Knotted Rope Tug Toy

In tug-of-war, the end knot looks like nothing, right up to the tenth round.

A dog’s favourite game is also the best way to channel a nipper: he chews the rope instead of your sleeve, and the braided cotton fibres slide between his teeth like floss, cleaning the gums while he plays. Round here, that end knot is the one you still grip with a wet hand once he has worked his way up the whole rope to your fingers. Thick braided cotton, tight knots, several lengths to suit his size; the rope goes in the washing machine and dries in the air.

• Thick braided cotton, tight knots that withstand pulling
• Cleans teeth and massages gums while chewing
• Machine washable, air dry
• Several lengths to suit size

For teething puppies and adult dogs. Sold in twos (random colours) or fives (5 colours). Replace the toy when the fibres fray.

Tug-of-war does not make a dog aggressive, provided two rules hold: you start the game and you end it, on a trained cue like “drop”, rewarded by restarting play. Pull horizontally, never upward, to spare the neck and teeth, and pause with a teething puppy. Wash the rope in a laundry bag and bin it as soon as threads come loose: they can be swallowed.

He will not drop it on the first “drop”, but he will on the second, because the next round follows. 14 days to send it back if the quantity was not the right one.