A dog toy made of coffee wood and braided rope. Each end has a large, tightly braided rope knot, and a cylinder of coffee wood sits in the middle. The rope combines cream and brown strands, which gives it a striped look. Overall it is 22 cm long, the knots are about 7 cm thick, and it weighs 240 g. You get one toy, made in China.
Two knots, two grips
The shape is symmetrical, so both ends are equally easy to hold. For a game of tug, you take one knot and your dog takes the other. If you have two dogs, they can tug it between themselves.
It works for carrying too. Your dog can pick it up by the wooden middle, with a knot on each side of its mouth. Whether it suits your dog depends on the size of its mouth and the way it likes to play.
The first game of tug
The first time, sit on the floor with your dog and slowly draw the toy past it; most dogs will go after it. Do not yank hard while tugging; let your dog do the pulling. You decide when the game ends: ask for the toy back and put it away.
Hard wood, softer rope
Coffee wood is the wood of the coffee plant. It is harder than the rope, so your dog's teeth meet two different surfaces in one toy. The grain and colour of the wood vary a little from piece to piece, so yours may look slightly different from the photo.
Stay close while it chews
Give a chew toy when you are around, and check it from time to time. If the rope starts to fray, a knot works loose, or a crack or splinter appears in the wood, replace it. With a strong chewer this happens sooner. Pick up any loose strands or bits of wood. When you are not playing, keep the toy in a basket or a cupboard, and it will last longer.