Forget the Dog - BBQ Tongs Are Your Best Friend

In our opinion tongs are the most essential item for the grill.  If you could only have one item to splurge on then make it tongs.  A good tong set will be spring loaded and long sturdy handles.  You do not want thin handles because they can bend - the sturdier the better.

Some tongs are specifically for fish and some are scalloped on both sides for picking op things like sausage and others are a hybrid and have a spatula side and a scalloped side.  Many great grillers keep more than one type of tong in their barbecue tool arsenal.