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I posted it here for others to copy and paste.

Roger!

So far, I got a response suggesting I return the ball for a refund, or purchase the ropeless variety.

I had to re-explain that I want a ball through which a rope (preferably their's) can simply be fed and tied as I see fit.

It's the glue people! The glue!

No reponse to that yet.

Steve, have you been laid off? Perhaps you need a hobby.

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It's the glue people! The glue!

Are they actually glued? I know that there is a knot in there, and I know the sharp ends of the rope are burned/melted to prevent fraying, I have not seen a trace of glue though.

I just thought one end of the rope slid out of the knot first, leaving a simple overhand knot remaning on one sharp end inside the ball. There are ways to keep a knot from coming undone, suvh as other types of knots and back up knots but there probalby is not that much room inside the ball?

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I had to re-explain that I want a ball through which a rope (preferably their's) can simply be fed and tied as I see fit.

I would prefer it came with the rope and ball sepratley as well. Then it might not sell as well because the public would have to read some instructions about how to tie a knot "some assembly required"

How do they get the knot in there anyways? Is it like the Caramilk secret??? I think they just tie it on the outside and pull it in through the bigger hole and then tie the additional overhand knot on the outside after that. So then the hole has already been stressed in the way that you (Steven) don't like (could cause the little tears you talked about.)

I guess it is possible they are melted together. One of the blunt ends exits the interior knot inside the ball. The other end dangles free. Pull out interior knot to create the featured tying scheme = invariable tearing of ball.

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I guess it is possible they are melted together. One of the blunt ends exits the interior knot inside the ball. The other end dangles free. Pull out interior knot to create the featured tying scheme = invariable tearing of ball.

No I don't think the ends are even melted together inside the ball. The ends are cut and then burned/melted to prevent the rope from fraying, that is why they are black on the ends as in the area you circled in the picture.

Here, using my best ivestigative skills is what I think is going on INSIDE the orbee.

I think inside it is tied with a fishermans knot. The rope I have still has the kinks in it that form this knot perfectly. As you play the knots are not backed up so they loosen, sometimes they both come apart, but sometimes only one half of the knot comes apart and then you have the one end free and one end still with a knot inside the orbee as has happened to you and me both.

http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t214/farwesttoller/?action=view&current=orbee.flv

This theory does not require glue of any kind.


I do admitt I need to get a life, and that possibly, no one else in the whole wide world is interested in the 'inside the orbee' mystery.

I'd also prefer not to have to bother, but Planet Dog will send you new balls to replace damaged ones. You can download the return form at http://www.planetdog.com/downloads/ReturnExchangeForm.pdf . I just sent them 4 casualties and got 4 new ones back within a week. Maybe if they get enough returns they'll have more incentive to work on the issue.

Tying the string the way that's shown in the previous post doesn't work well for me because my dog pulls so hard the string cuts through the ball. I've had better luck with tying a big knot and stuffing it through the large end (needle-nosed pliers help).

The way I tie the rope to the ball again is I run the rope through the hole, make a double knot, then run the knot into the hole. Then I hold both both ends that come out of each hole and hold them tight against the ball. You will have the rope curve up to the top. Make a loop tight against the ball and pull hard to make a tight knot against the top of the ball and a big loop for a handle. It takes me 30 seconds to do it.

Jennifer, cool video.

I have to say that the ropes on my orbees weren't nearly as long as how it sounds they're supposed to be. Not enough rope (after the rope comes out) to tie 2 knots on the outside of the orbee like Steven's pic shows.

I have since retied my orbee just as Steven shows it and it works awesome! It also seems to keep him from going for the rope too! Maybe because my hand is on the top knot. Heres a thought, never use both hands in front of you, thumbs up, to lift your dog up off the ground as he is holding the orbee. I did this yesterday, he lost his grip and I almost poked my eye out with my thumbnail! the recoil on this one is a stinker! LOL! Duh! My mother always said I had to learn things the hard way.