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: Toys'R'Us Treat Puzzle Dog Toy "The Everything Puzzle"

The Toys'R'Us Treat Puzzle Dog Toy is a board game style puzzle toy sold exclusively at PetSmart. It features four treat compartments that each open in a different way, and for this reason I have dubbed it "The Everything Puzzle". It needed a name, too, because PetSmart currently has three different Toys-backwards R-Us treat puzzles available on their website, with nothing to differentiate them from one another either in the name of the product or the packaging itself.

Toys'R'Us Treat Puzzle Dog Toy

Kyjen Paw Flapper

Toys sold under the Toys-backwards R-Us brand have been appearing at PetSmart for a while now, and they often seem to be familiar toys with a new label. Check out this Treat Puzzle Dog Toy, for example. Doesn't it have an uncanny resemblance to Kyjen's Paw Flapper. It's obviously the same toy, and PetSmart has likely licensed both the toy design and the Toys-backwards R-Us logo.

Photo by Erin Koski

Kyjen doesn't have anything like the Everything Puzzle, though. This one is both unique and challenging. The four treat compartments each open in a different way. There is a yellow door, a green drawer, an orange disc, and a round red plug. The orange disc sits firmly under two little flaps, and must be both spun and slid for removal. The red plug is round on the bottom and sits in a round depression with a little treat cavity below.

Photo by Erin Koski

Rather than reinforcing puzzle-solving skills by having the dog repeat a task several times, this toy requires four separate actions to defeat. It is difficult to open just by shaking, kicking, or even flipping the whole thing. This makes it a great challenge for Brisbane.

Puzzle Toy Rating

Capacity: 4/5
I can fit at least half a cup of food in here, probably closer to a whole cup. That drawer in particular is quite roomy.

Photo by Erin Koski

Loading Speed: 5/5
Open compartments, dump in food, close compartments.

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 5/5
I'm not sure Uly would figure this out given an entire day to ponder.

Unloading Speed (superdog): 4/5
Brisbane spent a good ten minutes getting a quarter cup of kibble out of The Everything Puzzle even though he had seen it before.

Size: 3/5
The pegs on most of the parts of this puzzle would be difficult for a dog with  larger mouth. Brisbane has a little bit of trouble with them, I'm sure a large or jowly dog would fair much worse. At the same time, I think that Ru would have a tough time spinning the orange disc or opening the drawer with his tiny mouth and utter lack of strength.

Durability: 3/5
This puzzle is made for use under close supervision and won't hold up to much chewing, but it also feels pretty darned sturdy. There is no thin or bendable plastic in this puzzle.

Noise: 4/5
It can be a little rattly when Brisbane is kicking it across a hard floor, but overall it's not bad.

Locatability: 5/5
Close supervision means never having to look under the furniture for this toy. I'm pretty sure those removable red and orange parts would disappear in some households though.

Hoardability: 1/5
No stealing and no moving means no hoarding.

Washability: 4/5
Hard plastic should make for easy cleaning, but I'm pretty sure there's no way I could clean the space behind that green drawer.

Total: 38/40
I think this is my favorite board game so far.