Meet American Dog, the Denver Toy Maker We Carry
Why we carry American Dog
We are a small treat maker in Pennsylvania. We do not make toys, and we were not going to pretend otherwise.
For toys to sit beside the treats, we wanted a shop run the way ours is. Small, and stubborn about where things get made. We found American Dog in Denver, Colorado. Every toy they sell is made in the USA, and their own words for that are "not a phase. Not a marketing stunt."
Who American Dog is
American Dog began in 2014, and the origin story is a dog. Gracie was the warehouse dog at Stryker By Design, a Colorado company owned by four women for close to two decades. Her day was carrying a toy to a coworker until somebody played. The crew sewed toys for her out of the tough materials already on hand, and those prototypes became the line.
Their About page calls the result "100% USA-made dog toys and accessories, handcrafted daily." They build "play-together toys," not "chew-it-alone toys," which is why the catalog leans on tugs and flyers.
How they are made
What a toy is built from depends on the line. Each product page lists its materials.
- Plush and Nuggle toys. Minky fleece outside, poly dacron and upcycled fleece scraps inside. Many crinkle and float. For gentle players, not power chewers.
- Tug and ballistic toys. 1680 ballistic fabric folded into four layers, double stitched interior seam. Crunchy and squeakerless.
- Fire hose tugs. Genuine fire hose with a folded ballistic handle. Washable, and they float.
- Flyers and fetch toys. Nylon discs that squeak and float, thrown with a flick.
- Beds and pads. Minky fleece cover, upcycled foam and dacron fill, 1680D nylon ballistic bottom, non skid strip, YKK zippers.
American Dog is straight about the limits: supervised play is always recommended, as no dog toy is indestructible.
How ordering works from us
These toys are sold and supported by Sniff and Shift. Handmade in the USA by American Dog, our Denver partner brand, and shipped from Denver, usually within five to seven business days. Not made by Sniff and Shift. Shipping on the toy is calculated at checkout. Treats ordered at the same time ship from our kitchen in Pennsylvania, so a mixed order arrives in two boxes.
American Dog toys are not eligible for our free local delivery. That van is ours and it carries treats. Questions about a toy order come to us at support@sniffandshift.com.
Gracie’s Giveback
Gracie has a program named after her. Every quarter American Dog donates toys to rescues whose requests meet their criteria, for dogs waiting on a home and for rescue fundraisers. Shelters can be nominated through their site. We do not run it, but it is worth knowing about.
Start here
- All American Dog toys. The whole line.
- Tug Toys. For dogs who want the other end held.
- Seatbelt Tugs and Flyers. Webbing style, easy to grip.
- Flyers and Fetch Balls. For open ground.
- Plush and Nuggle Toys. Soft and crinkly.
- Bones and Flag Bones. Fleece and nylon bone shapes.
- Garage and Tool Toys. Wrenches, saws and screwdrivers.
- Holiday and Seasonal Toys. Snowmen and hearts.
- Beds, Crate Pads and Drool Boxes. Washable covers.
- Collars, Leashes and Bandanas. The wearable side.
- Lucky Dog Toys. Small format toys.
- Rainbow Collection. Rainbow prints across the line.
Questions we get
Do you make these toys?
No. American Dog designs and makes them in Colorado. We make freeze dried treats in Pennsylvania. We sell the toys and support the order.
How fast do they ship?
Handmade in the USA by American Dog and shipped from there, usually within five to seven business days. Shipping is calculated at checkout, and treats ship separately from us.
Can I get a toy on your free local delivery?
No. They ship from Denver rather than from us, so American Dog toys are not eligible for our free local delivery. Treats still are.
Will these hold up to a hard chewer?
American Dog says it plainly and we will not soften it: supervised play is always recommended, as no dog toy is indestructible. Plush is not for power chewers.