All of Smug Mutts toys are handcrafted in the Cotswolds.
They were adopted together from our local dog shelter.
It all started with a simple question, “why are almost all toys for dogs made from either plastic or other materials which are not friendly to our environment and not always safe for our dogs?”
Underwhelmed by the lack of natural, exciting, safe and sustainable toys for dogs on the market today.
We all love to treat our dogs to new toys but unfortunately the majority are made from non-recyclable plastic and synthetic materials which ultimately, at the end of their days, will end up in landfill and in our oceans, or even stuck in their tummies! Given there is an estimated population of 9.9 million pet dogs in the UK alone*, that’s a lot of dog toys!
*UK PDSA statistic
We aim to create something better for our pets and better for our environment, and of course to keep our mutts happy and healthy in the process!
We spent months doing market research and researching sustainable materials that were not only safer for our dogs but friendly to the environment too. Non-treated natural hemp rope and sustainably sourced natural beech wood were a big hit, ticked all of our boxes and most of all dogs loved the materials. With our passion for design and love for all things natural and simple, our first toys were made and we began our Smug Mutts adventure!
All of our toys are handcrafted right here in the Cotswolds. We may be biased but dogs love them, and we love making them!
Sustainability is an integral part of our design process from materials to manufacturing and from packaging to office practice.
All of our materials are natural, responsibly sourced and chosen due to their low environmental impact.
Removing plastic from dog toys and dog products shouldn't mean removing the fun too.
We design and create exciting and stimulating products that are safer, have minimal impact on the environment and that last.
Through using the latest design techniques combined with traditional UK based manufacture, we can guarantee quality and a unique product.
When selecting materials for our products we wanted to make sure that they were plastic and toxin free, safe, natural, robust and sustainable.
After extensive testing and trailing of different materials we found that natural hemp rope and untreated beech wood offered us the safest and most sustainable combination for our dog toys.
Hemp makes a fantastic natural rope material that benefits the environment as well as your dog - here's why:
It sheds in short length fibres which are digestible in small amounts unlike cotton and other synthetic rope toys.
It can act as a natural tooth brush when chewed and can help massage dog's gums.
It is naturally anti-microbial and resistant to mould.
It is very strong and durable.
Its has a lovely earthy smell and soft texture which dogs love!
No herbicides, pesticides or chemicals are required in the growing process.
It requires very little water to grow compared to cotton, and it returns 60-70% of the nutrients it takes from the soil.
Beech is a widely available hardwood and it makes a fantastic alternative to plastic - here's why;
It is strong and durable.
It has a close grain structure which means no large splinters or sharp chunks should break off. When chewed the wood becomes soft and when dry if it feels rough it can be sanded back to its former glory.
It contains no additional treatments, chemicals or preservatives.
It is non-toxic and is even used in children's teething toys due to its qualities!
It can be treated with coconut oil to preserve the wood.
