Toyshoppe Plubber Dog Toys

July 21, 2011 4:02 pm | By Zootoo Editor Flinn D.

The Plubber Dog Toys, by ToyShoppe, feature animal and bone shapes that make squeaking noises when your dog bites them. While this may not sound like your idea of a rowdy afternoon, I can assure you it does to your pet.

When I gave our tester dog the furry, pink Plubber (the name is derived from the combination of “plush” for its furry texture and “rubber” for its material) for the first time, I was skeptical. An initial glance at the toy led me to surmise that an insufficient amount of imagination had gone into its creation. Ten minutes of uninterrupted playing later, I was forced to revise my opinion. The premise behind Plubber — chase, chew, and repeat — may be simple, but there are subtle differences between this toy and other stuffed dog toys that made my dog sit up and notice.

First of all the Plubber Dog Toy makes a pleasing sound. Take any rubber dog toy you have lying around your house and give it a light squeeze and odds are, it will emit a squeaking noise. Pick up the Plubber in your hand and try to get it to make that same sound and you’ll find yourself squeezing a lot harder, and only in a specific area, before it makes any noise at all. This clever design makes for a much more rewarding experience for your dog – he has to actually work at the Plubber for a while to get the high-pitched squeal he’s coveting.

Another aspect that separates Plubber from the pack is that the material the toy is made from is noticeably more durable than material used in other soft dog toys. Stuffed dog toys are all pretty much doomed to be ripped apart, but in Plubber’s case, the fuzzy material didn’t start breaking up until my dog had chewed it for several days, longer than similar stuffed toys — especially ones as well-loved as the Plubber — have lasted in the past.

Pros: Durable construction; design keeps dogs engaged.

Cons: None.