Product Review: Orbee-Tuff Cosmos Sol

This Sol ball from Planet Dog's Orbee-Tuff Cosmos line is exactly the sort of large-diameter toy I needed for my ball fiends. This is a 5" ball that rates 5 out of 5 on their toughness scale. It is hollow, with a hole that allows it to drop treats. It's also recyclable, made in the USA, and 100% guaranteed. Can't go wrong with that!

Sol goes along with Planet Dog's 4" Luna ball, 3" Ringo ball, and their recently added 2.25" Lunee ball. These are fabulously sciency, geeky dog toys that are made to last. Sol is really, truly enormous. It's also flexible enough for he girls to chomp and get into their mouths.

Both Zip and Godzilla are seriously ball-crazy. A recent choking incident made me realize that standard 3" balls were small enough to present a choking hazard. I picked up over a dozen tennis ball-sized toys around the house and yard. The girls still had plenty of plush toys and chew toys, but I could tell they were missing their balls. This one is big enough for me to feel safe throwing it.

Pros:

• Big enough for giant breeds
• Really, really tough
• Not a choking hazard unless your dog is enormous
• Smells nice
• Made in the USA
• Guaranteed, so if your dog shreds it or hates it, Planet Dog will replace it

Cons:

• The hole in the ball allows very determined dogs to hook a tooth in and rip the ball apart
• Some dogs can't fit it in their mouths

Bottom Line

I was looking for something that rolled nicely, was easy on the teeth, and couldn't fit down the throats of my 28 and 26 pound dogs. Sol fits that perfectly.

Product Review: Yup! HalfBall

Yup! decided to do something unpredictable, and made the HalfBall. Billed as "half the ball but twice the fun", it's full of surprises. The shape makes it bounce and roll unpredictably, but it never rolls too far.The star-shaped hole on the flat side allows the HalfBall to be filled with treats or spread with peanut butter. Made from natural rubber, it is dishwasher safe and smells like vanilla instead of old tires. This toy is available in two sizes, for wee tiny dogs and regular-sized dogs.

Photo by Erin Koski

This is another of the wonderful toys the Sporn company sent us home from SuperZoo with. I think it's a good example of the kind of innovation I've come to expect from this company. The idea is pretty simple, yet it manages to be completely different from all the other balls in the house.

The shape of the ball means it rolls unpredictably, and bounces all over the place. It can be swatted with a paw and flipped into the air. It's easy for dogs to get into their mouths, without being small enough to present a choking hazard.

Photo by Erin Koski

The star-shaped opening on the flat side of the ball is pretty cool. I feel like it would be less likely to get stuck on a dog's lower jaw, and maybe easier to remove if they did manage to get it jammed on there. Rather than a solid ring, it's a star that can sort of expand if necessary.

Pros: Vanilla scent is nice and appealing. Made from natural rubber. Top-rack dishwasher safe. Relatively easy to clean if it does get super yucky. Durable enough to handle some serious chomping. Different enough from all of our other toys to keep the girls very interested.

Cons: Bigger size may be too small for giant breeds. Does not come in a power-chewer-friendly super-tough version yet, though I haven't heard of any dog demolishing one yet.

Bottom Line: The HalfBall is a welcome addition to our toy collection!

Product Review: PetMate JW Holee Roller

PetMate's JW Hol-Ee Roller is a one-of-a-kind rubber toy with tons of uses. Though there are many imitations and a number of variations offered by PetMate itself, the original Hol-Ee Roller remains the most versatile. This ball comes in three sizes, the largest being 7.5" in diameter.

Photo by Erin Koski

The popular Jumbo Hol-Ee Roller is a a big ball that is easy to get a grip on. It flexes and collapses in a very satisfying way for dogs that like to chomp their toys. It does not present a choking hazard even for giant breed dogs.

This ball is awesome for interactive play. It can be thrown indoors or outdoors without worrying it will hit something. The large shape is easy for dogs to track and catch in the air. It can be used for games of tug as well. No matter what you do to it, the ball always pops back into shape again.

Photo by Erin Koski

The Holee Roller can also be modified in multiple ways. A rope can be tied through it for easy tugging and flinging. The holes stretch enough that a tennis ball can be jammed inside. You can even jam big chews and food items like pig ears and large biscuits in there for your dog to puzzle over.

As awesome as this ball is, there are some limitations. Rubber is easy on the teeth, but can also be chewed through very quickly. The Holee Roller is definitely not a chew toy, and won't stand up to much gnawing.

Pros: Very versatile, many different uses and ways to play.

Photo by Erin Koski

Cons: Unlike the JW Megalast product line, this toy is easy to gnaw into pieces if your dog is in a destructive mood.

Bottom Line: Better for interactive play than self-entertainment, particularly for dogs that like to chew.

Product Review: Jolly Pets Romp-N-Roll

The Romp-N-Roll ball by Jolly Pets combines their self-inflating ball with a fun tug rope for an irresistible toy. The ball won't ever go flat, even if punctures it just pops back into shape. It also floats, even when full of water. The cotton rope is durable and soft on mouths. It is available in four colors and six sizes.

Photo by Erin Koski

Brisbane and Sisci love these things so much, I had to buy a second one. Jolly Pets basically added a tug rope to their irresistible Jolly Ball. Now the balls are slightly more interactive!

The only thing bad about Jolly Balls is that my cattle dogs find them addictive. I have the 8" balls, and there's nothing they like more than unhinging their snakelike jaws in order to chomp these balls. Over and over. Rhythmically. Because herding dogs come preloaded with OCD. Even before Brisbane's first surgery, when he had a huge nasty tumor in his mouth, he was happy to bite his Jolly Ball.

The rope makes it a little bit easier to snap Brisbane and Sisci out of Biting Stuff Nirvana. They both like playing tug, so I can finally join them in their Jolly Ball games. The dogs also love to carry and shake the balls by the ropes. This means the absorbent cotton rope can get a bit gross, fortunately these balls also are great for kicking.

Biting Stuff Nirvana
Photo by Erin Koski

The Jolly Pets website actually recommends the Romp-N-Roll toy for water play. The ball is made from buoyant material, so it will still float even when waterlogged and filled with holes. It floats high, and is easy to see from swimming-dog-level.

This ball comes in three different sizes. Mine at the largest, 8" in diameter. There are also 6" and 4.5" versions for smaller or less determined dogs.

Photo by Erin Koski

Pros: Made in the USA. Cotton rope can be easily replaced at the hardware store. Soft enough to kick, tough enough to stand up to a ton of biting. Will not go flat. Large enough for the largest dogs to play safely.

Cons: It's not a chew toy. The biggest complaint about this toy seems to be that heavy chewers can destroy it easily, though it is not sold as a chew toy. The largest size of ball is also quite solid and heavy, so smaller and more sensitive dogs may need one of the smaller sizes.

Bottom Line: Best as an interactive toy if your dog is a heavy chewer. Aside from Kongs, this is actually the only toy I've purchased two of. My dogs like it so much they don't want to share.

Product Review: Kong Squeezz Crackle Ball

The Kong Squeezz Crackle Ball is a new take on Kong's translucent toy line. It's a firm ball with a good solid crackle when squeezed firmly. There's no squeak, and the sound it makes is not particularly loud or jarring. Other toys in the line include a dumbbell, bone, and stick.

Photo by Erin Koski

This ball is unique among our vast toy collection. It doesn't squeak, and it manages to be flexible, firm, and crackly all at the same time. Sort of like a plastic soda bottle inside a rubber Halloween mask. Does that make sense?

Of course, Brisbane can't stand crackly toys so he won't touch the Crackle Ball. Sisci, on the other hand, thinks it is marvelous. It's bigger than a tennis ball, so it's not a choking hazard for large breed dogs.

Photo by Erin Koski

Though it's made by Kong, it's important to distinguish between the company's 'interactive' toy lines, and their classic rubber toys. Like the Jumbler, Tuff N' Lite Pig, and the Squeezz Jels, this is a toy that is intended for supervised, interactive play between you and your dog. It is not meant to be gnawed lovingly for hours, or left with your power chewer while you are at work.

Pros: Provides a unique sensation when chomped. Big enough for big dogs to enjoy. Makes a fun and appealing sound that won't interrupt your important business phone call.

Cons: There seem to be durability issues, many users have reported that the flexible outer skin inevitably splits at the seams.

Bottom Line: Great for non-destructive dogs that like to fetch, catch, and carry their toys around. Not so great for dogs that destroy toys on a regular basis.

Product Review: Spunky Pup Fetch & Glow Ball

Spunky Pup's Fetch and Glow ball is a big, somewhat soft fetch toy that glows in the dark for nighttime play. It bounces and floats, and glows when charged under a light. There are assorted colors available, and these are made in the USA.

Photo by Erin Koski

This is the softer, safer version of our Flash & Glow ball from the same company. It arrived in our October BarkBox, just in time for some evening games at the tennis court. The flashing light-up version was very hard, and I kept hitting the dogs with it in the dark. It was also super bright and destroyed the night vision of anyone that looked directly at it. BarkBox had sent us the Flash and Glow Junior version, which was on the small size for my heelers.

Photo by Erin Koski

This glow-in-the-dark version is awesome. It's big enough that nobody is ever going to swallow it. Well, maybe a mastiff or a saint bernard, but they'd have to try really hard.

This is the standard glow in the dark sort of toy, it needs to be held right up to a lamp for a few minutes to make it glow, and it gradually fades back to regular color. This means it glows bright enough to spot but not bright enough to fry your retinas. It also means it glows continuously for a while, so it's easier to find after a wild throw.

Science Time!

Photo by Erin Koski

Why does this ball glow in the dark? Is it radioactive? Nope! It just contains some sort of phosphors. These are chemicals that absorb light energy and then emit it back as a soft glow. Zinc sulphide and strontium aluminate are the most common choices for making glowing toys. 

Pros: Floats! Glows! Big enough that a Great Dane won't choke on it! Made in the USA! Glows in the dark, but not too brightly. Much softer than the battery-powered light-up ball. Does not make the dogs yelp when I accidentally hit them with it.

Photo by Erin Koski

Cons: Doesn't glow incredibly brightly. Will eventually lose its glow-in-the-dark ability. Not a chew toy! Easy to destroy if your dog is a destructive type.

Bottom Line: Sisci and Brisbane don't like it as much as a genuine tennis ball, but it's the best thing for nighttime fetch.

Product Review: Chuckit! Indoor Ball and Launcher

The Chuckit! Indoor Ball and Launcher is a low-impact, super exciting way to play fetch without breaking quite as much stuff in your house. The launcher can pick the ball up off the floor without getting your hands slobbery, and incites the same feverish delight as the outdoor Chuckit! The indoor ball is made from soft chenille fabric and is light enough to bounce harmlessly off of walls, pictures hanging on the walls, pendulum clocks, televisions, glass cabinet doors, beer carboys, and lava lamps. Why yes, yes that is a very specific list. The Indoor Chuckit! collection comes in one size that is big enough for an enormous dog but so fluffy even a tiny dog can get a grip on it.

Photo by Erin Koski

The Chuckit! Indoor Launcher normally comes with a donut-shaped Indoor Roller toy, but I found mine toyless at a thrift shop so I had to get the ball separately.

I have to admit, when I first saw this toy concept I though it was kind of pointless. I mean, what's wrong with just hucking regular dog toys around the house, right? That sort of attitude is precisely why my parents' walls were covered with tennis ball marks for many years. Also, I'm sorry about that teacup, Mom. As an adult I'm still prone to lobbing various balls and stuffies around my own house, but I still cringe every time a throw goes a bit wild.

Photo by Erin Koski

With the Chuckit! Inddor Ball, every throw can be a wild throw. This thing has no mass and doesn't seem to be capable of flying with enough force to damage anything (except that teacup probably still could have been demolished). This gives me the confidence to lob it around my house with wild abandon.

So far I've managed to bounce it off the above-mentioned list of objects in my home without damaging anything, to my great surprise. Brisbane is not impressed, but Sisci thinks the short little Indoor Launcher is super fun and amazing. She also loves to carry around the indoor ball around when we're not playing. Overall it has been a much more fun and useful product than I expected.

It's worth mentioning that the original Chuckit! company, Canine Hardware, was purchased by PetMate sometime in the last two years. This is the same company that owns JW Pet and Dogzilla. I haven't yet noticed any decline in quality or toy construction, but it can be tough to tell. My original Chuckit! launcher is still going strong after 16 years so I haven't tried out the more recent ones.

Pros: Fun for dogs of all sizes. Mostly harmless ball flies with minimal force. Launcher is low-powered. Can pick up ball without touching the nasty thing.

Cons: Pastel colored ball looks dirty right away. Ball-launching capability may lead to lack of caution in users.

Bottom Line: As some point I should actually grow up enough to not play ball in the house, but that point has not yet arrived. Long live the indoor ball!

Product Review: Kong Jumbler

The Kong Jumbler is a large, durable squeaker toy with a tennis ball trapped inside. There are handles on either side for shaking, tossing, and tugging. It comes in two sizes, round and oblong, and two sizes. Ours is a medium round ball.

Photo by Erin Koski

We're big fans of Kong around here, but some of their more recent offerings have been a bit short on real-world functionality. Sometimes think they just dream stuff up and then put it in stores without asking questions like "In what ways could this possibly go wrong?"

Fortunately the Jumbler is one of the better thought-out toys by Kong. It's not a durable rubber chew toy, this is more for interactive play or dogs who don't make it their mission in life to shred every toy. It's plenty sturdy though, and will handle quite a lot of biting and flinging.

Photo by Erin Koski

This toy reminds me of our Jolly Pets Teaser Ball, with it's eternally trapped inner tennis ball. Unfortunately, it has been nearly as big a flop as the teaser ball. Sure, it's fun to carry around and bite, but the ball within the ball doesn't seem to be adding anything. I think my dogs are too smart for this toy, they can tell immediately that the inner ball is inaccessible so they don't bother with it.

Pros: Big enough for giant breeds to play with safely. Handles make it easy to bite and pick up. Squeaks and makes tennis-ball-rolling-around-inside noises. Durable enough to handle pretty much anything except a dog deliberately chewing a hole in it.

Cons: Not actually a chew toy, can be gnawed into pieces by a determined dog. Translucent plastic becomes opaque with age.

Bottom Line: Nobody around here is into this ball-within-ball idea.

Product Review: Planet Dog Nook Ball

Planet Dog's new Nooks are cute little balls made from their special Orbee-Tuff material. They come in one size and three color/shape combinations known as Peace, Love, and Happiness. These are made in the USA out of peppermint-infused recyclable material. Planet Dog guarantees their toys 100%, though I have yet to test this because all of my Planet Dog stuff is apparently indestructible and awesome.

Photo by Erin Koski

The Nook

These are very solid balls, we don't have anything like them. They are basically solid rubber with a design cut all the way through. Ours is Happiness, the yellow smiley face ball. The design makes for several nooks in which to hide treats.

Planet Dog says this ball is for dogs of all sizes, but I disagree. Slightly smaller than a tennis ball, the Nook presents a choking hazard for large dogs. As a child I read a James Herriot story about a collie nearly choking to death on a small ball lodged in its throat, and have been paranoid about it ever since. I'm fairly certain this ball is big enough to be safe for Brisbane and Sisci, but I certainly wouldn't have a dog bigger than 50lbs playing with it.

Pros: Cute and smells nice. Bounces and floats. Can be stuffed with peanut butter or have small treats shoved into the smiley mouth. More durable than a tennis ball, and easier on the teeth. Fits in the opening of a different Planet Dog toy for a bigger challenge.

Cons: Not durable enough for serious power chewers. Does not fit more than 3-4 treats at a time, and if wedged firmly enough a motivated dog might tear it apart to get them. Too small for most labs, goldens, and shepherds to play with safely.

Bottom Line: It's a cute addition to the toybox, and the small, narrow cavities mean that the dogs spend a lot of time and effort to lick out a very small amount of peanut butter. 

Product Review: Planet Dog Diamond Plate Ball

The Planet Dog Diamond Plate Ball is made out of their proprietary Orbee-Tuff material. It measures 3" in diameter and has an opening for inserting treats. This is basically the toughest toy they make. It is made in the USA, and is recyclable when your dog is finally done with it.

This shiny silver ball arrived in our space-themed June Allergy-Friendly BarkBox. We already have a Diamond Plate Double Tuff toy, and this ball matches it nicely.

My favorite thing about Planet Dog toys is that they are made with peppermint oil so they always smell nice. So nice. The ball has a hole in it for hiding treats, but Sisci thinks it's pretty cool empty, too. She's a big fan of balls, and a lot less picky than Brisbane.

Pros: Super durable. Recyclable. Works as a ball and a simple food puzzle. Smells delightful. Made in the USA.

Cons: Will not stand up to a power chewer, especially not a large dog on a mission of destruction.

Bottom Line: This ball definitely gets some love. It's fun to squish, and works well for dogs who are tough on their toys, but not super-destructive chewers.

Product Review: One Pet Planet Wooly Fun Ball

This Wooly Fun Ball from One Pet Planet didn't impress me much at first. It's a ball made out of felted wool. Nothing more. Just a solid sphere of wool, slightly larger than a tennis ball. It doesn't squeak or hold treats or anything. 

Photo by Erin Koski

As it turns out, a ball of wool is a lot of fun to bite. Brisbane thinks it's ok, and several of my foster and guest dogs have really enjoyed it. We ended up leaving it in the yard for a while, and it remained as colorful and wooly as ever.

I've had a bit of trouble tracking down the company that makes the Wooly Fun Ball. So far the only online presence of One Pet Planet appears to be the website for their toy-launcher, the Slinger. It looks a bit like a stick and only throws their proprietary toys, making it look significantly less attractive than my Chuckit launcher which throws anything vaguely shaped like a tennis ball.

Pros: Super earth-friendly. Biodegradable, sustainable, made with non-toxic dyes. Fun to bite. Made out of sheep.

Cons: Doesn't squeak or making squooshy noises. Takes forever to dry if it gets wet.

Bottom Line: I'm not sure where the Wooly Fun Ball is right now, I think Sisci took it outside again. I'm sure it will turn up somewhere...or just biodegrade in the yard. I guess I don't really have to feel bad if we lose it outside somewhere since it should break down eventually.

Product Review: Jolly Pets Teaser Ball

The Jolly Pets Teaser Ball is a unique toy that combines a ball with, you guessed it, another ball. The idea is that dogs will spend literally hours trying in vain to remove the inner ball. Both the inner and outer balls are made from hard, durable plastic, so the toy rattles quite a bit when moved. The Teaser Ball comes in four sizes for tiny through enormous-sized dogs.

What's the point?
Photo by Erin Koski

These have been around for quite a while, and I know a few dogs who absolutely adore them. I've never been entirely certain why, though. The inner ball cannot be removed, you'd think the dog would figure it out in short order.

Still, dogs who love the Teaser Ball, LOVE it! They love to shake it, fling it, and bat it around with their paws. They also love to chew it, and this doesn't always end well. The plastic isn't  tooth-breaking hard, but it is rigid and tends to form sharp ridges and points when gnawed. A coworker's pit bull has to be carefully supervised with her Teaser Ball and stopped before she makes herself bleed too much.

My dogs? They figured out immediately that the inner ball couldn't be removed, and promptly lost interest. Not even Sisci the puppy will play with it. I've put it away for the time being, we'll get it back out again in a few weeks and see if it becomes fresh and exciting.

Pros: Strangely exciting for some dogs. Hours of high-energy fun. Very durable, stand up to a ton of rough play. Very popular with retrievers, bulldogs, and other rough and tough types of dogs.

Cons: Hard plastic becomes sharp when chewed. Heavy toy can damage walls, furniture, and pretty much anything inside the house if used indoors. Not all dogs find it amazing.

Bottom Line: I think my dogs are too smart for this toy. We'll stick with our regular Jolly Balls.

Product Review: Busy Buddy Biscuit Bouncer

The Busy Buddy Biscuit Bouncer is a durable chew toy that can hold some types of treats. It comes in two sizes for medium and large dogs.

Photo by Erin Koski

This is an interesting food toy, we don't have anything like it. This is a very solid, heavy rubber ball with a slot all the way through it. The packaging indicates that I should shove a standard bone-shaped dog biscuit into the toy. I do not have any standard bone-shaped dog biscuits.

This seems like it could be a great food toy for a serious power chewer. Convincing a less determined chewer to use it requires a little creativity.

Photo by Erin Koski

A dog with powerful jaws could bite down hard and crunch a biscuit inside the Biscuit Bouncer. Brisbane doesn't bite down on his toys like that though, and he doesn't find dry dog biscuits to be terribly motivating.

I've been putting jerky treats inside the Biscuit Bouncer. The Bixbi Daily Essentials and Fruitables Real Jerky both work great. This makes a worthwhile challenge for Briz.

Photo by Erin Koski

Pros: Super durable! I have yet to hear of a dog destroying this toy. Works as a ball without food, too.

Cons: It's really quite difficult to mash any kind of treat in there.

Bottom Line: This is a different sort of puzzle than most of our toys, and presents a unique challenge. It's not a toy that we use a lot, but it is certainly a way to keep Brisbane busy and thinking for ten minutes or more.

Puzzle Toy Review: Planet Dog Mazee Ball

The Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Mazee Ball is a roller-type puzzle toy. This is a step up from the basic ball-with-a-hole food dispenser, with a clear rubber outside that allows the dog to see the treats rattling around in the hard plastic inner maze. It's not a terribly difficult puzzle, so it's a great way to introduce the concept of pushing stuff around to make food happen. This is my new favorite puzzle toy for Ulysses now that he has mastered the Orbee ball with the big hole. We call it the Amazeball.

Photo by Erin Koski

Puzzle Toy Rating

Capacity: 5/5
I can fit at least two cups of kibble in here. None of my dogs eats anywhere near two cups of kibble.

Loading Speed: 4/5
I can dump food in pretty darned quick with a soda bottle funnel, but I can't just scoop it directly into the toy.

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 4/5
Ulysses can spend twenty minutes or more getting half a cup of kibble out of this toy.

Unloading Speed (superdog): 2/5
Brisbane takes slightly more time to unload the Amazeball than it takes me to unload it by turning it upside down and shaking it.

Size: 5/5
Big enough to be enjoyed by giant breeds, light enough to not crush toy dogs.

Durability: 4/5
The Amazeball isn't meant to be chewed, but will survive a bit of chomping and an infinite amount of rolling across the floor.

Noise: 5/5
The soft rubber outside of the Amazeball makes it amazeballs for hardwood floors. Silence, glorious silence.

Locatability: 4/5
It's a bit big for Brisbane to carry around, and it doesn't fit under most furniture.

Washability: 2/5
The Amazeball can be cleaned by filling it with hot water and shaking it. A bit of nontoxic dish soap probably wouldn't hurt. There's no way I'm getting a scrub brush in there, but at least the clear outside lets me see if there's anything really vile inside.

Hoardability: 2/5
Once it's empty, it's dead. This isn't really a crate toy, it's made to be rolled around on the floor. Sometimes Brisbane will choose to roll it around on a bed, though.

Total: 37/50

Product Review: Tug-N-Toss Jolly Ball

The Tug-N-Toss by Jolly Pets is a durable ball with a handle. It bounces, floats, and will not deflate when punctured. The Tug-N-Toss comes in three colors and four sizes, from 4.5" to 10", for dogs of any size.

Photo by Erin Koski

The Jolly Ball began life as a toy produced by the Horseman's Pride company. For this reason, Brisbane's first Jolly Ball was a 14" peppermint-scented hand-me-down from Frisco, my thoroughbred. As a puppy, Briz loved chasing and biting that enormous ball. The best part was clearly the handle, and eventually he chewed it all the way off and it was retired. Not long after the demise of the giant peppermint Jolly Ball, I found this red one in a pet store. I had thought that this was the first time Jolly Balls had specifically been marketed for dogs, but it turns out that Jolly Pets has been around since 1994.

Photo by Erin Koski

The handle on our red Jolly Ball has been similarly gnawed/loved, but it has held up relatively well. I do tend to limit how much time Brisbane can spend chewing it, and I think it might be a little bit tougher than the giant peppermint ball.

This ball is seriously tough, not as tough as an Extreme Kong, but it's also not designed specifically for chewing. The ball holds its shape on its own, so it can be punctured repeatedly and spring back into ball-shape. Ours has, in fact, been punctured repeatedly and is full of tooth marks. Brisbane finds biting it to be extremely satisfying and slightly OCD-triggering. Our Jolly Ball is an 8" model, and is at least eight or nine years old now. It has been left outdoors for weeks at a time and shows no signs of fading or aging.

Bottom Line: Safe for big dogs to chase and enjoy, also fun for smaller dogs with big ideas. I'm pretty sure this ball will last forever, as long as it isn't chewed into oblivion.

Product Review: Good Other Cuz

The Good Other Cuz is a natural rubber squeaky ball by JW Pet. It features nubby little legs without feet, unlike the traditional Cuz ball. The Cuz balls come in assorted colors and three sizes for all kinds of dogs.

Photo by Erin Koski

Brisbane's Cuz ball is usually kept up out of reach, or in my training bag. This is because the Cuz balls contain the World's Most Annoying Squeaker, and Briz knows this. His preferred way of playing with the Cuz is to wait until something very important is happening that requires quiet, like a professional phone call, and then grab the ball and squeak with reckless abandon. The Cuz is his favorite Attention-Getting Device. We use it for agility practice, he works hard when he knows he will be allowed to squeak nonstop for several minutes while standing in the water bucket.

Pros: Highly-motivating and irresistible squeaking action. A tough toy that holds up far better than a standard tennis ball. Ours is a medium, the large size is big enough that it shouldn't present a choking hazard even for giant breeds.

Cons: Hearing this thing squeak inside the house for any length of time sort of makes me want to kill myself. Recreational chewers enjoy gnawing off the tiny legs off this Cuz.

Bottom Line: Using this ball only as a training reward strikes a nice balance between giving my dog a toy he adores, and never wanting to hear it squeak ever again.

Product Review: JW Megalast Ball

The JW Megalast Ball is a durable, chewable rubber ball made from JW's special "megalastomer" material. It bounces, floats, and has a center tube that can be filled with treats. It also smells pleasantly of vanilla.

Photo by Erin Koski

Our Megalast Ball arrived in one of the spring Bark Boxes, either April or May. I originally was not terribly impressed with it. Brisbane has very little use for anything that isn't a fuzzy tennis ball or a Chuckit! Ultraball. I tried to convince him to chase it, but failed completely.

Fast forward several months, when I began crating and rotating Brisbane and Ulysses, and needed more stuffable toys to keep them occupied. I filled this thing with peanut butter and stuck it in the freezer. It has been in our freezer toy rotation ever since. I like it because it can hold a modest amount of peanut butter, for a small but intense project. As Brisbane isn't always eager to go to work with me, sometimes I smear it with peanut butter in the morning and use it to bribe him into the car.

Pros: Durable and floatable. Smells nice. Unusual shape makes it interesting to bite. Larger-than-a-tennis-ball size makes it safe for even huge dogs. Made in the USA in a solar-powered facility.

Cons: Not as exciting a tennis balls and similar-sized objects around here. Many nooks and crannies make it difficult to clean.

Bottom Line: I'm not sure I would buy another one, but I certainly appreciate the Megalast Ball we have.

Product Review: Sprong Cone and Dome

The Sprong Cone and Dome is a foam-filled squeaky ball with a fuzzy velvet texture. The manufacturer's website doesn't say that Sprong toys float, but the packaging for ours specifically mentioned it. Our Sprong is a large Cone and Dome, there are a dozen different shapes to choose from, and several of those come in different sizes. Sprongs come in a ton of different colors.

Photo by Erin Koski

These things are kind of cool and unique, I haven't found anything with this texture before, and I love the fun shapes. I don't think there are any other toys out there like this. I particularly like the fuzzy velvet texture, I've always found foam-filled smooth latex toys to feel kind of weird. The Sprong has a great squeak, not terribly long or annoying or loud.

Briz isn't totally in love with the Sprong, but he'll play with it if I initiate. We actually have it because Josie picked it out at work. She was a shameless shoplifter, and it was usually easier to just buy the bully stick or rawhide she grabbed rather than pry it out of her mouth. This was the only non-edible toy she ever showed an interest in, so I immediately purchased it. She ignored the Sprong from then on, apparently toys are only fun when they aren't ours.

Sprong toys are made by R2P, Ready2Play. The company actually owns quite a few pet brands, but I've never encountered any of the others before. It's possible I just haven't noticed, I'll be watching for them now because I'm kind of strange like that. There is also a cat line of Sprong toys specifically intended for nighttime play when cats tend to find the most obnoxious object in the house to bat around. For my cats, that thing is a small and extremely resonant piece of metal that fell off a windchime.

Pros: Fun-to-squish texture, firm yet supple. Fuzzy surface reminiscent of those furry My Little Ponies that were such dirt-magnets. Tolerable volume and pitch when squeaked. Lots of fun colors and shapes and sizes. Visually appealing to humans. Pretty darned durable, ours spent several months laying out in the yard in the sun, got peed on, and still scrubbed up quite nicely.

Cons: Probably not super durable for destructo-dogs. Might be more fun for humans than dogs, probably shouldn't leave within reach of toddlers.

Bottom Line: If my dogs loved these we would be swimming in them. I've been very impressed with the one we have. The dogs don't find it nearly as attractive as ratty old tennis balls for some reason. Anyway, I think it looks really cool so it can lay around on the floor with the Mighty Dinosaurs as part of my decor.

Puzzle Toy: Starmark Treat Dispensing Chew Ball

The Starmark Treat Dispensing Chew Ball is a hollow, flexible ball with two holes for shoving treats inside. It is also made to be used with the Starmark Interlocking Treats. It bounces and floats, and smells nice at first.

Photo by Erin Koski

Way back in 2005, I was working at a pet store when the Starmark products first came out. Originally there was the Everlasting Treat Ball, made to be used with hard chewable treats called Everlasting Treats, along with Every Flavor Treats and this ball. At the time it was called the Everlasting Fun Ball, and I don't think the interlocking treats hit the stores until later. Our Treat Dispensing Chew Ball is almost 9 years old and gets used at least once a week, so far it hasn't shown any signs of wear in all that time.

The Treat Dispensing Chew Ball feels really flimsy, but it's actually pretty tough. It's not indestructible though, and I'm certain a real power chewer would destroy it quickly. The ball is very flexible and hollow, it's surprisingly thin-walled. On each side there is a four-lobed opening that stretches very wide. This makes it useful both for dispensing small treats and larger biscuits. The video on the product website shows that the opening can be cut larger for dogs who have trouble getting treats out. (It also shows the Every Flavor Treats before Starmark got all serious and renamed them Pro Training Treats.)

Brisbane usually gets small treats and kibble out of this thing by biting down on it and shaking it. This opens the hole on the opposite side and the treats fall out easily. I don't usually use this to feed kibble, though. Normally I grab a couple of hard dog biscuits and shove them in there. These will not fall out, and to get them Briz has to break them up by biting the ball, and then shake it until the pieces fall out. He empties it pretty quickly, but it's a nice little project for him to focus on while we're leaving.

Puzzle Toy Rating

Capacity: 3/5

We have the Medium ball, 2.75" in diameter, and I can fit about half a cup of kibble in here. The Large ball is 4" in diameter and would fit a lot more, but Briz would have trouble picking it up.

Loading Speed: 4/5

This would have been a 2/5 because I am used to loading this thing up one kibble at a time, but the helpful video on the product page shows how a funnel made from a soda or water bottle can be used to fill the ball very quickly. I do have issues with kibble just falling out the other side. It's also super fast to just shove a couple of big low-calorie biscuits in there on my way out the door. 

Unloading Speed(standard dog): 4/5

This took Josie a while to empty out, and she enjoyed nosing it around even when she didn't feel like standing up.

Unloading Speed (superdog): 2/5

Brisbane can empty the ball in under 10 minutes no matter what I put in there. Kibble just falls out the openings anyway. Crunching up big biscuits takes a few more minutes, but this isn't a huge project for Briz.

Durability: 5/5

I've heard that some power chewers have destroyed these things, but ours has lasted almost a decade and still looks brand new. Brisbane bites it very hard to break the treats inside, but the ball shows no signs of wear.

Size: 5/5

The Medium ball we have is great even for Ru the chihuahua to nose around in search of treats. The ball is flexible enough that I don't have to worry about someone getting their lower jaw caught inside. The Large ball is big enough that it shouldn't present a choking hazard even for gigantic dogs. 

Noise: 5/5

Totally quiet, even when bouncing around the house. Heavy enough to be thrown pretty far, light enough not to do serious damage if it hits anyone. 

Locatability: 1/5

The only reason I don't use this toy more is because it has a tendency to roll under the furniture and get lost every time. I should try the Large, it looks too big to fit under the couch.

Washability: 4/5

Dishwasher safe for those who have a dishwasher. It's also pretty trivial to scrub this thing out with a baby bottle brush, but getting the brush back out always sprays soapy water everywhere.

Hoardability: 4/5

The first place I look for the Chew Ball is in one of Brisbane's lairs. If it's not there it has probably rolled somewhere obnoxious.

Total: 47/50

I love this little ball, it would get daily use if I could find it more often. I plan to buy a large one, and I will definitely be replacing this one if it ever gets damaged or (more likely) lost.

Product Review: Planet Dog Orbees

The Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff balls are made from flexible rubber. The Planet Dog product line-ip has changed a bit in the last few years, but the quality of their products remains the same.

We have a 4.25" diameter Orbee ball with a hole in it, and two Orbos. The Orbo is a lot like the original Kong toy. These things are extremely durable; mine went through the dishwasher a bunch of times back when we had a dishwasher. I used to stuff Bravo raw dog food into the Orbos and freeze them.

The Orbos have two chambers, the large bottom and the small top, connected by a narrow passage. Getting peanut butter, ground meat, or cooked sweet potato into that smaller chamber can be difficult, but it is equally difficult to get the goodies back out. I've found Brisbane slurping peanut butter out of these things days later.

We used to have several more Planet Dog toys: another big ball, an Orbee-Tuff ball with with a rope handle, an eggplant, and an artichoke. The artichoke was difficult to clean. The eggplant eventually began cracking, and I'm not sure what happened to the other big ball.

The Orbo is supposed to have an unpredictable bounce, but Brisbane has very little use for them once they are empty. I like to fill the big ball with kibble for Josie, who is a bit slower and takes half an hour or more to empty it.

Pros: These things are tough as hell. They outlasted my classic Kongs and are still going strong after at least seven years. The two-chamber shape of the Orbo also makes them much harder to empty than a Kong. I wish they were still on the market as I would happily buy a few more. The large ball makes a wonderful and quiet slow-feeder for my elderly dog. It is large enough that it doesn't get lost under the furniture.

Cons: The two-chamber design of the Orbo makes it very difficult to clean, and sometimes I find a nasty surprise down there.

Bottom Line: We use the Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff toys pretty much every day. When they're not being hoarded inside a crate, they are in the freezer stuffed with peanut butter.