Tuffy's Hilda the Hippo

She loves her new toy

The only toy my dog doesn't destroy in a day.

I bought Hilda Hippo in December 2009 and purchased a second one a few months back as a Christmas present for Max, my golden retriever. She was bigger than I expected and I thought she would be too large for him to play with. No worries. He grabs a leg and drags Hilda around wherever he goes. The manufacturer says she is not a chew toy but I don't know too many dogs who do not want to chew their toys. Hilda was still going pretty strong in December 2010 and so I bought a different Tuffy's toy, a leopard. The leopard had a tuff rating of 8 (1 stronger than Hilda's 7) but unfortunately, the leopard barely lasted 30 minutes. Hilda recently fell victim to Max's incessant daily chewing and had to be retired. He loved to play with her and after he kept searching the house for her, I knew she had to be replaced. Max and Hilda are best buddies again and I'll have no complaints if she lasts another 14 months before she's history. The list of toys that didn't last as long as a sitcom is a long, long list. I've purchased several other Tuffy's in the past and for the most part, they are as they claim to be - Tuff. I'd stay away from the leopard but if you've got dogs that are tough chewers who go through their toys quickly, this brand is definitely worth looking into.

e adopted a 4-month-old puppy of unknown genetic background who turned out to be a real chewer. My husband and friends laughed when I ordered this toy for her, as it was nearly as big as she. When she first saw it, she barked at it. A bit later, however, she started playing with it. The ears were chewed off in a couple of weeks, but the rest of the toy remains whole and wonderful. It's her go-to toy when she needs to get rid of energy or is annoyed. She carries it (having grown some), throws it, and chews and chews. I was concerned about paying over $20 for a dog toy, but it has been a great investment. I can see it lasting her whole life. I couldn't recommend it more highly for a chewing dog.