Product Review: Starmark Treat Dispensing Football

Starmark's Treat Dispensing Football is a crunching toy that can be filled with treats for added fun. It is, or was, available in two different sizes, but does not currently appear on the company's website.

Photo by Erin Koski

The girls got this toy for Christmas because I found it in a clearance bin, but so far it has been a major hit. It makes a crackling noise similar to the Kong Squeezz Crackle Ball, but is much, much more durable. IT is currently the favored fetch toy in the house, and they haven't managed to fetch it to death yet.

There are a lot of reviews of this toy that mention dogs being able to pull the treat-dispensing bits out of the ends. It's possible that is why the ball is not currently described on Starmark's website.

Photo by Erin Koski

Pros

• Makes a crunchy sound
• Pretty durable, will handle endless squishing/crunching
• Can be stuffed with treats

Cons

• Treat-dispensing ends may be easy to rip off (my dogs have not though)

Bottom Line

As a fetch toy, this thing is pretty awesome. We've had it for over two months and they have not managed to fetch it to death yet. It might be the most durable crackle toy out there.

Puzzle Toy Review: Paw5's Rock N Bowl

The Paw5 Rock N Bowl combines the convenience of a bowl with the enrichment of a puzzle toy. I know, some nights it's just too much work to funnel kibble into a toy. I've definitely been there. Apparently so have the folks at Paw5, because they've basically invented a self-filling food puzzle. Sure, it's shaped like a bowl, but it's way, way easier to fill and clean than the puzzle bowls you see everywhere.

Photo by Erin Koski

I think this is also a cool way to introduce the concept of puzzle feeding to both dogs and humans unfamiliar with the concept. It's not some wacky shape you have to screw together. It's a nice, familiar bowl with some extra features.

The Rock N Bowl is made in the USA from recyclable plastic. Paw5 uses a closed-loop, zero-waste manufacturing process. Sustainability is awesome!

Here's how it works: You dump the food on top and set the bowl down for your dog. Some of the food falls into the lower chamber, which has a flat floor. The kibble can then slide out the holes in the side of bowl. There is a ridge in the middle of the chamber floor that prevents the food from sliding freely across the bottom. Too easy? That flat floor can be removed, so that the kibble falls into the rounded bowl bottom instead. It's more difficult to get the food out the side holes that way.

Puzzle Toy Rating

Capacity: 5/5

Holds up to four cups of kibble at a time, more than enough for any meal. It can actually be used as an everyday feeding bowl.

Photo by Erin Koski

Loading Speed: 5/5

As fast as dumping kibble in a bowl. That fast.

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 5/5

It's really easy to get some kibble out of the Rock N Bowl, but fairly difficult to get all the kibble out.

Unloading Speed (superdog): 5/5

With the chamber floor removed, it took Godzilla at least 15 minutes to eat a cup of kibble out of this bowl.

Size: 5/5

It's big enough for a giant breed dog to use, but light enough for Ru to push around without getting squished. Ru has been way more interested in the Rock N Bowl than our other puzzle toys.

Photo by Erin Koski

Durability: 5/5

Sturdy yet flexible plastic. It's not made to be gnawed, but it should be able to handle an infinite amount of being batted around the house or yard.

Noise: 5/5

I know, it looks like hard plastic that would be super noisy on hard floors. Someone at Paw5 must have hardwood, because they thought to make the bottom out of rubbery material. The bowl is not weighted, so it doesn't make those super heavy rolling sounds either.

Locatability: 5/5

It doesn't fit under the furniture, and I pick it up after dinner just like I do all the other dog bowls. The dogs aren't inclined to pick it up and carry it around, either.

Washability: 5/5

The bowl comes into three pieces for super easy washing. There are no crevices or hard to reach areas, and it's dishwasher safe.

Versatility: 3/5

Obviously this is a feeder designed for dogs, and smaller kibbles fall out easier than larger pieces. For that reason, it's difficult to use the Rock N Bowl with cats, bunnies, or rats. The super easy washing aspect means it can be used for animals that get things super dirty, but I suspect Xhuuya the raven would just take the whole thing apart. I'm pretty sure it would work for toddlers though. Might have to load it up with Cheerios and visit some friends.

Total: 48/50

Puzzle Toy Review: P.L.A.Y. Wobble Ball 2.0

I've been wishing for a Wobble Ball from Pets Lifestyle And You since I first saw it on their website two years ago, and they gave me a Wobble Ball 2.0 at SuperZoo! This puzzle toy definitely takes the cake for aesthetics, it seriously looks like a tastefully classic baby toy. Remember those spinning tops from Germany, with ballerinas or airplanes or circuses whirling around under a clear dome?

Photo by Erin Koski

It's just so pretty! Inside the dome is a little dog in a play bow, with a pumpkin and a carrot in a little field or garden. They don't spin, but they do look adorable under the cloud-shaped openings in the dome. Version 2.0 added matching soft linings around the openings.

Did I mention it also holds food, in addition to being adorable? Each of the three openings is a different size, so it might drop a little bit of food or a lot each time. The whole thing comes apart into three pieces, and the base can conveniently be used to hold extra treats.

It is worth noting that this is an interactive toy that requires supervision. It is not a chew toy, and should not be gnawed. I found a couple of reports of dogs getting their lower canine teeth caught in the previous version of the ball, happily the design has been updated.

Puzzle Toy Review

Capacity: 4/5

Ozzie sizes up the Wobble Ball

It's not really intended as a meal feeder, but I can put at least a cup of food in here.

Loading Speed: 5/5

Unscrew the dome, add food, screw it back on. Just make sure the middle piece with the figures is sitting properly in the base, otherwise the dome won't go on straight.

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 5/5

I put half a dozen little treats in here for Ozzie the Bichon, who had never seen this type of puzzle toy before. He spent an entire afternoon figuring out how it worked.

Unloading Speed (superdog): 5/5

It's not super obvious, but the little figures under the dome do more than just look pastoral and adorable. They also catch the food as it rattles around, making it difficult to get it all out just by batting it around wildly. The Wobble Ball 2.0 manages to drop food at a sufficiently high rate to keep the dogs interested, without dumping more than a couple of kibbles at a time. It's an impressive combination of form and function.

Size: 5/5

I had thought the base would be weighted, but it's actually empty so the toy is very lightweight. At the same time, it's very sturdy. The Wobble Ball is light enough for little tiny dogs to play with, but big and strong enough to allow giant breeds to play safely.

Durability: 5/5

It's not a chew toy, but I'm confident I could drop this thing down a flight of concrete steps without hurting it. The clear dome is holding up remarkably well too, I was expecting it to get scratched up right away and it looks pristine.

Noise: 4/5

It's hard plastic so it makes a bit of noise on the hard floors. However, the design means it doesn't roll very far. It's not super heavy or super resonant, either.

Locatability: 5/5

It only rolls a little bit, doesn't fit under the furniture, and is too big for my dogs to pick up and carry.

Washability: 5/5

Comes into three pieces for easy washing, with no cracks or crud-collecting spots. It's dishwasher safe too!

Versatility: 5/5

The combination of light, durable, and difficult makes this a toy I could use for a variety of animals. Rats, bunnies, and guinea pigs could all roll it around without getting squished. Xhuuya the raven might also like it, but she's likely to either unscrew it or just bash it against a rock, so I don't think I'll let her try ours.

Total: 48/50

Puzzle Toy Review: Paw5 Wooly Snuffle Mat

I picked up this Wooly Snuffle Mat from Paw5 at SuperZoo because I had never seen anything like it before. Is it a doormat? A sound muffler? It's actually a puzzle toy. A very different kind of puzzle toy. I want to call it a low-impact foraging toy. It's made from fabric remnants that would otherwise be going in the trash, the fabric is sort of a stretchy bathing suit material. The idea is to hide kibble or treats on the mat, you can pour it on and just wiggle the thing around a bit so it sinks. Then the dog has to sniff around and find the food in all the fabric curls.

Photo by Erin Koski

I admit, I was a bit skeptical when I bought it. There was a substantial discount at SuperZoo, but I did pay for the privilege of owning a Wooly Snuffle Mat. I like Paw5, they report that these mats are made in rural Thailand by a progressive woman-owned company. That's an industry I can get behind.

I also like how accessible this toy is. The dog only needs to be able to sniff to use it. Blind dog? No problem. Limited mobility? Wooly Snuffle Mat isn't going to roll away. Super skittish dog? It's silent and non-threatening.

PuzzleToy Review:

Ozzie the Bichon hunts for treats.

Capacity: 4/5

I can put more than a cup of food on this thing at a time. Putting 3 or 4 cups of kibble on it would work, the motion of the dog eating would push a lot of the food further into the mat.

Loading Speed: 4/5

Dump food on mat, maybe shake mat a little. The only downside is that I can't load it up on the counter and then move it without dropping kibble everywhere.

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 5/5

The first dog to try out my Wooly was a client dog, Ozzie the Bichon. Ozzie is ten years old, and very food motivated. I hid four or five treats at a time, and Ozzie spent almost ten minutes intently searching for them, and then checking to make sure there weren't any more. I don't think I've found anything else that resulted in that much sustained activity for that few treats.

Unloading Speed: (superdog): 5/5

I fed Annie several meals on the Wooly, and she went from being the fastest eater to the slowest!

Photo by Erin Koski

Size: 5/5

Tiny baby chihuahua? Great Dane? Bunny? Pony? Everyone can use this mat. It's too big to be a choking hazard, and doesn't have to be moved in order to work. I suspect that some dogs might learn to pick it up and shake it, though.

Durability: 5/5

It's really well put together. I guess a dog could shred it if they really wanted to, but nothing approaching "normal use" is going to damage this thing.

Noise: 5/5

Dead silent.

Locatability: 5/5

It's a mat, nobody is taking it anywhere.

Washability: 5/5

Machine washable. 

Versatility: 5/5

Cats. Rabbits. Guinea pigs. Rats. Bearded dragons. Geckos. Goats. Horses. Toddlers. Parrots. Xhuuya might just pick it up and shake it, but I could probably secure it to a surface for her.

Total: 48/50

This is the most highly-rated puzzle toy I've reviewed on The Dog Geek.

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

Caturday: Aikiou Stimulo Feeder, Cats Incredible Litter, and Solid Gold Purrfect Pairings

It's Caturday, and Solstice and James have finally figured out how to use their Aikiou Stimulo puzzle feeder! We just tried out Solid Gold's new mousse wet food, and a bag of Cats Incredible litter from Lucy Pet Products. The puzzle feeder has worked miracles, I cannot believe how quickly the cats went from bored and obnoxious to happily amused.

The Aikiou Stimulo Feeder

This amazing bowl has a base with a bunch of little wells, and a set of plastic tubes that slide into those wells. Food goes in the tubes, and the cats have to reach down with their little cat hands and snag one kibble at a time. This makes eating take a lot longer, and actually engages some problem-solving braincells. Prior to learning how to use the Stimulo feeder, James and Solstice were actively restless. Their yowled all night, tried frantically to bolt through any door, and randomly fought with each other. 

There is a learning curve to using the Stimulo bowl. I started with no tubes attached, and just put food in the little wells so Solstice could reach it and not starve. James was already an accomplished paw-grabber before I introduced the bowl. After a couple of days I added some of the shorter tubes, and I waited until I saw Solstice pulling food out of them before adding the rest. Now we have all the tubes in place, I load the bowl up every night, and they spend many hours a day fishing for kibbles. They are getting along again, less obsessed with the doors, and they let me sleep. I bought this bowl out of the clearance bin at my local Petco.

Cats Incredible Litter

I met the people behind Lucy Pet Products at SuperZoo. They make a variety of grooming products, and also Cats Incredible litter. This litter has a proprietary ingredient called "Smell Squasher" that is supposed to keep ammonia from forming. It's a clay-based clumping litter that is not flushable. I'm a little worried about James and his Cat Asthma, but Cats Incredible is 99.9% dust-free so I'm hoping it doesn't bother him. I'm usually good about scooping the litterbox on at least a daily basis, and I am extremely lucky to have cats that use the box every time no matter how bad it gets. I'm told the Smell Squasher requires an ammonia-free environment to work, so I dutifully scrubbed out the box this afternoon and filled it up. I'll let you know how it works. Lucy Pet Products uses all of their profits to help homeless pets, and they are very local to me. I paid full retail price for this cat litter at my local pet store because I want to support this company.

Solid Gold Purrfect Pairings

Solid Gold's representatives were super excited to show me their new mousse cat food at SuperZoo. They said it was the only wet cat food that was a mousse. I didn't have the heart to tell them about Tiki Cat's Velvet mousse. Purrfect Pairings has a bit more structural integrity than Velvet, it's slightly thicker but still velvety smooth. I like that it comes in a cup that's just the right size for one kitty meal. It's a lot easier to get all the fluffy mousse out of than a pouch. Solid Gold did give me one of each flavor to try, so I was compensated for this review. My bottomless pits really like this stuff though, so I'll probably end up buying them more.

So there's our Caturday. Those of you that have cats, what litter do you use?

Puzzle Toy Review: Planet Dog Snoop

Planet Dog's Snoop is one of those puzzle toys that is elegant in it's simplicity. It's a flexible rubber bowl with a lip that extends all the way down to the bottom of the bowl. Basically, kibble dropped in the bowl is most likely to end up way under the lip rather than falling out. There's no weights or hinges or anything on this toy, but it's still a challenging puzzle. It gets significantly more difficult when you jam a Nook ball in there. I love toys that can work together like that!

Photo by Erin Koski

Puzzle Toy Rating

Capacity: 3/5

I can put at least half a cup of kibble in this thing, but a lot will fall out right away. 

Loading speed: 5/5

Dump in food, pull up lip, tilt Snoop around till it all falls in.

Unloading speed (standard dog): 5/5

It takes the dogs a while to get every last treat out of here. Adding the Nook ball makes it a whole project just to get a few kibbles.

Unloading speed (superdog): 3/5

Even with the Nook in there, Brisbane could empty this thing within a few minutes.

Photo by Erin Koski

Size: 5/5 

Light enough for Ru to push around without hurting himself, but too big to pose a choking hazard for large dogs. The tiny guys can shove it and flip it around, really big dogs might pick the whole thing up and smoosh it. I wouldn't add the Nook ball for dogs over about 40lbs though.

Durability: 4/5

This is not a chew toy, Planet Dog doesn't even list it on their durability scale. It's a supervision-only toy like the Mazee ball. (Note: I left my Mazee rolling around the house and Sisci helpfully enlarged the opening.) That said, it's a soft rubber toy and will withstand an infinite amount of rolling, smacking, and chomping unless your dog decides to rip chunks out of it.

Noise: 5/5

Hooray for soft puzzle toys! The only sound from the Snoop is the occasional clatter of kibble onto the floor.

Locatability: 4/5

It doesn't roll very far, but it does fit under the furniture.

Washability: 4/5

It's dishwasher safe, but the lip makes it a bit tough to get really clean and dry. It's definitely for dry treats only.

Versatility: 5/5

The combination of Snoop and Nook makes a challenging puzzle for a variety of animals. Our raven friend Xhuuya loves prying to ball out and then fishing treats out from under the lip. The Snoop alone can be fun for bunnies and guinea pigs. 

Total: 43

Puzzle Toy Review: Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball

Our Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball came from a PetSmart clearance sale. The packaging said Toys'R'Us, but the ball itself still says Omega Paw. Yay private labels. This toy is a step up from the basic ball-with-a-hole puzzle. Yes, it's a ball with a hole, but the hole connects to a tube inside the ball that makes it quite a bit harder to get the food to fall out. The ball also has lots of indentations on the outside, which can be dabbed with peanut butter or spray cheese to encourage reluctant dogs to explore and figure out how it works.

Photo by Erin Koski

Puzzle Toy Review: 

Capacity: 4/5
The large ball fits about a cup of food, though  a whole lot of it falls out on the first roll. It's big enough to feed smaller meals out of.

Loading Speed: 4/5
Pretty darned quick as long as I use a soda funnel to pour the kibble in there.

Unloading Spped (standard dog): 4/5
It takes Annie quite a while to get those last few kibbles out.

Unloading Speed (superdog): 2/5
Brisbane is an expert ball-emptier, and this one isn't that much more difficult than a regular ball with a hole.

Size: 5/5
With three sizes available, there is a Tricky Treat Ball small enough for a chihuahua to roll effectively, and large enough to not present a choking hazard to a Great Dane.

Durability: 2/5
I'm told the original version of the Tricky Treat Ball was much sturdier, with a smaller food-dispensing hole. This one is pretty thin, and won't hold up to any actual chewing. Fine if your dog is only interested in rolling it, not good if you have a chewer and don't want to supervise nonstop.

Noise: 5/5
The soft plastic is quiet on floors of all sorts. The kibble rolling around inside makes a slight rattle, but overall this toy is pretty good at deadening sound.

Locatability: 1/5
We are currently living in one bedroom in a shared house with a small fenced yard, and I have absolutely no idea where this ball is. I looked everywhere for it before writing this review and I am baffled. Maybe it went wherever our Buster Cubes went.

Washability: 1/5
Pour soapy water in, shake, rinse, hope for the best. There's really no way to scrub, and I doubt it will dry efficiently either.

Versatility: 4/5
The range of sizes mean this ball can be used by rats, ferrets, bunnies, and squirrels. However, the lack of durability or means to clean it effectively means it's lifespan may be very limited.

Total: 32/50

Product Review: Starmark Treat Dispensing Pickle Pocket

We recently acquired Starmark's Treat Dispensing Pickle Pocket, so get your mind out of the gutter because the toy looks about as bad as the name sounds. This is one of Starmark's ever growing line of toys that hold their ever growing line of proprietary treats. The Pickle Pocket holds Flavor Wave Treats, that fit perfectly in the grooves. It can also hold kibble, soft treats, peanut butter, and whatever else you feel like jamming in there.

Photo by Erin Koski

To be honest, I wasn't expecting this one to be a hit. It looked like too much work without enough payoff. Silly me, both Brisbane and Sisci love it. Briz likes to lick it lovingly. Sisci enjoys carrying it around the house and dropping it on my head while I'm trying to sleep. The Pickle Pocket it very, very heavy.

The Pickle Pocket is also not much of a pocket. The treat slits are pretty narrow and the toy itself is mostly a solid lump of heavy rubber. This means dogs aren't likely to get their jaws caught in it, but it also means the toy isn't intended for serving kibble meals. Pretty much every treat will have to be jammed forcefully in there.

This toy doesn't give up its treasures easily, either. My dogs have been working on a set of three Flavor Wave Treats for a couple of weeks and there's still some bits in there. It's definitely a toy for a very food-motivated dog and not just a casual snacker.

Pros: Very solid and sturdy. Openings are not large enough to present an entrapment hazard. Can use with any kind of food your dog will work for. Banana chips, carrots, kibble, small training treats, applesauce, peanut butter, jerky chews, chunks of big dog biscuits, raw meat, cheeseburgers, anything. Very sturdy, can handle quite a bit of chewing from most dogs.

Cons: Too difficult for dogs that lack motivation. Too large and heavy for little dogs, though 28-lb Sisci loves carrying it around. Attracts a lot of hair and crud. Jamming treats in takes effort and commitment. Hurts a lot when dropped on your head.

Bottom Line: Worthwhile if your have a puzzle-loving genius dog and don't mind awkward questions from visitors who spot it laying on your floor.

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

Puzzle Toy Review: Nina Ottosson DogSpinny

This DogSpinny is one of the many board game-style puzzles by Nina Ottosson. These are basically the original dog games, I'm pretty sure she invented the concept and that other companies then copied her idea. I thnk they are the cutest puzzle games, and they are much higher quality than any of our others.

Photo by Erin Koski

The red disc covers eight bone-shaped compartments, and has a single opening that lines up with those. A single white bone-shaped cover  sits in the opening and prevents the disc from turning until it has been removed.

On the bottom of the toy, there is a single screw that holds the two parts together. This can be loosened or tightened to change the difficulty level, or removed completely to take the puzzle apart for cleaning.

Nina Ottosson's website has a page of tips including the suggestion to fill the hollows with wet dog food and then freeze the base for a longer-lasting challenge. It was at this point I realized the puzzle must be designed to come apart, up until then I had only put dry food in it. Sisci is getting spayed today, so I will probably try out the frozen wet food idea soon. I expect a lot of our puzzles are going to be getting a lot of use during her recovery.

Puzzle Toy Review:

Capacity: 3/5

Fits about 2 cups of food.

Loading Speed: 2/5

Dump 1/4 cup of kibble in a hole, spin the disc a bit, dump 1/4 cup of kibble in the next hole, spin the disc...

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 5/5

This is a Level 1: Easy puzzle from Nina Ottosson, but it breaks newbie brains. They often need a break before they empty the whole thing.

Unloading Speed (superdog): 4/5

At least the first few times, the process has been lengthy and labor-intensive for Brisbane.

Size: 4/5

The bone cover is light, and the disc can be loosened so it spins freely. This makes it suitable for the smallest dogs. Anything smaller than a giant breed ought to be able to get the food out of the hollows reasonably well, but I don't think a Saint Bernard would be able to use this one.

Durability: 3/5

The DogSpinny is made from a slightly-flexible plastic that bends instead of cracking under stress. This means it should hold up well to being shot into walls by enthusiastic puzzle-solvers. 

Noise: 5/5

That same material means it doesn't clatter nearly as much as the cheap, hard plastic puzzles. 

Locatability: 5/5

This is a supervision-only toy, so they never have a chance to shove it under the couch.

Washability: 5/5

Ok, I've had this thing for at least a year, and didn't realize it came apart until today. There's no uncleanable-spaces in it, and it's even dishwasher-safe. Crazy.

Versatility: 5/5

The adjustable disc and light pieces mean this puzzle can be used by small animals like rats, ferrets, and rabbits. The fact that it can be opened and sterilized means it can be used by Xhuuya the raven, and other animals that tend to get their toys really egregiously dirty.

Total: 36/50

Puzzle Toy Review: Kensington Kennel Club Cones Dog Intelligence Toy

The box repeatedly refers to the pieces of this Kensington Kennel Club Dog Intelligence Toy as cones, but they are clearly pegs. There was a chihuahua on the product box, and the puzzle is quite nicely sized for little Ru. It's an easy puzzle, lifting the pegs out of the base is the only skill required. However, Ru has a tiny brain. This puzzle provided him with tons of mental stimulation.

Photo by Erin Koski

Kensington Kennel Club is a trademark of Ross stores, which is where I found both this puzzle and our first Dog Intelligence Toy. I have since spotted a couple of other wood puzzles, all bearing the same name. This is the only tiny one.

There just aren't that many puzzles sized for toy breeds. Most of the time the pegs are to big for them to pick up with their mouths, so all a tiny dog can do is dig furiously and hope to dislodge one. Each peg has a hole in the top too, so the dog can tell what sort of tasty goodness is hiding under there.


Puzzle Toy Review

Capacity: 1/5
The six treat nooks hold...six treats. That's ok though, this isn't a meal-feeding toy.

Loading Speed: 5/5
I mean, how long does it take to stick six little pegs in the base?

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 5/5
Ru spent close to ten minutes getting two treats out of this thing, and he was so close to getting them that he stayed interested the entire time.

Unloading Speed (superdog): 2/5
I think after one round of emptying this thing out, Brisbane has already figured out how to pick up two pegs at a time with his teeth.

Size: 1/5
This is a small toy for small dogs. My 30-45 lb dogs have some difficulty using it correctly.

Durability: 3/5
Tiny dogs aren't really known for destroying things, but this is a supervision-only toy and not made to hold up to chewing. It will, however, stand up to an infinite amount of frantic but ineffective digging and pathetic whining.

Noise: 5/5
Stick it on a towel or bit or carpet and it's dead quiet. I can't imagine an itty bitty dog launching this thing into a wall or anything.

Locatability: 4/5
Supervision-only means I only have to go looking for the pegs when they roll away. The puzzle even came with a little drawstring bag to keep the pieces together.

Washability: 2/5
There aren't inaccessible nooks, but it's made of wood and not terribly well-sealed wood. Definitely a dry-treat-only puzzle.

Versatility: 2/5
The lack of easy sterilization limits who I can use this with. However, I think it would be fun to try with small animals of all sorts. Bunnies, rats, maybe a bearded dragon...

Total: 30/50

Puzzle Toy Review: Mod Dog Puzzle

I found this board-game style wood dog puzzle by Mod at my local Ross. This seems to be a discount store brand, and is owned by the same company as Doghaus, another brand I often see there. 'Mod' stands for Modern Objects for Dogs, and car seat covers are the only other product I routinely see from this brand. So it's not a high-tech, well-researched product from an awesome company, but it is a different puzzle than most of ours and it was $5 so worth trying out.

Photo by Erin Koski

The puzzle consists of a bone-shaped base with a colored peg occupying a hole in each corner. At the center there are three hollows and two colored sliders, the third hole is covered by a natural-colored wood peg that is slightly larger than the other four. In order to move the sliders, the big peg must be removed from the puzzle.

I like the pegs on this puzzle because they are shaped nicely for dogs to pick up with their mouths. So far Brisbane is the only one who has mastered this skill though, everybody else just paws wildly until the pegs come out.

Puzzle Toy Rating
Capacity: 1/5
This is a one-treat-per-cavity puzzle, intended for supervised, interactive play rather than turning dinner into a project.

Loading Speed: 5/5
Lightning fast since I'm basically loading it up with seven kibbles.

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 5/5
Pegs are pretty tough for dogs to figure out, and take a lot of effort to remove via pawing. This was a real stumper for Ranger and Annie, and Sisci took a long time to finally empty it.

Unloading Speed (superdog): 2/5
Brisbane already knows exactly how pegs work and is pretty efficient at working sliders too. He emptied the puzzle efficiently and methodically in less than a minute.

Size: 3/5
The pegs on this one are a bit big for Ru to move with his mouth, and would be a bit tiny for a large breed dog to pick up.

Durability: 5/5
This is a solid wood puzzle intended for supervised play, and should stand up to anything short of intentional gnawing. It has so far weathered a near-infinite amount of pawing with no damage.

Noise: 4/5
It doesn't roll or clatter, though it does occasionally get launched across the floor and can make some interesting noises on the hardwood when I decide to give a dog some space to work things out.

Locatability: 4/5
Supervision means never losing the puzzle, though the pegs do like to roll away sometimes.

Washability: 4/5
Most of the wood is pretty well-sealed, but I wouldn't be putting raw meat in it or anything.

Versatility: 2/5
This puzzle requires some fine motor skills to complete, and the small parts and material limits the range of critters that can solve it without destroying it.

Total: 35/50

Puzzle Toy Review: JW Treat Tower

The JW Pet Treat Tower by Petmate is a bobbing puzzle toy that is wonderfully adjustable and easy to clean. It comes in two different sizes, ours is the smaller one. The top unscrews and all the layers come off for easy cleaning. The opening in each layer can be adjusted to three different sizes, and the openings can be positioned anywhere around the circle.

Photo by Erin Koski

I had originally passed over this toy because it looked non-adjustable and difficult to clean. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it came completely apart and was quite adjustable. Definitely not as simple as it looks!

Puzzle Toy Rating

Capacity: 3/5
I can fit about a cup of kibble in the smaller of the two sizes, but I have to do it carefully and quite a bit spills out.

Loading Speed: 1/5
Basically one kibble at a time.

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 5/5
It takes Annie forever to get all the treats out, but drops them often enough to keep her interested.

Photo by Erin Koski

Unloading Speed (superdog): 4/5
The Treat Tower empties out a bit fast for Brisbane, even on the hardest setting.

Size: 4/5
At nearly a foot tall, the big one should be big enough for any dog. The smaller one is small enough for Ru to use

Durability: 4/5
This should hold up to pretty much anything short of a determined chewer.

Noise: 1/5
Hard heavy plastic on hardwood floors is pretty much the worst case scenario.

Locatability: 5/5
It doesn't fit under the couch, and nobody tries to carry it around so it doesn't go far.

Washability: 5/5
Comes completely apart for super easy cleaning.

Versatility: 5/5
The size options and ease of cleaning mean this toy can be used by a variety of species. We borrowed the Treat Tower from our friend Xhuuya the raven.

Total: 37/50

Puzzle Toy Review: Cycle Dog 3 Play Hippo

The 3 Play Hippo toy by Cycle Dog is a remarkably appealing toy that can be used in several different ways. It doesn't just float, it floats high in the water so it's easier to spot from dog-paddling height. The head squeaks. and the belly has a slit for hiding treats. This toy is made from post-consumer recycled material. It comes in two colors and two sizes, the one pictured is the mini hippo.

Photo by Erin Koski

I don't know what it is about this pink hippo, but everybody loves it. Whether they are squeaking it, nose-punching it, or lovingly carrying it around the house, all three dogs thoroughly enjoy the happy hippo. Even after the nose cracked and the squeak diminished, they still love it.

I love this toy too. It's adorable! It also comes in blue, and there is a larger size that we probably need to acquire.

Photo by Erin Koski

Puzzle Toy Rating

Capacity: 3/5

I can fit Brisbane's entire meal of 1/4-cup kibble in here, the bigger one probably fits closer to a cup. The slit is also big enough to jam a larger biscuit or two inside.

Loading Speed: 2/5

I can cram a small handful of kibble in here at a time.

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 5/5

It usually still has a kibble or two in it when I find it around the house.

Unloading Speed (superdog): 4/5

Brisbane isn't a huge fan of flexible rubber flap puzzles, but this one is just the right size to be challenging without him finding it unpleasant for whatever reason.

Size: 5/5

The small one is small enough for Ru to play with, the bigger one is big enough for a giant dog.

Durability: 3/5

Most of our flexible rubber puzzles have held up very well, but the nose of our hippo split open pretty quickly and now it doesn't squeak like it used to.

Noise: 5/5

It's soft and it doesn't roll, so it's dead quiet on my hardwood floors.

Locatability: 3/5

Our mini hippo is a prized possession and is almost always being hoarded in a crate or bed somewhere, but at least it doesn't roll under the couch.

Washability: 3/5

I should be able to jam a bottle brush into the belly slit if it needs a good scrub. I subtracted a star though because our cracked toy tend to take on water and there's no cleaning the inside of the head.

Photo by Erin Koski

Versatility: 4/5

Our happy hippo was borrowed from Xhuuya the raven, who enjoys prying nuts out of the belly and pretending she's disemboweling the riverbeast. The size and type of puzzle makes it usable by a variety of critters.

Total: 37/50

Puzzle Toy Review: Outward Hound Whirli Treat

The Outward Hound Whirli Treat is a poorly designed puzzle toy that consists of a ball with holes in it, and a stand. Theoretically the stand holds the ball so that it can roll in place, making the puzzle slightly more difficult to solve. In reality the ball falls off the stand the moment anyone touches it or breathes near it. It's really quite difficult to get it to spin on the stand without knocking it off, and the dogs don't seem to realize that this is how it's supposed to work. There are two large holes in the ball, and nothing else to keep the food from pouring out immediately. Seriously, I doubt the designers of this toy ever actually tested it with a real live dog. This is supposed to be a level 2 difficulty puzzle, and like the Tic Tac Twirl it is another that ejects all the food immediately when nudged.

Photo by Erin Koski

Puzzle Toy Review

Capacity: 4/5

I can fit at least a cup of food in here, and it will take slightly longer to empty than a bowl.

Loading Speed: 3/5

A soda funnel works pretty well.

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 1/5

There is literally nothing stopping the kibble from just pouring out.

Unloading Speed (superdog): 1/5

Mere seconds.

Size: 1/5

Even Ru can't use this thing without knocking it off the stand, so I have no idea what size dog it is supposed to be for.

Photo by Erin Koski

Durability: 1/5

The two parts separate instantly when touched. Maybe the rest will stay together. I have to say that the Kyjen toys we have seem very sturdy while the Outward Hound-branded ones are much more glossy and flimsy. I don't like the new color scheme, either.

Noise: 2/5

It's a hard plastic ball, rolling unfettered across my hardwood floors. The only saving grace is that the dogs empty it instantly and then ignore it.

Locatability: 2/5

It's a hard plastic ball rolling unfettered across...well, you get it.

Washability: 2/5

The ball doesn't open up, but the holes are big enough to stick a bottle brush through.

Versatility: 1/5

Rolling the ball on the stand is difficult, I can't imagine any kind of animal that would attempt to use this toy as intended rather than letting it roll off the stand and dump food everywhere.

Total: 18/50

Puzzle Toy Review: The Ethical Pet SPOT Seek-a-Treat Slide 'n Swivel

The SPOT Seek-a-Treat Slide 'n' Swivel by Ethical Pet is a board game style puzzle toy for dogs. The toy has a total of eight different hidey holes for treats, covered by sliding and swiveling lids. The center sliders are particularly challenging as they all slide into the space in the middle and therefore only one can be opened at a time. The Slide 'n Swivel has puzzle-piece attachment points on each side that allow it to be connected to other puzzles for more fun. Ethical Pet makes one other puzzle with this feature, the Flip 'n Slide.

Photo by Erin Koski

Brisbane figured out this toy right away, as usual. The only issue we had was that he was quite certain the blue sliders were meant to be pulled off with his teeth. They have openings that allow him to see and smell the food, and also to get a good grip and yank. Close supervision was required so I could redirect him when he really looked like he might break the thing.

Puzzle Toy Review

Capacity: 1/5
Each compartment holds a few kibbles, I might be able to get a little more than a quarter cup in here. This is definitely an interactive project and not for independent play.

Loading Speed: 5/5
It's really, really easy to load up a tiny amount of kibble.

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 4/5
This was the first board game puzzle Sisci has encountered, and it took her several minutes to figure it out.

Unloading Speed )superdog): 1/5
Even with his desire to rip off the blue sliders, Brisbane emptied this toy in mere minutes. The photo above was the first time he had ever seen the Slide 'n Swivel, and he figured it out immediately.

Size: 3/5
This toy is not heavy and does not have any large moving parts, even Ru would be able to use it if he actually liked food. Briz and Sisci were both able to use it easily, but they could also lift and toss it if they felt inclined. A large dog may have trouble moving the small parts.

Durability: 2/5
It held up to some light biting and pulling, but the plastic feels pretty flimsy and I'm not sure how well it will hold up to further abuse.

Noise: 2/5
It slides along my hard floors, and rattles a little bit. The plastic is much harder and noisier than our other puzzles.

Locatability: 5/5
Close supervision means we never lose it.

Washability: 3/5
All the small moving parts make it a bit annoying to clean, but I can reach all the nooks and crannies to get it really clean.

Versatility: 4/5
We borrowed this one from our friend Xhuuya the raven, she likes all the little moving bits and foraging for nuts. Medium and large parrots can probably use it, and rats and ferrets may also enjoy it.

Total: 30/50

Puzzle Toy Review: JW Pet Playbites Doughnut

The Petmate JW Pet Playbites Donut is another puzzle toy from the Playbites series. This is a clattering-type toy intended to be filled with small treats like kibble. The outer edge is one continuous slit, and stuffing in treats larger than the opening provides quite a challenge.

Photo by Erin Koski

Puzzle Toy Rating

Capacity: 2/5
I can fit maybe a quarter cup of kibble in this small one.

Loading Speed: 2/5
The continuous slit means I can't wedge a funnel in there to speed things up.

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 4/5
This took visiting dog Annie several hours to empty.

Photo by Erin Koski

Unloading Speed (superdog): 3/5
Brisbane can empty it pretty quickly, but for the amount of food it holds it takes quite a while.

Size: 3/5
This is the smaller size, about 4" in diameter. It's small enough for Ru to use. The larger one is 6" across, big enough for a medium dog or a less destructive large dog, but I wouldn't give to a Great Dane.

Durability: 4/5
It will probably hold up to almost anything but deliberate destruction.

Noise: 5/5
Natural rubber, hollow and flexible. Silent on my hardwood floors.

Locatability: 3/5
Small enough to get shoved under the furniture, but at least it doesn't roll.

Washability: 3/5
There aren't any major crevasses, but it's not exactly easy to scrub.

Versatility: 5/5
So far all my visiting dogs have enjoyed the Playbites Doughnut, and so does Xhuuya the raven.

Total: 34/50

Puzzle Toy Review: JW Playbites Caterpillar

The JW Playbites Caterpillar by Petmate is a durable, chewable toy that has for treat-holding segments. This is a natural rubber toy that is intended to stand up to some actual gnawing. It comes in various colors and two sizes for dogs.

Photo by Erin Koski

So far the caterpillar has only been used a treat dispenser around here, nobody has felt the urge to really chew on it. They have had quite a lot of fun emptying it out, though. Each segment has an x-shaped opening, and each opening is on a different side.

This is definitely a chew toy that can hold treats, it's primary purpose is not dispensing food. There's no way I could feed meals out of it, but the caterpillar makes a fun project for a crated dog. Sometimes I stick a few pieces of kibble in it when the dogs aren't looking and then leave it for them to discover later.

Puzzle Toy Rating

Capacity: 1/5
We have the smaller version of the Caterpillar, and I can only fit a few kibbles in each segment. Way less than 1/4 cup.

Loading Speed: 2/5
I have to shove each treat in one by one, but not many fit so it doesn't really take long.

Photo by Erin Koski

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 3/5
My visiting cattledog friends often spent quite a while on this project without getting every treat out.

Unloading Speed (superdog): 2/5
Brisbane has to think about it a little, but he can empty the caterpillar out in a few minutes.

Size: 4/5
Ours is a medium, but the large caterpillar is over a foot long and 4" wide so it should be fine for very big dogs.

Durability: 5/5
This is made out of the same stuff as Cuz balls, so it can handle everything but a power chewer.

Noise: 5/5
The caterpillar is sturdy rubber, but not really heavy enough to make a ton of noise on our hardwood floors.

Locatability: 2/5
It rolls quite a bit and fits under the furniture so it is prone to disappearing.

Washability: 3/5
It's intended for dry treats so it doesn't get too dirty. It's actually not terrible to scrub out either. The only issue is drying it, there's no way to set it so the holes can all drain at once. I have to turn it a few times before it will dry out completely.

Versatility: 5/5
The size of this toy makes it suitable for a variety of animals. The caterpillar is also a favorite of our friend Xhuuya the raven, who loves to wrestle nuts out of the segments.

Total: 32/50

Product Review: Wag n Woof Bone

This is a toy by Wag n Woof, one of Ross's house brands. It comes in a couple of sizes and it a very basic puzzle toy. It is made out of flexible vinyl.

Photo by Erin Koski

This is a small toy that is very flexible. It consists of two halves that are attached down the very center of the toy. There is a small gap between the halves. The bone can be filled with tiny treats that will fall out easily. It is also flexible enough to allow larger treats to be shoved inside for a bigger challenge.

Ru isn't very good at getting bigger treats out of this bone. We borrowed it from Xhuuya the raven, who enjoys wrestling macadamia nuts out of it.

Pros: Extremely inexpensive. Easy for most dogs.

Cons: Doesn't hold much food or many treats. Low quality and easy to destroy. Made in China.

Bottom Line: This is a toy for older, non-destructive dogs. It can be a way to explore what sorts of puzzles a dog enjoys solving.