Growing up, I idolized the Bionic Woman of TV fame and her sexy Bionic German Shepherd dog, Max. I’m glad I’ve lived long enough that bionic dogs are science fact, not science fiction. And the way my German Shepherd dog Desiree clamps down on a stick, you’d suspect her jaw might be bionic just like Max’s. So naturally, if someone waves a new line of dog toys around and calls it “bionic,” I’ll bite.
Bionic Pet Products‘ dog toys are made from — surprise — Bionic Rubber, which is specially engineered to survive the most aggressive onslaught of jaws and paws. The compound’s “cross-linked molecules” make it flexible, bouncy, and nearly puncture-proof. That all sounds toxically high-tech, but believe it or not, Bionic Rubber is totally nontoxic (it’s actually an FDA food-grade material, so no worries if curious kids taste-test it). What’s more, it’s 100 percent recyclable!
According to the manufacturer, fewer than 5 percent of dogs are able to outsmart these toys. So far, none of my canine crew has managed to destroy them, despite repeated gnawings and power tuggings. Plus, Bionic toys float and they’re dishwasher-safe, so slimy saliva removal is a cinch. (Can you tell their invention was inspired by a slobbering, water-loving Labrador Retriever?)
