A point i would like to make Throwing sticks can kill

[williamsmum]

Their is a toy on the market shaped like a stick.   It is called a SafeStick.   

Hi. Do you know where I can purchase one of these? My GSD, Rufus, just loves to run after sticks and I have the same horror of something similar happening to him. He loves sticks, chasing them, carrying them etc, but I know how dangerous they can be.

[Jessie_Pup]

I just googled Safe Stick 

[seaangler]

Their is a toy on the market shaped like a stick.   It is called a SafeStick.  

Hi. Do you know where I can purchase one of these? My GSD, Rufus, just loves to run after sticks and I have the same horror of something similar happening to him. He loves sticks, chasing them, carrying them etc, but I know how dangerous they can be.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Safestix-Original-Rubber-Dog-Toy/dp/B004FPPWOA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1324493160&sr=8-3

You know i would love to buy every one one of thease..If i win the lottery this Sat

[tallulah0710]

I don't throw sticks for mine but I do get Poppy to find a stick I put my scent on during a walk.

Someone I know (trainer) wont throw tennis balls for their dogs as they can get lodged in the throat, guess that depends on the size of the dog and ball though.

[seaangler]

I don't throw sticks for mine but I do get Poppy to find a stick I put my scent on during a walk.

Someone I know (trainer) wont throw tennis balls for their dogs as they can get lodged in the throat, guess that depends on the size of the dog and ball though.

The tennis ball is use as the main play toy by the trainers for training sniffer dogs for customs and the police....

At the end of the day any thing can get lodged in a dog throat large or small...I have seen a football lodged in a large dog mouth he was unable to detach it(that is one extreme to another)...We have to be carefull what ever we do to play with are dogs what ever it may be...The daftest could be the worstest one never knows...

[Sheepscheeks]

I have thrown sticks for Freddie before but won't any more. He's not that interested really. What he loves, when he's in the mood, is retrieving his squeaky ball. He destroys tennis balls so I sourced these on ebay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JW-Squeak-Dog-Ball-Choice-Colour-and-Size-/270828783521?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Dogs&var=&hash=item84b8ccac10 I use a medium so he can pick it up but it's not too small. He just loves them.

[seaangler]

Thank you for looking at my post if i can get people like your self to see into the dangers of throwing sticks...I am a happy chappy...And i have not wasted my time on this earth

[c19unn]

Diesel has never know what to do with a stick - He will only retrieve teddys - The oh has tried to get him to retrieve frisbys and balls etc but he will only pick up a teddy 

[Cockertime Blues]

I will let them chew a stick at rest....and under supervision...(as long as i can see them) after all we have not got eyes in the back of are heads...

I wouldn't even allow this. Sticks can easily splinter and I have known where a dog has chewed a stick, got a splinter stuck in its mouth and developed an abscess as a result.

Unless you're worried that the sticks are from a poisonous plant, there's really no harm. Dogs love natural organic any thing . Some dogs chew on rocks, some eat dirt, it just happens....

Right, I'm confused.  I've stopped throwing sticks in the woods for Alfie because, although he actually waits all by himself after the stick is thrown so he can see the trajectory and move straight to it (IYSWIM) so I don't worry about that, he does often sit down with stick when he's starting to tire and gives it a good chew.  I was worrying about sticks because of him swallowing splinters.  Are you saying this isn't something to worry about? 

It's costing me a fortune in substitute tennis balls though, even though I buy the good but cheap used ones off of Ebay, because we usually lose several a week.  Although we're at the point where we've lost so many in the woods (not because he can't find them but because he puts them down when sidetracked and forgets where he's put them) that he's started finding almost as many as he loses.

[Michele]

I will let them chew a stick at rest....and under supervision...(as long as i can see them) after all we have not got eyes in the back of are heads...

I wouldn't even allow this. Sticks can easily splinter and I have known where a dog has chewed a stick, got a splinter stuck in its mouth and developed an abscess as a result.

Unless you're worried that the sticks are from a poisonous plant, there's really no harm. Dogs love natural organic any thing . Some dogs chew on rocks, some eat dirt, it just happens....

Right, I'm confused.  I've stopped throwing sticks in the woods for Alfie because, although he actually waits all by himself after the stick is thrown so he can see the trajectory and move straight to it (IYSWIM) so I don't worry about that, he does often sit down with stick when he's starting to tire and gives it a good chew.  I was worrying about sticks because of him swallowing splinters.  Are you saying this isn't something to worry about? 

It's costing me a fortune in substitute tennis balls though, even though I buy the good but cheap used ones off of Ebay, because we usually lose several a week.  Although we're at the point where we've lost so many in the woods (not because he can't find them but because he puts them down when sidetracked and forgets where he's put them) that he's started finding almost as many as he loses.

I hadn't replied to this post because I didn't want to get into a slanging match with seangler who very clearly has his own views and believes in them.

My humble opinion is that unless it is a very young piece of wood and therefore still soft (which isn't likely to have fallen from a tree) any stick has a risk of splintering, and that is not a risk I am willing to take. I have never encouraged or allowed mine to play with sticks, if they have picked one up I do a trade and distract with a game. No doubt seangler will disagree with this, but I'd just rather be safe than sorry.

I suppose the bottom line is you have to go with your gut feeling.

[c19unn]

I will let them chew a stick at rest....and under supervision...(as long as i can see them) after all we have not got eyes in the back of are heads...

I wouldn't even allow this. Sticks can easily splinter and I have known where a dog has chewed a stick, got a splinter stuck in its mouth and developed an abscess as a result.

Unless you're worried that the sticks are from a poisonous plant, there's really no harm. Dogs love natural organic any thing . Some dogs chew on rocks, some eat dirt, it just happens....

Right, I'm confused.  I've stopped throwing sticks in the woods for Alfie because, although he actually waits all by himself after the stick is thrown so he can see the trajectory and move straight to it (IYSWIM) so I don't worry about that, he does often sit down with stick when he's starting to tire and gives it a good chew.  I was worrying about sticks because of him swallowing splinters.  Are you saying this isn't something to worry about? 

It's costing me a fortune in substitute tennis balls though, even though I buy the good but cheap used ones off of Ebay, because we usually lose several a week.  Although we're at the point where we've lost so many in the woods (not because he can't find them but because he puts them down when sidetracked and forgets where he's put them) that he's started finding almost as many as he loses.

I hadn't replied to this post because I didn't want to get into a slanging match with seangler who very clearly has his own views and believes in them.

My humble opinion is that unless it is a very young piece of wood and therefore still soft (which isn't likely to have fallen from a tree) any stick has a risk of splintering, and that is not a risk I am willing to take. I have never encouraged or allowed mine to play with sticks, if they have picked one up I do a trade and distract with a game. No doubt seangler will disagree with this, but I'd just rather be safe than sorry.

I suppose the bottom line is you have to go with your gut feeling.

Diesel is very intelligent but very dopey also  he would never know how to carry a stick properly and usually carrys things in an unsafe manor - like his big chew thing that OH bought him - he picked it up at the end then tried to lift it all the way off the ground by tilting his head back when walking - couldnt see wherew he was going and the chew was horrizontal  so i took it off him and gave it to hom when he was settled - for this reason i dont let him chew sticks as he is just to clumsy with them. he wont carry anything in the middle. luckily though he doesnt pick up sticks. If he was not as cluimsy i would let him but he is a teddy dog and so that helps avoid stick situations

[Silver Surfer (indiesnan)]

I will let them chew a stick at rest....and under supervision...(as long as i can see them) after all we have not got eyes in the back of are heads...

I wouldn't even allow this. Sticks can easily splinter and I have known where a dog has chewed a stick, got a splinter stuck in its mouth and developed an abscess as a result.

I agree Michele, if you remember Nell had to have a big operation on her throat and neck it was very nasty and scary  the vet thought it was caused by a bit of chewed stick or bone.

[seaangler]

 Michele  .....I appreciate your views as you of mine..

And i clearly under stand what you are saying and i agree with your comment....You up trade ..Some people do and some don't like me...

But its jest that i keep an eye on all my dogs (as best i can) for eating bits of twigs that fall from trees..All animal eat twigs its part of there stable diet to eat and they fine proteen from doing so as my dogs do....

But like you say i have at to disloge part of the bark from are Cindy that she got stuck in her top pallet....

[seaangler]

Cockertime blues.......Your dog is loseing tennis balls (because we usually lose several a week)

Both my dogs will not give up untill they have found them sorry gemma will(give up after a while) but peggy she will stay all day untill shes found her ball

Are you sure you have got a cocker