Hi not sure where you live but there are lots of hairdressing supply shops called Sally's dotted around you dont need to be a hairdresser to buy from them but they do a great hair tie its actually for afro carribean hair they are very thin and usually black in colour no metal bits because of the type of rubber they are made of they almost stick to themselves making them more difficult to pull out by your dog . I one of these did get swallowed it would do no harm . they are not exspensive and you get loads in a bag they are about the diameter of a 10 p piece but will stretch to tie up hair .