My dogs are all the same breed, but they have very different preferences when it comes to dog toys. One lives for anything ball-shaped, another enjoys toys that bounce in unusual ways, yet another adores toys that squeak and squeal. As a result, my dog toy box is generally overflowing and shopping for new toys is often cost-prohibitive. I was quite pleased, therefore, to find one toy that appealed to all of my dogs!
The Cuz dog toy, made by JW Pet, is marketed as “the Walking Ball”, and at a glance that’s just what it resembles. Thick, durable-but-soft rubber is molded into the shape of a ball, with short legs and big feet; the feet make the toy bounce unpredictably, and the Cuz has a built-in squeaker that is “grunty” and loud enough to appease the most discriminating dogs. (The Cuz squeaker is so loud, in fact, that many owners dislike the toy – although there’s no denying the dogs who are squeaking like crazy feel differently about it.)
Although the Cuz is made of durable rubber, dogs should not be left unsupervised with the toy, especially strong chewers. Originally the feet on the Cuz were solid rubber, which held up reasonably well to chewing in most cases if properly sized. The newer Cuzes have hollow feet, however, which seem to be easier for some dogs to remove. Choosing the correct size is important – a power-chewer can make short work of the small Cuz, but might not be able to tackle the large one. A toy that is too small may also pose a choking danger; a general rule of thumb is that if you can’t see the toy when the dog has it in its mouth, the toy is too small.
When the Cuz first hit the market, there were only two colors: the “Good” Cuz was white, and the “Bad” Cuz was red, with horns. Today Cuzes come in a rainbow of colors, and the Cuz family has expanded. A fun variation is the Dino Cuz, which adds a tail and a row of “spikes”; the tail adds to the overall size of the toy, so some dogs can safely play with a Dino Cuz that is a size smaller than their regular Cuz. For the power-chewers who easily take off Cuz feet, JW Pet developed the Other Cuz, which has short stubby legs and no feet. The Other Cuz has eyes molded into it, which add character, and comes in both Good and Bad versions.
I bought my dogs their first Cuz in 2004, and that same toy is still in great condition. I have added to our Cuz collection, with additional Good and Bad Cuzes in different colors and sizes, a DinoCuz, a “KittyCuz” (which is not a JW Pet product, but is based on the Cuz concept) and some of the other durable rubber products JW Pet has since developed. They are still instant hits with all of my dogs; the Cuz hasn’t lost its appeal over the years. Whether your dog is a chewer, a chaser, or a squeaker, he’s sure to be entertained by a member of the Cuz family!
