Nearly a decade ago, Ellen Lawson had four dogs that were tough on toys. In particular, plush toys tended to develop holes quickly, and Ellen couldn’t seem to find dog toys that had quality construction and fabric. So, she started Fluff & Tuff toys in 2010 and began working with a children’s toy manufacturer to create durable toys that would please all types of dogs.
While no toy (especially a plush toy!) is indestructible, Mud Bay has plenty of customers who agree that Fluff & Tuff can withstand more than the average plushie. Fluff & Tuff starts with their incredibly thick and tough Tuffweb™ liner that’s covered with plenty of plush fur and double-stitched seams. Plus, Ellen’s unique designs make both Muddies and Mud Bay customers smile.
So, when it came time to partner with a toy manufacturer to develop a unique Mud Bay toy, Fluff & Tuff was at the top of our list! To celebrate this year’s launch of Salish Sockeye, our exclusive salmon toy, we talked with Ellen to learn how she turns her ideas to reality.
EL: When designing a toy, I always try to start off with a real image of an animal. I go online and look at a lot of different photos of that animal, so I understand exactly what it looks like in the wild. Most of all, I want the toy I create to look natural and not look like a caricature. At the same time, I also want to create a toy that’s appealing and attractive to dogs and owners.
Sockeye salmon are distinctive looking when they’re spawning. And when I create toys, I want someone to automatically know what animal they are seeing. So, I decided to highlight the spawning sockeye salmon because their coloring is so distinctive at that time.
The next step is to decide on the colors, shapes and size of the toy and combine all that information. Then I send those specifications to our manufacturers. They have a designer on staff who will help me by pulling the fabric and creating a mock-up of the toy.
From there, the design is done via actual samples of the product. When I get the first mockup, I might say: This color isn’t right, or the fins could be larger. Most alterations are around the face. The face is very difficult to get right. There’s a lot of back-and-forth until we get it just right.
EL: Well, that depends. Some of them are super easy. For example, we just launched a unicorn that was easy for me. And then there are more difficult toys. I will say that Salish was a little more difficult. We had to work to find the right fabric and shape. Plus, there was a little added pressure because it was for someone else.
Generally, from start to when it arrives at our door, it’s three to six months. It just depends on the level of detail involved and how many alterations it takes to make it look realistic. Some toys are just vastly easier than others. However, I’d guess it’s usually six months on average.
On rare occasions, we’ll have a toy that we’ve designed that never makes it into production. We’ll start with an idea, but when we start working with prototypes, we realize that a toy won’t work for our customers. Luckily that’s been a rare occurrence.
EL: There have been some that surprised me in both ways. There are toys that sell extremely well that I never thought would, and there are toys that end up being duds. For example, our Beach Ball sells incredibly well. I thought it would do pretty well, but I didn’t expect the level of popularity.
Our tiny Shelly Turtle is probably our number one bestseller. But we just designed it thinking little dogs might need toys, and we never expected that type of response.
I don’t want to name names, but we do have a couple that I thought would do well, but they didn’t do as well as we hoped. But they’re still around, waiting to be discovered by a larger audience.
EL: I have a few toys that I loved designing. Our first toys were such fun to design because I had no idea what I was doing. Most recently, Tico the Sloth was a lot of fun because sloths are such interesting little creatures. Also, people were really anticipating him.
And then—and I’m not saying this because we’re talking—I think that Salish Sockeye salmon was a lot of fun to design because it was something different. It was my first toy for someone else, so I had to think about what someone else would want and create that.
EL: In the beginning, it was easy to decide because we created toys based on what animals dogs see in the yard, such as squirrels, bunnies or raccoons. Then I discovered that certain shapes work best for some dogs than other shapes. For example, many dogs do well with long, narrow toys. We launched a fish on a whim, and people really liked it. Our Ruby Rainbow trout is one of our most popular toys.
Right now, we have about 60 different toys, so we decide via intuition. We ask ourselves what might be missing or what might be fun. We’re also looking into doing a regional toy. We have people in the Northeast that ask for lobsters all the time.
But often we’re just thinking about what style of toy might be missing. We might consider making a toy that has a specific size or shape. We also try to think about toys that might double as frisbees or tug toys. And in the case of Violet Unicorn, Lola Flamingo and Jimmy Parrot, sometimes we just want to create a toy with a little extra color or fun. ***
Ellen Lawson founded Fluff & Tuff with her husband, Chris. Now they work together to create high-quality dog toys that meet the standards set for U.S. children’s toys. They also rely on the input of their two rescue dogs, Georgia and Harry, to let them know what toys are ready for production.
Let your dog relax 💆 and unwind with a Puptail.
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After a walk, run, hike, or just because, this brunch-inspired Puptail is a fun way to help your pup slow down and take it easy. It’s easy to make and flexible, so you can mix and match to make it your own.
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Ingredients
- 3 tbsp Green Juju Golden Blend
- 1 tbsp blueberries
- 1 tbsp banana slices
- 1/2 cup Primal Raw Goat’s Milk Cranberry Blast
- Swell Dog Gelato Banana and Peanut Butter (for topping)
- Wagster Banana and Toasted Coconut Biscuits
- Green Juju Freeze Dried Vitality Blend
- Furvor Concentrated Beef Bone Broth (for ice cubes)
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Optional Extras 🐕 🐶
Blueberry and bone broth ice cubes
Wag and Bright Supply Co. Spirulina and Beef Collagen dog chew
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Directions
1. Add Green Juju Golden Blend as your base
2. Layer in blueberries and banana slices
3. Pour in goat’s milk between layers
4. Repeat layers as desired, then freeze or serve as is
5. Top with gelato, biscuits, and freeze-dried blend
6. Add ice cubes and extras for a cool finish
#mudbay #treatyoself #pup #summeriscoming #puptail
Furvor bone broth is made with 100% human-grade ingredients and is up to 30 times more concentrated than regular broths. It provides protein, collagen, amino acids, and important nutrients to help your dog’s gut, joints, skin, coat, and overall health.
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The 20 oz bottle provides more than 20 servings, making it an easy way to add beneficial nutrition to your dog’s daily routine at home.
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If you’re out and about, Furvor’s single-serve pouches will help keep your dog hydrated, with a pep in their step wherever you go. They’re great for summer, hikes, walks, or days by the water.
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Just tear open, squeeze, and serve. You can mix it with water, pour it over kibble, or give it on its own. You can buy them one at a time or in a pack of six.
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Shop Furvor Bone Broth in-store or online today! 🛍️ 🐾
#mudbay #furvor #healthypets #pnwpets #bonebroth
Capstar Oral Flea & Tick Treatment
🐾When fleas show up, it helps to act quickly. Capstar is an easy-to-use oral treatment that starts working in about 30 minutes and can kill most fleas within the first few hours. It’s a simple way to bring fast relief and can be used alongside your dog’s regular flea and tick routine.
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Vetality Flea & Tick Monthly Topical Treatment
🐾 For ongoing protection, Vetality Avantect offers vet-quality coverage at a great value.
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These broad-spectrum topicals kill and repel fleas, flea eggs, ticks, and mosquitoes, while also targeting all stages of the flea life cycle. It also helps repel biting flies and kill lice. Available in four weight ranges and a four-month supply for continued protection.
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🛍️ Shop in-store or online today.
#mudbay #fleaandtickseason #healthypets #dogs #fleafree
We have all the treats, toys, and zoomie-inducing catnip options for your cat, both in-store and online at Mud Bay.
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So whether you have a cat who likes to bite, rabbit-kick, or lie back and relax with a nice treat and some catnip, we have what your feline friend needs to keep them happy, healthy, and engaged.🐈
#mudbay #cats #cattreats #catnip #cattoys
Oven-fresh meals straight to your dog’s bowl.
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Nulo Culinary Harvest is a high-protein, oven-baked dog food, basted in bone broth to support your dog’s digestion and joint health.
Nulo only uses high-quality proteins like turkey, herring, chicken, pork, lamb, and beef, then bakes each formula slowly at low temperatures to retain nutrients and make meals easier to digest.
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Choose from Adult recipes such as Chicken & Whitefish, Turkey & Herring, or Pork & Lamb, available in 4-lb or 25-lb bags. For small breeds, Beef & Lamb comes in 4-lb and 10-lb bags.
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Shop Nulo Culinary Harvest Oven-Baked Dog Food in stores or order online today!
#mudbay #nulo #healthypets #ovenbaked #dogfood
Did you know that Mud Bay now has sushi 🍣 for cats?
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Thanks to our friends at Fabcat, your cat can now enjoy a 5-piece sushi combo platter at Mud Bay. Each piece is not only fun to play with, but also filled with North American-grown catnip that will get your cat excited to bite, swat, and zoom around.
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Check out the Fabcat Sushi Combo Platter and treat your cat to something special. Available in-store or online.
#mudbay #sushitime #orderup #cats #catnip
Looking for a simple way to slow things down at mealtime or keep your dog busy?🤔
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The Walkabout from Woof is a multi-purpose enrichment toy that can hold up to 2 cups of food or treats. Just twist it open, fill it up, and rotate the inner dial to adjust how quickly food is released.
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It’s designed for quieter play, gentle on teeth, and safe for your floors—no marks, no noise, just steady engagement.
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A great option for busy days, working from home, or dogs that need a little extra enrichment. 🛒 🛍️ Shop the Walkabout in-store or online at Mud Bay.
#mudbay #puzzletoy #woof #dogs #healthypets
You heard us, now we want to hear from you! 📣 👂
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We want to know your dog’s favorite woof Pupsicle recipe. Let us know what your pup loves most in their Pupsicle. We’d love to share your recipes with our followers, too.
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Send us a DM, leave a comment, share photos, or tag us in your favorite woof recipe. We might even make your recipe in-store and give you a shout-out! We can’t wait to hear from you.
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Stay tuned, because we’ll be sharing some of your recipes 🧑🍳 in the coming weeks!
#mudbay #woof #letusknow #healthypets #pupsicle
Nulo Culinary Harvest coming soon at Mud Bay!
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This new option from Nulo is an oven-baked, high-protein dog food basted in bone broth. And because it’s oven-baked, that means it’s cooked at a lower temperature, so your dog can absorb more nutrients and get the most out of each meal. The bone broth also adds extra flavor, perfect for dogs who appreciate something extra at mealtime that also has functional benefits to their overall health.
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Nulo Culinary Harvest for Adult and Small Breed dogs, will soon be available both in-store and online at Mud Bay.
#mudbay #healthypets #nulo #dogfood
🐝 🌷 🌈 Spring is here, and that means fleas and ticks are back. To help protect your cat, we’re excited to offer new TropiClean 🌴 options designed to make care simple and effective.
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TropiClean Laundry Additive helps tackle fleas, ticks, eggs, and larvae right in your wash. Just add half a cup with your regular detergent, let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes, and use it on bedding, towels, blankets, rugs, and toys. Plus, it’s safe for use with your dog!
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TropiClean Gentle No-Rinse Cat Shampoo offers an easy way to clean and protect without the hassle. It helps eliminate fleas, ticks, and mites, protects against mosquitoes, and is safe for pets and kids.
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TropiClean Gentle Mist for Cats is a quick, on-the-go option for added protection. Just spray and go for an easy way to help protect against fleas, ticks, mites, and mosquitoes.
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You can shop TropiClean products for your cat in-store and online at Mud Bay.
#mudbay #fleaprotection #tropiclean #tropicalclean #healthypets
Furvor bone 🦴 broth for dogs is made with 100% human-grade ingredients and is highly concentrated, so every squeeze adds real nutrition to your dog’s routine.
🐕 It’s packed with protein, amino acids, and nutrients that can support gut health, mobility, skin and coat, and overall wellness.
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It’s also an easy way to boost hydration and bring a little excitement back to the bowl—especially for picky eaters. Just mix it with water, pour it over kibble, or serve it on its own.
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Shop Furvor 🛒 🛍️ 🐕 Bone Broth in-store or online at Mud Bay!
#mudbay #furvor #bonebroth #dogs #healthypets
Weruva WX Phos Focused Freeze-Dried Chicken and Tilapia is a low-phosphorus, high-protein supplement made from 93% boneless, skinless chicken breast, tilapia, and egg white. It has no grains, fillers, bones, or organs.
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Due to its naturally low phosphorus content, this food is suitable for cats requiring phosphorus management, particularly those with kidney conditions. Additionally, it’s highly digestible protein helps maintain lean muscle mass.
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You can serve it dry or add water to soften the texture. Adding water can help your cat digest it more easily and boost their daily water intake. This recipe is meant as a supplement and works well as a topper or treat alongside a complete, balanced diet.
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If you want help figuring out if this is right for your cat, visit your local Mud Bay and speak with a Muddy, or shop with us online today.
#mudbay #healthypets #kidneyhealth #cats #catfood
