Where's the Fetch?

A few years ago I saw this product online, and was amazed. Originally known as the iFetch, now sold as the Fetch'n'Treat, this is supposed to be a dog-powered tennis ball launcher. Sounds amazing, right? Your dog just has to drop the ball in the hole at the top, and it will come shooting out the side.

Photo by Erin Koski

At the time, all my dog friends were sure this would be amazing. A ball launcher that didn't require batteries or power, that would perpetually toss the ball for our ball-crazy beasts. Then we found out how it really works.

This isn't a ball launcher for your fetch-obsessed pup. It's a food-dispensing puzzle toy. Even though it's sold as a ball launcher, it doesn't actually do anything other than send the ball rolling slowly across the floor.

Photo by Erin Koski

The original iFetch, now the Fetch-N-Treat, dispenses food when a ball is dropped in the top. Most of the time. Probably. I actually had a difficult time getting it to dispense reliably, it's pretty unpredictable.

This toy concept works ok for food-motivated dogs. Mine are also quite ball-crazy, and far more interested in the possibility of a ball throw than in this thingy that occasionally drops food. It's not motivating enough for them to keep dropping the ball in though, because it doesn't actually launch anything. Roll the ball and maybe get some kibble occasionally? No thanks.

Happily, in the years since this disappointment hit the scene, the iFetch company has developed some actual powered fetch machines.

Puzzle Toy Review: Toys 'R' Us Pets Treater Totter

The Toys'R'Us Treatter Totter is a simple, easy puzzle. Load up the middle with treats, and they will come pouring out as soon as your dog touches it. Better be careful setting it down too, it's really easy to accidentally spill it. The Toys Backwards-R Us dog toy brand is a Petsmart exclusive private label, and many of their toys are obvious rebrands. This one looks like it might be a failed Outward Hound puzzle toy.

Photo by Erin Koski

Puzzle Toy Rating

Capacity: 2/5

I can maybe fit 1/4 cup of kibble in here if I'm really careful.

Loading Speed: 4/5

Twist off the yellow lid dump in the food, try really hard to keep it in there while you close the lid again.

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 1/5

Basically you touch it and all the treats immediately fall out.

Unloading Speed (superdog): 1/5

Might as well just throw the kibble in a bowl.

Photo by Erin Koski

Size: 1/5

Most dogs are going to knock this over immediately. It's best suited for really little guys that will nudge it very gently. The box says it's for all ages and sizes of dogs. I'd love to see their data.

Durability: 3/5

Small gentle dogs, guinea pigs, and bunnies aren't going to damage this toy. I seriously doubt it could take a large dog stepping on it, you know, like dogs do when they're using puzzle toys.

Noise: 2/5

It's hard, clattery plastic.

Locatability: 5/5

Since it takes 1 second to get all the food out the dogs lose interest immediately.

Washability: 2/5

You can open it up and stick a bottle brush in there, but this is really designed for dry treats. I seriously doubt cleaning crossed anyone's mind when they designed it.

Versatility: 4/5

Surprisingly, this toy actually works well for little pets like rabbits and guinea pigs. Rats could probably use it with supervision. 

Total: 25/50

Puzzle Toy Review: Puppies R Us Adjustable Treat Spinner

I found this Puppies 'R Us Adjustable Treat Spinner on uber-clearance at PetSmart, and for $2 I couldn't say no. It's part of the ultra-cute "make puppy toys look like baby toys" concept that capitalizes on our desire to humanize our dogs as much as possible. This toy looks like an adorable spinning top. It is intended for kibble and kibble-sized treats, and can be adjusted to make it drop more or less food as it moves.

Photo by Erin Koski

Puzzle Toy Rating

Capacity: 1/5

It's really quite difficult to load more than ~10 pieces of food into this toy without it all spilling out.

Loading Speed: 3/5

We learned from the included instruction sheet that the clear part on top can be unscrewed, but it took an enormous amount of effort accomplish that. Doesn't make it much easier, though.

Photo by Erin Koski

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 3/5

Most of the food just sort of falls out of it as soon as you touch it, even with the aperture set quite small.

Unloading Speed (superdog): 2/5

It took Brisbane slightly longer to empty this toy than it does for him to eat a bowl of kibble.

Size: 2/5

This to is marketed for puppies, but would work well for small dogs too. Ru could certainly use it with ease. It's a bit small for anyone bigger than Brisbane, though.

Durability: 1/5

It turns out all that soft plastic is super fun to rip off, according to Sisci. I had originally taken this to be a fairly durable toy that could be left unattended with normally non-destructive dogs, but Sisci spent about ten minutes shredding the rubbery coating off the bone-shaped top bit. The bottom is

It only looks like a chew toy.

covered in blue rubbery stuff which also took some damage. Structurally the toy is fine, but aesthetically it's not quite as cute now.

Noise: 4/5

All that soft rubber makes this a fairly quiet toy on hard floors. At least before they shred it off.

Locatability: 3/5

The fact that it's a top means it tends to stop rolling before it ends up under the furniture. However, the convenient bone/handle on top makes it very easy for the dogs to carry around and drag away to their lairs.

Washability: 5/5

Comes all the way apart for easy cleaning. Not dishwasher safe, though.

Versatiliy: 4/5

The size of this toy makes it usable for rats, bunnies, and other small animals. The complexity makes it usable by ravens and crows, and we will be passing it along to our friend Xhuuya the raven now that Sisci is done demolishing the pretty bits.

Photo by Erin Koski

Total: 28/50