OK, here is the quick and simple. I obtained some cotton "boat rope"
with the express purpose to convert segments into tug toys for two really
big dogs. Cotton because what I've read says this is preferred as it
does not cut the dogs gums and such.

Challenge is how to stop it from unraveling. I've tied knots at each end
but it seems I need a better solution.

Anyone, perhaps those with dogs, know of a way that still maintains the
healthy nature of the cotton rope?

Get smaller dogs?

"Jim" wrote in message
...
OK, here is the quick and simple. I obtained some cotton "boat rope"
with the express purpose to convert segments into tug toys for two really
big dogs. Cotton because what I've read says this is preferred as it
does not cut the dogs gums and such.

Challenge is how to stop it from unraveling. I've tied knots at each end
but it seems I need a better solution.

Anyone, perhaps those with dogs, know of a way that still maintains the
healthy nature of the cotton rope?

You cannot stop it from unraveling.

I would suggest you look into other newsgroups that deal with dogs.

When you go to buy pet toys, what type of rope is used MOST COMMONLY for pet
toys?

I do know that things that can come off in large chunks can choke dogs, like
the knots on the end of those rawhide bones. Some look like it is one
strip, but it is three, and the knotted ends can come off after wetting, and
cause choking.

As a person very experienced with rope, I would say that organic based fiber
ropes would be a better bet for coming off and going into a dog's stomach.
AND THAT IS A LITTLE AT A TIME. Any large chunk of anything would be bad.
Organic fiber is digested, partially digested, or just eliminated by staying
in the digestive tract long enough to go out the other end. With synthetic
fiber ropes, there is no degrading, and it is not digested.

Now, that brings us to hair balls. Hair is organic, coming right from the
animal. But hair balls will cause problems for dogs and cats, accumulating
in their digestive systems until a blockage is formed. One would think that
a little hair at a time would go in one end and out the other. But anyone
who has found a mysterious deposit left by a cat or dog will tell you that
it stays until it forms a big ball, and then is upchucked by the animal, or
the animal has symptoms that would lead a reasonable person to take the
animal to the vet.

So, it is not a simple issue. I would read up by googling, asking a vet,
looking at what's for sale at pet stores (although that may be a bad guide),
and using common sense.

With my dog and cat, there are points where play toys just get to such a
shape that it is obvious that they are coming apart, and I will toss them
rather than letting them shred it and choke.

Also, controlling the time the pet can have it can have a big effect. If
they can lay there and chew on it all day, it is apparent that they will
ingest more of the fibers than if they can just play with it for an hour,
and then it is taken away and put up on a shelf.

HTH

Steve

Heart surgery pending?
Read up and prepare.
Learn how to care for a friend.
http://cabgbypasssurgery.com

On 10/11/2010 6:31 PM, Jim wrote:
OK, here is the quick and simple. I obtained some cotton "boat rope"
with the express purpose to convert segments into tug toys for two really
big dogs. Cotton because what I've read says this is preferred as it
does not cut the dogs gums and such.

Challenge is how to stop it from unraveling. I've tied knots at each end
but it seems I need a better solution.

Anyone, perhaps those with dogs, know of a way that still maintains the
healthy nature of the cotton rope?


Dip the ends in wax, and tie the knots while it is still a little soft?
Waxed cotton twine is what Ma Bell/military used for lacing up wiring
for many decades. (Some of the more traditional military techs still
do.) Only other thing that comes to mind is get a sailmakers needle
(the big curved one), and stitch the ends appropriately. Mebbe the boy
scout (or sea scout?) manual shows the proper technique. I assume this
is not the style of rope weave where you can put the end of the rope
back into itself, Chinese finger trap style?

Dammit, you got me curious. (Googles)

Try this:
http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docush...SI-3926web.pdf

This was on the first page, but there were lotsa hits for a search
string of 'how to keep cotton rope from unraveling on the cut ends'.

--
aem sends...

On 10/11/2010 7:02 PM, Steve B wrote:
wrote in message
...
OK, here is the quick and simple. I obtained some cotton "boat rope"
with the express purpose to convert segments into tug toys for two really
big dogs. Cotton because what I've read says this is preferred as it
does not cut the dogs gums and such.

Challenge is how to stop it from unraveling. I've tied knots at each end
but it seems I need a better solution.

Anyone, perhaps those with dogs, know of a way that still maintains the
healthy nature of the cotton rope?

You cannot stop it from unraveling.

I would suggest you look into other newsgroups that deal with dogs.

When you go to buy pet toys, what type of rope is used MOST COMMONLY for pet
toys?

I do know that things that can come off in large chunks can choke dogs, like
the knots on the end of those rawhide bones. Some look like it is one
strip, but it is three, and the knotted ends can come off after wetting, and
cause choking.

As a person very experienced with rope, I would say that organic based fiber
ropes would be a better bet for coming off and going into a dog's stomach.
AND THAT IS A LITTLE AT A TIME. Any large chunk of anything would be bad.
Organic fiber is digested, partially digested, or just eliminated by staying
in the digestive tract long enough to go out the other end. With synthetic
fiber ropes, there is no degrading, and it is not digested.

Now, that brings us to hair balls. Hair is organic, coming right from the
animal. But hair balls will cause problems for dogs and cats, accumulating
in their digestive systems until a blockage is formed. One would think that
a little hair at a time would go in one end and out the other. But anyone
who has found a mysterious deposit left by a cat or dog will tell you that
it stays until it forms a big ball, and then is upchucked by the animal, or
the animal has symptoms that would lead a reasonable person to take the
animal to the vet.

So, it is not a simple issue. I would read up by googling, asking a vet,
looking at what's for sale at pet stores (although that may be a bad guide),
and using common sense.

With my dog and cat, there are points where play toys just get to such a
shape that it is obvious that they are coming apart, and I will toss them
rather than letting them shred it and choke.

Also, controlling the time the pet can have it can have a big effect. If
they can lay there and chew on it all day, it is apparent that they will
ingest more of the fibers than if they can just play with it for an hour,
and then it is taken away and put up on a shelf.

HTH

Steve


How about hemp rope, the doggie chews on it, gets stoned and calms down?

...............SQUIRREL!

TDD

"The Daring Dufas" wrote in message
...
On 10/11/2010 7:02 PM, Steve B wrote:
wrote in message
...
OK, here is the quick and simple. I obtained some cotton "boat rope"
with the express purpose to convert segments into tug toys for two
really
big dogs. Cotton because what I've read says this is preferred as it
does not cut the dogs gums and such.

Challenge is how to stop it from unraveling. I've tied knots at each
end
but it seems I need a better solution.

Anyone, perhaps those with dogs, know of a way that still maintains the
healthy nature of the cotton rope?

You cannot stop it from unraveling.

I would suggest you look into other newsgroups that deal with dogs.

When you go to buy pet toys, what type of rope is used MOST COMMONLY for
pet
toys?

I do know that things that can come off in large chunks can choke dogs,
like
the knots on the end of those rawhide bones. Some look like it is one
strip, but it is three, and the knotted ends can come off after wetting,
and
cause choking.

As a person very experienced with rope, I would say that organic based
fiber
ropes would be a better bet for coming off and going into a dog's
stomach.
AND THAT IS A LITTLE AT A TIME. Any large chunk of anything would be
bad.
Organic fiber is digested, partially digested, or just eliminated by
staying
in the digestive tract long enough to go out the other end. With
synthetic
fiber ropes, there is no degrading, and it is not digested.

Now, that brings us to hair balls. Hair is organic, coming right from
the
animal. But hair balls will cause problems for dogs and cats,
accumulating
in their digestive systems until a blockage is formed. One would think
that
a little hair at a time would go in one end and out the other. But
anyone
who has found a mysterious deposit left by a cat or dog will tell you
that
it stays until it forms a big ball, and then is upchucked by the animal,
or
the animal has symptoms that would lead a reasonable person to take the
animal to the vet.

So, it is not a simple issue. I would read up by googling, asking a vet,
looking at what's for sale at pet stores (although that may be a bad
guide),
and using common sense.

With my dog and cat, there are points where play toys just get to such a
shape that it is obvious that they are coming apart, and I will toss them
rather than letting them shred it and choke.

Also, controlling the time the pet can have it can have a big effect. If
they can lay there and chew on it all day, it is apparent that they will
ingest more of the fibers than if they can just play with it for an hour,
and then it is taken away and put up on a shelf.

HTH

Steve


How about hemp rope, the doggie chews on it, gets stoned and calms down?

..............SQUIRREL!

TDD

Aren't manila and sisal species of hemp?

Steve

On Mon, 11 Oct 2010 22:31:12 +0000, Jim wrote:

OK, here is the quick and simple. I obtained some cotton "boat rope"
with the express purpose to convert segments into tug toys for two
really big dogs. Cotton because what I've read says this is preferred
as it does not cut the dogs gums and such.

We get ones that are supposed to freshen their breath, too - they seem to
work really well. Local farm supply place sells them for about 4 bucks
each - the rope's a lot thicker (around an inch) than most rope toys that
places like Target etc. sell.

They last a few months, unlike every other toy that we've had. Weather
seems to end up being the killer - dog-face takes 'em outside via the
doggie door and the damp makes the rope rot. The knots at the ends are
somehow inter-woven, I think, rather than just being a simple knot.

Just saying, in case you decide to give up and look for something ready-
made :-)

cheers

Jules

"ransley" wrote in message
...
On Oct 11, 5:31 pm, Jim wrote:
OK, here is the quick and simple. I obtained some cotton "boat rope"
with the express purpose to convert segments into tug toys for two really
big dogs. Cotton because what I've read says this is preferred as it
does not cut the dogs gums and such.

Challenge is how to stop it from unraveling. I've tied knots at each end
but it seems I need a better solution.

Anyone, perhaps those with dogs, know of a way that still maintains the
healthy nature of the cotton rope?

Tie 2 knots near the ends of a maybe 16" piece and let the ends fray,
my rope for dogs has lasted maybe 10 years.

Reply: Yes, no, absolutely, maybe, and I don't know. It depends on the
dog. I have had dogs where chew toys would last a year. Another dog would
have it shredded or consumed in a week or less. Age has a lot to do with
it, as dogs under two years old tend to chew a lot more until they get their
full set of teeth. But yes, tie two firm knots. If you have a long piece
of rope, it is worth using it, tying two knots about a foot apart, then
tying the ends off and pulling it even hooked to a ball on a car hitch to
make it "seize hard" in rope talk. This just gives a knot that the dog will
not be able to undo. From there on a tight knot, the frazzles are so small
it won't make much difference. If they get the end of the knot undone,
entanglement in their teeth is possible, particularly with fine nylon rope,
and they will be able to bite off longer pieces and ingest.. I have seen 5"
nylon hawser mooring line part, and there is a 10' diameter puff ball of
small nylon particles.. It's pretty spectacular, and loud. And watch out
for the flying ends, soaked with seawater, they are like getting hit by a
falling tree.

Has anyone checked what those sold in the pet departments are made of? They
seem soft, and from what I've seen would guess they were cotton.

Steve

Heart surgery pending?
Read up and prepare.
Learn how to care for a friend.
http://cabgbypasssurgery.com

A piece of string walked into a bar, adn asked for a drink. The
bartender sternly said "We don't serve string here." The piece of
string argued, but didn't get served.

So, the piece of string stepped out to the street. Tied itself into a
knot, and then anoher knot. And yet another knot. Then, it frizzed up
what string was extending out from the end.

Back into the bar. Bartender says "Aren't you that piece of string I
just refused? String replys "I'm a frayed not!"

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Jim" wrote in message
...
OK, here is the quick and simple. I obtained some cotton "boat rope"
with the express purpose to convert segments into tug toys for two
really
big dogs. Cotton because what I've read says this is preferred as it
does not cut the dogs gums and such.

Challenge is how to stop it from unraveling. I've tied knots at each
end
but it seems I need a better solution.

Anyone, perhaps those with dogs, know of a way that still maintains
the
healthy nature of the cotton rope?