Welcome!

Welcome to Dodger's Dog Product Review Blog!  My name is Dana, and I'm starting this blog for a variety of reasons.  First and foremost, my pup Dodger.  Dodger is a 2.5 year old cattle dog mix that I adopted from a shelter last year.  Dodger has had some issues in his past, which we're addressing with training, but one of the key things that sticks out-- he's a very smart dog.  As you folks who own smart dogs already know, a smart dog can get into mischief if left alone or bored for too long.  We try and stem those bad behaviors by going on lots of long walks and hikes, playing with puzzle toys, and in general, keeping him engaged in all kinds of exercise. Thankfully, Dodger reserves his mischief to my backyard (lots of dug up holes and chewed-on sticks) and hasn't yet destroyed anything of real value in my home.  That's a miracle in itself, as we all know with raising puppies and young dogs, you never know quite how behaviors will manifest themselves when it comes to your favorite shoes, tv remotes or even the toilet paper roll.  I had two dogs (raised from puppyhood) prior to Dodger, so I know firsthand what puppy destruction looks like.

Secondly, I live in Oregon.  In case you haven't heard, we get a lot of rain here.  And while I would like to say that I'm the best dog mama on the planet, there are definitely days when Dodger doesn't get his long walk or hike.  On those days, it's especially tough, because I know he's bored and frustrated by the fact that he can't work out his energy outside.  Because of that, I try to keep a variety of toys around the house for him.

Thirdly and probably the biggest reason I'm starting this blog: dog toy durability.  Dodger is a tough chewer.  A REALLY TOUGH CHEWER.  I can't give him plush squeaky toys to play with because they will literally be destroyed in a matter of minutes. Not an hour, MINUTES.  So I have to be selective about the dog toys I purchase for him.  Like many of you, my budget doesn't allow for multiple $20+ pricepoint toy purchases during a given month.  I like to spend my money on quality products that I know will last and I know Dodger will find challenging and fun.  I also recognize that you get what you pay for, so if I'm going for low hanging fruit by buying a $5 rope toy, I know that's essentially $5 that I will watch Dodger tear apart before my eyes.  My hope with this blog is that if you're like me, and you have a very smart and tenacious chewer for a pet, you can learn from my experiences and also share your own.

Thanks for checking out the blog.  Dodger says "WOOF!" (that's "welcome" in canine language)