Kitty Finally Finds a Paté She Likes

Blue Wilderness Chicken Recipe Wet Cat Food

For years, we’ve been convinced that the mini-kitty (as Miss Winki’s generally known) would automatically turn up her nose at any paté that landed in her food bowl. As a result, we’ve limited her wet food to serving from packages labeled “in gravy,” “flaked,” “slices,” or occasionally “in aspic.” Times being bizarre, however, the lady of the house recently picked up some canned food for our teenager (almost old enough to drive!) at the grocery. She knew to get Blue Buffalo, but the significance of a can with the word “recipe” was lost on her.

In case you didn’t know already, that means the contents are paté. Kitty's always been pretty dismissive of even the premium foods in that form, including Wellness and Natural Balance. But when the Blue Wilderness® Chicken Recipe hit her food bowl, Winki was all over it. Who knew?!

According to the label (and to Blue’s website) Wilderness is grain-free and has no chicken or poultry by-products, artificial flavors, or artificial colors; or, of course, grain. What it does have is chicken (including liver), potatoes, flax seed, taurine, and natural flavors. The “recipe” also includes vitamins (a, B1-9, E) and minerals (Ca, Zn, K, Mn, Cu, Fe), folic acid, and thickeners like carrageenan and guar gum. You can look it up yourself at Blue’s website, since who knows when they’ll change the formulation.
For those who want to know, the analysis is: minimum 10% protein, 8% fat, 1.5% fiber, 0.10% taurine; and maximum 78% moisture.

Whatever the case, Miss Winki is definitely a fan. She only gets an ounce at a time, morning and evening, and gobbled it all – even after it was chilled in the fridge. Although the Wilderness is a little pricier than everyday Blue recipes (even the cuts in gravy), the little girl is worth it. Not to mention that she’s just expanded her menu by a whole bunch of flavors!

copyright © 2020 scmrak

As Harnesses Go, I've Seen Better (But It'll Do in a Pinch)

PetSafe EasySport Harness

OK, I’ll admit it, I’m a space cadet. Here’s what happened: we left the house one morning headed for a vacation spot 1000 miles away, both dogs tucked into the extended cab of the truck. A hundred miles or so into the trip, I realized that I’d spaced out the dogs’ leashes and harnesses. You can find a leash almost anywhere, but harnesses are different. So we pulled into a local “farm store” and browsed the pet section. Since we already had quality harnesses at home (Ruffwear), we looked for something similar in design. We ended up with a pair of PetSafe EasySport Harnesses.

Design-wise, the harnesses served their purpose: they fit over the head with a little elastic “give” and have padded front-back sections that run under the belly and atop the back. The upper section has a sturdy handle that can be used for control or to help a dog scramble up a steep path, much like the Outward Hound packs they carry on long hikes. There’s also a D-ring for clipping on the lead, placed behind that handle.

Purrfect Bistro Tuna Niçoise: Kitty Agrees on the Purrrrrrrrfect!

Merrick Purrfect Bistro Tuna Nicoise

Winki the mini-kitty wasn’t having a good year. She and the new rescue hadn’t connected yet, which resulted in a lot of hissing fits between her, perched halfway up the spiral staircase to her lair in the attic, and the new boy, whining and snorting on the bottom step. She also slept less often in her favorite spot, tucked into Daddy’s armpit. Poor baby…

Aloha, bland food: here comes Tiki Cat Hookena Luau

Tiki Cat Hookena Luau Ahi Tuna and Chicken

Maybe it’s because she’s spoiled, and maybe it’s because she resents having to live in a house with two dogs, but my cat has little interest in pate-style foods. As a result, almost everything I buy her is either “flaked” or some variation on “chunks in gravy.” I generally avoid so-called supermarket cat foods, too, so you can almost always find me looking for sales on the high-end stuff. That’s probably why I picked up a few cans of  Tiki Cat not long ago, one of which was Hookena Luau Ahi Tuna and Chicken. To be blunt, kitty approves – a LOT.

Kitty Has a New Favorite Brand: Nulo

Nulo Medal Series Beef and Rainbow Trout Cat Food

One of kitty’s more interesting quirks is that she pretty much refuses to eat pate-style foods. That’s not really a problem, given the variety of “filets,” shreds, chunks, and flakes on the market. We do, however, try hard to avoid what some call “supermarket” cat foods while also not breaking the bank buying two-dollar cans. Since she only gets an ounce or so twice a day with her dry kibbles, though, a dollar or so a day seems acceptable.

Sorry, Tidy Cat: I'm going back to Scoop Away

Tidy Cats 24/7 Performance Clumping Cat Litter

You might think that all clumping kitty litters are alike. I used to think that, but no more. The last time we ran out of litter for Miss Kitty, I picked up whatever was on sale. For the past couple of years, we’ve used Scoop Away Complete because you can buy a ginormous box at Costco, cheap.  Since I was already buying food for the fur babies at the pet store, I picked up a tub of Tidy Cats 24/7 Performance Clumping litter at the same time. I was amazed at the difference.

Miss Kitty is tiny; about seven pounds, and decidedly “senior” at more than twelve years old. Nevertheless, she can produce a lot of waste in a short time. Unlike some people, we only scoop the box every other day – it’s in the basement, not in the bedroom, and we use a big covered box, so it’s not like anyone gets “stankface.” Or at least it wasn’t until we started using this Tidy Cat!

A Kosher Food for the Observant Pooch, but Be Prepared for Flatulence

Evanger Classic Recipe Cooked Chicken Canned Dog Food

There’s no way our blonde Lab is Jewish – she’s a native of Galveston, Texas, which suggests she’s most likely Baptist. As for our little boy, he’s a our rescue pooch who came without a history. So as to not offend his religious sensibilities, when Rosh Hashanah arrives we changed his once-a-day canned food treat to a nice Kosher chicken recipe. Just kidding: it was pure accident that there was a can of Evanger’s Classic Recipes Cooked Chicken in the pet food cabinet, but this recipe is Kosher for Passover, so I thought, “What the heck?”

Thanksgiving for Dogs - Merrick Makes Dogs Drool

Merrick’s Classic Grain Free Thanksgiving Day Dinner 

See it at Amazon

It Spoils the Dog – Again

Years ago we spoiled a previous dog by giving him canned dog food once a week and he knew it as “groceries” and oh how he loved the treat.  Until this past Thanksgiving Day our current pampered and spoiled dogs had never had any type of canned food. Their kibbles are high quality and they enjoy quite a few other treats but now I think they’d trade some of their treats for more canned food, especially if it was as good as Merrick’s Classic Grain-Free Thanksgiving Day Dinner.

Dog Owners Everywhere Secretly Wish for a Training Guru

Listening to Dogs: How to be Your Own Training Guru by  Jon Katz

Years ago trainers recommended establishing pack order when working with our dogs. A few went so far as to have the alpha family member mark boundaries with his/her urine. Later a friendlier form of training, positive behavior reinforcement seemed effective yet gentler. So many variations exist today that first-time dog owners become confused and clueless. Author Jon Katz offers a different perspective in his book, Listening to Dogs: How to be Your Own Training Guru. This isn’t exactly a dog training book, it’s not something I would recommend for a first-time dog owner, but he does provide something for reflection.

Katz and I have a love/hate relationship -- he doesn't know this.

My relationship with Katz’s books has been a love/hate bond. I read everything he writes including a few books I treasure and a couple I’d prefer to fling across the room in protest. In Listening to Dogs Katz doesn’t pretend to be a trainer or a guru, he claims he avoids questions on how he trains his dogs, he suggests that what works for his dogs on his farm probably won’t work for you and your dog in your house/yard/apartment. He suggests that trainers such as Cesar Millan know how to work with their dogs in given situations but when dog owners attempt his methods they frequently fail -- and then assume they’re incapable of training their dogs. Most of the books seem to have “little to do with the lives of most dog lovers and owners” – another reason they search for mystical dog-training gurus.

Generation one was a great dog, but...

Katz states that “dog training has been one of the most profound spiritual experiences of my life. It is not, for me, an exercise in authority, a matter of technique, a rigid theory that smothers thinking, individuality, and the very personal nature of our relationships with these animals.” It is my interpretation based upon reading this book and all of his previous books

They'll See You Coming for Sure with a Nite Ize SpotLit

Night-Ize Spotlit Clip-On Multi-color LED Light

The pretty little blonde who lives at my house isn’t really into accessorizing. Except for a subtle pastel collar, she’s nearly always naked. That usually makes it difficult to find presents for her. Face facts: shoes and purses are out of the question, though she does have her own personal backpack. Her favorite stocking-stuffer from Christmases past, though, is a Nite Ize SpotLit. Ignore the txt-gnrtion spelling, though, ‘cause this turned out to be one nifty gift. 

The SpotLit Described

At first glance, the SpotLit looks pretty nondescript: it’s a whitish plastic disk 1¼” in diameter and about ½” thick and weighing a bit over a half ounce (17 grams). A pair of flat plastic hemispheres forms a sandwich around a stainless steel plate, which extends in one direction to form a little hook. The hook closes carabiner-style with a springy wire loop. On one side of the disk, you’ll notice a raised button and can see the innards through the translucent plastic.

The SpotLit in Use

The magic starts once you press that button. Press it one time and an LED light begins glowing. The light cycles continually through red, green, white, yellow and blue. Press the button two times in quick succession, and the light starts flashing red at about two times per second. When clipped onto her majesty’s collar, the LED can be seen for hundreds of feet, and the flashing light or the changing colors easily catch the attention of local drivers. Other neighborhood dog-walkers were so impressed that one bought a dozen to give to friends…

The SpotLit comes with a pair of CR2016 batteries, which will probably have to be replaced within a few weeks. A name-brand pair of lithium batteries will last considerably longer. The biggest downside I’ve noticed is that the ON-OFF switch is pretty stiff, but considering the spelling (and the home offices of Nite Ize, Inc., in Boulder, Colo.), I suspect the designers are members of the generation with overdeveloped thumbs. The carabiner clip can be a tight fit on the collar D-ring, but it’s doable if the dog will stand still.

A Night-Ize SpotLit is great gift for your dog-loving friends, especially if they walk their fur-people after dark. It comes highly recommended. 

Summary

Plus: highly visible, lightweight, batteries are replaceable
Minus: stiff ON-OFF switch, clip is a tight fit on D-rings
What they’re saying: The neighborhood drivers will see your pet coming with a Nite Ize Spotlit on her collar...

Kitty Gives Science Diet Chunks and Gravy Two Paws Up

Science Diet Mature Adult Cat Chunks and Gravy Canned Food, Tuna Recipe

During our quest for canned food at which kitty won’t turn up that lovable nose, some years back a new format for canned food appeared, the “slices in gravy” genre. Kitty was immediately in love was with Science Diet Culinary Creations Slices in Gravy, but that label long ago disappeared from the shelves in our local stored. Hill’s, however, followed it on with “chunks & gravy,” and kitty was delighted to make that brand’s acquaintance.

She’s happy with the flavor selection, especially Tender Tuna Dinner – one that's formulated for “Mature Adults” (7-plus years: yes, baby is now more than ten: time sure flies). They also market tuna, chicken, and fish formulas for adults; and a chicken flavor for kittens.

Pettiquette: Tips for Responsible Dog-Walkers

Anyone Can Be a Good Neighbor and a Responsible Pet Owner

A front-yard surprise gets even worse after the sprinkler
system comes on!  Photo credit - author

Millions of family pets get some exercise and a bit of "duty time" on a daily walk and – unfortunately – millions of homeowners find a nasty surprise on the lawn the next time they go outdoors. That’s definitely not being a good neighbor. Robert Frost may have said, “good fences make good neighbors,” but he probably never had to clean up after Rover or Muffy from down the block. Being a responsible pet owner includes being a good neighbor. Here's how to give Fido his daily exercise without pissing off someone down the street.

DRI Ultra Absorbent Microfiber Pet Towel

Ulta Absorbent Microfiber Pet Towel – the very indispensable towel when you live with a mud puppy 

Available at Amazon

The reason why!

New puppies arrive with a delightful puppy smell. Each of our dogs had their own smell, our chocolate lab reminded us of molasses and the blond occasionally smelled of vanilla or cinnamon. Our third labrador girl smells like hay and our cute little lab mix has his own fragrance but we can’t describe it. Our current blond girl rolls in everything, especially garden soil and oak blossoms but absolutely loves mud. She is a mud puppy.  For this reason we keep a number of microfiber towels in handy locations, but also in the travel bag when we go to dog parks. 

My favorite of all the towels is the DRI Ultra Absorbent Microfiber Pet Towel. It’s large enough to wrap around either dog, absorbent enough to towel dry after a bath, and fully capable of removing mud. It’s not so bulky that it’s difficult to use when grabbing a squirmy wet dog, although if really wet I tend to keep a leash attached with the grip under my foot. 

My Life in Dog Years by Gary Paulsen

Prepare to Revisit Your Own Dog-Friend Memories

Walking around on ice always has its risks. When working alone around beaver ponds Gary Paulsen was setting up a set of snares. The dog team was taking advantage of this time to rest as he unloaded his gear. It’s never wise to be out in back country alone, especially in areas this as remote as these beaver ponds. Tragedy almost happened; one that would have prevented millions of children from reading his books.

“…as I dropped I had time to yell—scream—and the last thing I saw as I went under was Cookie’s head swinging up from sleeping and her eyes locking on mine as I went beneath the surface.” When Gary Paulsen dropped through the ice he grabbed the rope that was attached to the sled and the dog team. He clutched it and Cookie, his lead sled dog, responded immediately. When she saw him drop through the ice she quickly assessed the situation and made their dog team rise from their rest and pull him from the icy water. Paulsen dedicates this book about the dogs in his life to Cookie, his very alert lead dog. He owed his life to her.

The exciting introduction to his book, My Life in Dog Years, leads into a collection of short, memorable, often heart-warming or bittersweet stories, about the dogs in is life. We, as dog lovers, often measure our lives through time spent with our dogs. Mine have shared the high and low moments of my life, getting me through sorrows but they also danced during the celebrations. They’ve traveled tens of thousands of miles with me exploring windy and cold high mountain peaks as well as narrow, hot and dry desert canyons. We’ve ducked to avoid and then watch a giant great horned owl swoop several feet above our flattened bodies and we’ve switched lead on an intimidating narrow bear-country trail. (The brave dog decided dad was alpha and opted to walk behind him in the role of back-up.)

Gary Paulsen’s familiar unpretentious and honest style of writing shares memories of eight dogs that he loved. While far from being his only dogs, these eight played significant roles in his life.  Through these stories we learn even more of his tough childhood and we can’t help but suspect that not only does he measure his life in dogs; his life was in formed, in part, by the character of these dogs.

My Life In Dog Years is about Snowball, the first dog; Ike who became a good friend; the protective Dirk, Rex the farm dog; Caesar the giant Dane; Fred and his Pig friend, and Quincy the wild dog of the Alaskan north. He begins with Cookie, a dog sister who was also his lead dog in his first Iditarod sled dog race and he finishes with Josh the smartest dog in the world. The story of Ceasar, the Great Dane, was so funny I had to read parts to my husband.

His border collie, Josh, the last in this collection was so smart that when he spoke to the dog it talked back and participated in the conversation. I’ve recently had the pleasure of meeting a Doberman pinscher who exceeded my expectations on intelligence and sweetness. Her humans told me this dog talks to them and I laughed at that. My yellow lab is smart and uses telepathy -- she sings occasionally, but doesn’t talk. Well, the dog proved me wrong and carried on numerous conversations in a very human way. I’ve no doubt that Josh also carried on these conversations with Paulsen.

Final Thoughts

This book was a joy to read. The intended audience was older elementary school readers but anyone who treasures their memories with special dogs will enjoy this easy-to-read collection of reminiscences. Although written in 1998 this remains as relevant today as when it was written. While it really is possible to tire from reading too many dog stories, My Life In Dog Years wants to be re-read.

Booda Dome Clean Step Litter Box

The Coprophagous Dog Does Not Like the Booda Dome

   See it at Amazon

Kitty snacks, coated with crunchy cat litter are among the foodie dog’s favorite snacks. Disgusting to us, but yummy to our dogs and our large dogs have been known to follow the cat around as if it were a vending machine. Fortunately our cats use a litter box and even more fortunately, the Booda Dome Clean Step Litter Box provides a secure pantry for the depositing of cat waste.

We’ve always had cats and dogs. The first dog could care less about these crunchy treats.  The second dog was only interested in the cat food before it was processed through the cat. The third, a yellow lab, couldn’t wait to get her mouth around these processed snacks. As it turns out, our fourth, also a female yellow lab, has the same preferences. The Booda Dome litter box stops large dogs from getting to the results of the cats private moments.

The cats love it, the dogs don’t. 

The dome has an inside ramp from a side entrance with an interior wall that prevents even the most ambitious head from getting to the goodies. My cat dislikes litter boxes with flaps or doors, but she’s just fine with this design. Our 50-pound-plus sized dogs can’t get through the door – I’m not sure about miniature and tiny dogs. They conceivably might slip inside but they might also be intimidated by the cat.

The Dome

• Resembles a molded plastic igloo, except it’s in titanium, pearl, and white. 
• The circular box area is spacious enough for most cats (it’s about 22 inches by 15 inches) with space to accommodate 5 or 6 inches of litter. 
• Scooping the sloped sides is easy to clean, although I have also heard comments from some who complain the curved interior shape doesn’t work with their scoopers. 
• A corrugated ramp climbs about six inches. Theoretically this ramp traps litter inside, and it does keep some but certainly not all. There is always a scattering of litter on the floor outside the door.
• The top is vented with a small compartment under the vent designed to hold activated replaceable charcoal filters. 
• It’s designed for custom liners, but after using the complementary liners I opted for none. It’s difficult scooping the sides of any litter box with those liners in the way. They snag. 
• The dome rests loosely on the base’s rim. The dogs quickly realized they could knock it off and steal the goods. Being inventive we found a way to clamp it down (bungee cords or small clamps--brick on the top didn’t work). If I didn’t fit the dome on just right kitty would occasionally back up against the side, knock it loose and a little puddle would appear on the floor. Securing the top was doubly beneficial. 

The entire box is easy to clean. I don’t dump litter every week. With only one cat frequent scooping suffices but carrying this box outside to clean and dump is more awkward than rectangular boxes. It’s expensive at around $30, but when I consider how much money I wasted looking before finding this one I cringe.

In Use: 

Our canine foodies no longer snack on warm crunchy treats and gross me out, they don’t have cat litter breath, the room doesn’t smell like cat urine or fresh feces, and the cat has her privacy. (She can use the box knowing there isn’t a dog hovering.)

Flexrake 33P Jaws Scoop Polypropylene

Jumbo Jaws Scooper for Jumbo Poop Ploppers

No offense to owners of small dogs, they are as special to you as my big labs are to me, but the neighbors joke with us that our dog’s excrement is bigger than their dogs’ heads.  While true, when scooping their jumbo feces I find myself suffering stool envy – couldn’t it be smaller? 

We can’t scoop with the newspaper’s plastic bag, which is way too small.  When walking we need one plastic produce bag for each discharge while our neighbors can capture several in a single small bag.  Backyard duty must be attended to daily basis or someone will find themselves ankle deep in dog do. Our current yard is our smallest yard and has the fewest hidden spots of any yard we’ve had in 20 years.  That’s in part why we have the Flexrake Jumbo Jaws Scooper.  

In Illinois we used the Yard Butler Puppy Butler but that snags on St. Augustinegrass. This grass forms a dense thick lawn with thick above-ground runners.  We also carried down with us an ancient lightweight aluminum, scissors-style, jaw-type scooper, but it was bent and malformed from former struggles with icy poopcicles. The jaws no longer connected and it was nearly impossible to grab or contain one of our dog’s glorious gifts.  The Jumbo Jaws Scooper possesses some admirable features.

First, the 32-inch handle keeps me far away from the waste. I don’t mind scooping, after all they’re my babies (don’t even ask me to clean up after someone else’s baby), but their poop quickly becomes a home to decomposers and food for fire ants.  

It has an extra-large spring action -- two large springs open and close the jaws. The handle has two D-shaped grips, one inside the other; the inside grip pulls the springs open and that motion opens the jaws wide.  This pull-up handle is easy for anyone in the family to use.

The jaws resemble two large toothy buckets, something you might see on heavy construction equipment, with tightly-closing interlocking teeth. This durable scooper is made with high density polypropylene. This can be operated using just one hand and the Jumbo Jaws Scooper appears to work on all surfaces, although I happily admit this hasn’t been tried on snow. Scooping poopcicles actually requires a steel shovel.  

Say ah!  

It’s big and opens wide; it’s more than adequate for our needs.  The “bucket” mouth is 7 x 6 ½ inches and five inches deep. I can’t store the gatherings in an attached bag, it’s necessary to discharge their loads into a trash container or bucket.  That also means I don’t have to watch too closely for fire ants swarming up the stem of this scooper.  

Creative homeowners will find other uses for this.  

• Pick distant fruits from a tree, 
• De-litter your front yard (after uncaring kids walk by dropping who knows what)
• Pick up tree twigs that blew down during a storm
• Intimidate door-to-door salespeople.  This makes a solid snapping noise when opened and closed rapidly. 

My Thoughts: Seriously, the Jumbo Jaws Scooper makes it possible to wander the dog’s backyard territory and easily excavate their excrement and that’s really all this delightful tool needs to accomplish -- it puts the don't into dog do.

Plus: Large bucket, good snap, sturdy spring, easy to clean and use
Minus: For us in fire ant country it would be nice to have a white option

Kong Dog Bowl

Kong's Rubber-Bonded Stainless Steel Dog Bowl is a Favorite for Good Reason     

Kong toys have been somewhat unreliable recently. Newer toys don’t live up to the reputation that Kong has earned over the years. The favorites, however, remain favorites for good reasons – they’re durable and perform as expected. The Kong Dog Bowl has become a favorite and for good reason. 

The interior feeding surface is stainless steel. The exterior lower walls and base have a rubber bonded, non-skid surface. The large size holds up to 113 ounces of water or more food than my dog should or could ever eat at one time. The base is flat and tends to grip the floor.

No Shake, Clatter, or Roll

My dogs generally eat from treat balls at home but when we’re on the road and traveling I want an easy-to-clean, durable, stainless steel bowl but one that doesn’t skid across the floor or clang on surfaces. The heavy weight of this bowl also helps stabilize it when the nose of a Labrador is pushing the bowl around while seeking those last morsels. The heavy weight also discourages dog from picking this up and carrying it around the house; the shape prevents flipping or tipping these bowls. When it’s providing water this bowl’s high sides helps prevent splashing unless fully filled.

Get a Kong Bowl at PetSmart

Nutri-Vet Dental Gel for Dogs

Nutri-Vet Dental Gel for Dogs

Blondie's chew ball

Your dog's teeth need care just like yours: no lie. Unfortunately, I doubt that my hygienist, would be very keen on cleaning Blondie's needleicious incisors. Of course she'd adore the little lady, like everyone else, but those teeth are sharp, and there are lots of them. No worry, though, because she gets a treatment of Nutri-Vet Dental Gel every week. 

How it Works

It's definitely not for human consumption: I doubt anyone could stomach the combination of liver and peppermint. Her taste buds, however, are in canine heaven. Even more, the peppermint oil leaves her with fresh, clean breath; a necessity for those of us who have in-your-face breeds like Labs! She gets her treatments with a Nutri-Vet Chew Ball, though the directions say it's OK to apply some directly to the teeth. Her chew ball has little indentations for gel, plus rubber nubbins that make it more chewable, the better to spread the gel around her mouth and work it over all her teeth.

Chuckit! Erratic Ball for Too Much Fun

Erratic Toys for Managing Dog Behavior

Our four-year old blond lab is the Labrador retriever everyone wants and so few get. She has good (smart) genes, but we’ve invested a lot of time into getting her to this point. She’s not perfect, she’s not a show dog but she’s well behaved, I trust her in most situations, and she has never been destructive. She’s smart, clever, and has diligently taught our younger dog. 

Why?

Favorite fetch toys have erratic bounces.

Labrador retrievers are smart and high energy dogs, which often means creative and easily bored. We found several activities that addressed both of those needs and that tightened the bond between us. A trainer recommended activities that stimulated her mind as a puppy and we’ve continually sought out other games and problem-solving toys. I’ve no doubt these helped but playing fetch with her twice a day and letting her run off excess energy while focusing on her ball has protected our house, furniture, shoes and finances. 

Petstages Orka Jack Review

An Orka Jack Gets an A on the Lab Test

Dogs love routine, and our blonde Lab is no exception. She has all her favorite toys on a schedule: squeaky bunny is reserved for rolling around on the family-room floor in the evening while her beat-up stuffed squirrel is for nighttime snuggling. When strenuous exercise is on the agenda, she tends to start slamming her favorite Petstages Orka Jack against the nearest human shin. This tough rubber toy is ideal high-energy dogs like our yellow girl because it's both tough and fun.

Description Her Orka Jack looks like a giant blue version of one of the children’s jacks we played with as kids - remember those metal jacks and the red rubber ball? - except that there aren't any knobs on the arms. It's six tapering rubber arms, all "Petstage blue," that project from a central point. Four of the arms have been left open so you can stuff in treats or string the Jack on a rope. The other two are closed. Four of the arms have a bumpy texture while the others have a pattern of raised stripes. It's available in small, medium and large sizes - ours is the large. The Orka's made of a tough but flexible rubber that stands up well to the sharp teeth of our determined chewer. It also floats, though she does't get to take this to the dog park for fear of losing it forever. We've gone through several Orkas over the years, which have included daily sessions of vigorous chase-and-retrieve play in the local open space. Eventually they break down, mainly from being thrown - hard.