’s all a part of his strategic plan – “setting it up for the kill.” He’ll continue this little love fest for a few days (pawhaps three), and in this photo you can see the frog has obviously been violated. Cotton intestines are already visible…
Then, as if someone rings the bell – it starts!
So on this particular morning as I busied myself washing the breakfast dishes, Harley played nicely with the frog. Apparently when the ribbit sound came out of the frog, he took that as a huge sign of disrespect in the plush toy vs. Doodle hierarchy…
Unaware of my presence OR he just didn’t care – ACT I of Harley’s one doodle play entitled “death of a frog” began. He buried his head deep into the belly of the frog and cotton flew all over the place…
I was more blown away at how quickly he was able to dismember the frog then anything else.
- Why are they not sturdier?
- Why do they fall apart so fast?
- Is there something out there that is doodle proof?
- Does Harley have to have supervised visitation with his plush toys?
HELP!!!
This menacing behavior continued throughout the morning with an occasional break between bites…
At the end, Harley’s appendoodledectomy was complete, and the frogs capability to “ribbit” was no more…
THANK YOU for your prayers and comforting words during the passing of my mother. She was the inspiration to Harley’s therapy certification, therefore we plan to continue our visits with all the friends she left behind…
Rev. Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” Rev. Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr. So let’s make a difference starting today! Thanks so much for reading…
This is our contribution to the Monday Mischief blog hop brought to you by Alfie’s Blog, Snoopy’s Dog Blog, My Brown Newfies.
January 19, 2015
Good question! I think with Dakota it is just a matter of which one moves him to destroy it. He doesn’t destroy them all…….just some of them. He has some stuffed bears from Petsmart that are in tact……..he received a super well made (so I thought) duck last Dec that he tore the wing off of THAT DAY. It was made much better than the bears. Maybe it is a chemical they use that attracts them to certain toys? Wish I had an answer!
January 20, 2015
Caren, Harley has a duck that so far has remained in one piece longer than any stuffie ever. But it’s only been a couple of weeks – so the jury is still out. I’m wondering if the breed of the animal has something to do with it…. I feel like you – wish I had an answer! Thanks my friend for stopping by.
January 19, 2015
Dash is the surgeon in the house…Lilly just enjoys carrying toys around. I don’t think she has ever been involved in the destruction activities. Dash, however, dismembers, de-stuffs, de-noisemakers, you name it, the poor plush toy never has a chance with Dash.
Glad you’re back. We missed you out here in doodle blogville!
January 20, 2015
Deirdre, that’s another thing Dash and Harley have in common! It’s good to be back, I’ve missed all my friends 🙂
January 19, 2015
I have found that the only thing that works in this house is inexpensive….I buy plush toys on sale…and give them to the pups with the knowledge that Jakey will have the stuffing out within 5 minutes…..
January 20, 2015
Dory, I’m finding out that for us here in Doodleville we may have to adopt that same lifestyle. 5 minutes is about all Harley gives them once he starts playing with them.
January 19, 2015
Sorry to hear about your mother. As for toys, we have four-year-old toys that are still intact so can’t really help you there. Mr. N doesn’t destroy them and he gets new ones every now and then so periodically I weed through them and donate some.
January 20, 2015
Thanks for your condolences Mr. N – you are super sweet if all your stuffies are intact. That’s impressive. I also love the fact that you donate them after a while. Hopefully one day Harley will out grow this foolishness and play nicely so we can donate too!
January 19, 2015
Oh Cathy, I’m so sorry to learn of your mom’s passing. I didn’t know. My condolences go out to you and your family.
As far as the plush toys go I’ve been super lucky with Sherman and Leroy because they have never really tried to kill them but they do get super slobbery!
January 20, 2015
Thanks Jen. Mom lived a full life – I will miss her terribly, but I’ve got so many wonderful memories. You are super lucky in the plush toy department – slob isn’t fun, but it is washable. Unfortunately cotton tossed all over the place makes it difficult to work with. Feels a lot like Dorothy trying to fix the Straw Man in the Wizard of Oz LOL
January 19, 2015
Once you figure out the answer to the durability of plush toy questions, please let me know 😉 They never last long in our house, so I’ve given up that battle. I figure I’ll try reintroducing some plush toys once the pups are a little older…so in a few years!
January 20, 2015
Barbara, I’m trying so hard to find that one toy who really is “indestructible” – I figured I’d ask other pet parents if there was something else out there that I just haven’t been able to locate. If I find one, trust me, I will definitely let you know.
January 19, 2015
That is THE question around here….we are on the unending quest for toys that will last. ALL TOYS MUST DIE seems to be the mantra with our crew.
Glad to see you and Harley back, and I think it will be great for you and Harley to continue to see your Mom’s friends too.
January 20, 2015
JanK – Perhaps I will offer my services to a dog toy manufacturer somewhere – have them place Harley in a large room, so they can watch what happens when their merchandise arrives in the homes of pet parents. LOL
January 19, 2015
Bailie is the first dog Mom ever had that ruins stuffies on purpose. We are trying to teach her not to rip on them, but it is always a battle. Some she enjoys ripping more than others too.
January 20, 2015
Sounds like Bailie and Harley need supervised playtime with stuffies. I would have never ever thought it, but that poor frog never stood a chance.
January 20, 2015
Poor froggy, that looks like what happens at my house also. I’m glad your are going to continue the therapy work, you do make a difference.
January 20, 2015
Girl, the frog died a horrible death – Now Harley has the nerve to run around the house with the ribbit maker in his mouth without the frog #sillydoodle. Yes, therapy will continue (soon as I renew his certification – oops!) Harley has entirely too much love for me not to share.
January 20, 2015
Glad to see you are back. Hope you’re doing okay.
Our Abby loved to destroy her toys. Because she loved it so much, I’d buy her stuffed toys at yard sales for 25 cents (as long as they had no plastic bits) and let her have fun tearing them up. Then, at the opposite end of the spectrum, I’d occassionally buy her these really expensive “Tuff toys” that were really hard for her to destroy. They were like $25! Crazy!
January 20, 2015
Thanks Jackie – I’m doing “okay” – I know it will take time. These stuffed toys are so easy to destroy. I keep hoping I’m going to find a site where I can find something soft, and STRONG! I stopped trying to buy the expensive ones, because they last about the same length of time as the super cheap ones. Maybe you and I should go into business, design one and take it to Shark Tank LOL Take care my friend, I loved your books.