Newshound Ady & Flo www.sunlive.co.nz

Here goes the last bastion of fun for dogs: fetching a stick. Some vets are warning that throwing sticks is dangerous, as dogs can be injured.

As a dog who has suffered a string of calamities this year, including damaged saliva ducts that could have been caused by my incessant stick chasing habits, they could be right.
Thank goodness I've had the expert attention of the wonderful folk at Mount Mobile Vets to patch me up every time I've ripped, ruptured, gashed and grazed.
So some vets are saying that sticks are inherently hazardous, and other things are safer to throw for dogs.
One vet in the news this week reckons the problem with sticks is that they might hit the dog, or the animal might injure its mouth when lunging at a stick to catch it. In my case, running with sticks has been an issue, especially over rough ground and jumping in and out of the harbour and lakes.

Wrestling with a long stick with Ady is one of our favourite past-times, but it seems those days might be over, too.
They say other toys are the answer, because it's critical that dogs have playtime and 'behavioural enrichment”.
The boss has been chuckling all week over that line, saying to me: 'C'mon girl, let's grab the ball and go to the park for some behavioural enrichment”.
Smart ass.
Even my second favourite thing, pine cones, have been outlawed.
So its balls and floppy flying discs for me. Darn PC rules!
Send us a picture of your mutt with a favourite play-thing, and we'll make you famous; and the best will win a prize. Email photos@thesun.co.nz