Puzzle Toy: Kong Satellite

The Kong Satellite is a sort of rounded toy with three pseudopods. There is a large hole in the top center of the toy, and then each pod has a hole in a different place: top, side, or bottom. The toy can filled with kibble and dry or semi-moist treats.

Photo by Erin Koski

I love the Kong company, so it troubles me that I am less than enthusiastic about one of their products. I think this toy just isn't compatible with hard floors. It's also annoying to fill, spews treats out when barely touched, and at the same time is incredibly difficult to get that last piece of kibble out of even with thumbs and logical reasoning skills. I think it is the most irritating Kong product I have used to date, even compared to the damned Starpod.

Puzzle Toy Rating

Capacity: 5/5

This toy is big enough to hold several cups of food. Big enough to feed entire meals out of. I would never do that though because...

Loading Speed: 1/5

This toy has four holes that are each an inch in diameter, not big enough to use a funnel so the thing must be loaded one kibble or treat at a time. Ain't nobody got time for that.

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 3/5

At one inch in diameter, the holes in the satellite practically spew forth kibble whenever it is touched. The high rate of reinforcement makes it encouraging for slow and average dogs. However, it still takes way longer to load than it does to unload, and while filling it one must be careful to not accidentally dump it out.

Unloading Speed (superdog): 1/5

Our experience with the satellite has been that, when loaded with kibble, a single touch causes it to pour out 99% of its bounty immediately. The holes are all designed with a steep lip around them on the inside, preventing that last piece from falling out unless the toy is then either manipulated very precisely or just batted around wildly for a while. It makes a ton of noise on hard floors, so Briz bumps it to get all but one kibble out. nudges it around a few more times, and then decides that last kibble isn't worth all the banging.

Durability: 2/5

This toy is obviously intended for play on carpeted floors because it looks beat to hell after a couple of low-enthusiasm play sessions. I expect it to hold up to my non-chewers, but it sure isn't going to look pretty doing it. Probably not going to break, but very easily scratched, and the clear plastic makes the wear dreadfully obvious. Scratches also make plastic more likely to harbor bacteria, so this isn't just a cosmetic issue.

Size: 1/5

Hey Kong, that fat Labrador in your demo video is clearly not under 45 pounds, so why is the Satellite toy itself labelled as being only for dogs under that weight? The size and the way it moves also makes it intimidating and difficult for itty bitty dogs to use, so it's apparently only for 10-45 pound dogs. I would actually feel comfortable giving this to a giant pony dog if I knew the dog didn't chomp puzzle toys, so I am assuming the warning label is just for liability purposes. Still, officially this toy is only for a pretty small subset of dogs.

Noise: 1/5

This toy does not get much use at our house because everybody hates the clattering. Unlike our many rolling puzzle toys, this one is supposed to move across the floor like a jack. The Kong video even shows a Labrador batting it wildly. The kibble inside rattles around, and the hard plastic Satellite bangs on the hardwood in a profoundly irritating manner. I can't stand it, and Brisbane doesn't think it's worth putting up with the noise just to get that last kibble stuck under the hole rim.

Locatability: 4/5

Small enough to fit under the couch, but nobody can stand to move it that far so we're pretty safe. I can usually find it within a foot or two of the place I set it down for Briz.

Washability: 1/5

Kong doesn't say how to wash the Satellite. I want to swish it with warm soapy water and set it out to dry like the Starmark Bob-A-Lot, but there doesn't seem to be a way to let it dry without getting water caught in it. Ideally I'd only be putting in dry kibble and biscuits, but never washing it seems like a poor choice.

Hoardability: 1/5

Brisbane could carry it if he wanted to, but the Satellite is so noisy that he prefers to empty it and then abandon it.

Total: 20/50

Nope. Nope. Nope. I fully expect this one to either be discontinued or dramatically improved in the near future. It's a nice first effort at making a new type of puzzle toy, but it feels like the designers played with it and their dogs for a few minutes and called it good without giving serious thought to the real-life long-term issues that make or break a toy.

Puzzle Toy: Starmark Bob-a-Lot

The Starmark Bob-a-Lot is a kibble-dispensing toy that is rounded at the bottom, and weighted so it bobs upright. It can be loaded through the top and dispense kibble through both the top and the bottom. This toy is amazing because the openings are adjustable. ADJUSTABLE!!!

Photo by Erin Koski

This is an incredibly sturdy and durable puzzle toy, and it can keep Brisbane busy for a good long time. Josie also enjoyed the Bob-a-Lot, though some days it was just too much work. Briz got this for his fourth birthday, so it has now been in regular use for five years with minimal wear. There used to be an orange grossgrain ribbon attached to the top for hanging and carrying the toy, Brisbane eventually destroyed that. He also chewed the inside of the top, under the yellow lid, shortly after we acquired the Bob-a-Lot. Aside from a few scratches, it has zero wear.

The purple bottom of the Bob-a-

Photo by Erin Koski

Lot is very solid and heavy, it actually takes a bit of effort to move. The yellow cap at the top unscrews, and under that is an opening that can be adjusted by spinning the yellow half-disk. The half-disk has a nice little ridge poking up to help spin it around to make the hole larger or smaller. Occasionally I find this piece flipped, so that the ridge is pointing down into the hole and unable to rotate. When the yellow half-disk gets flipped it becomes very difficult to remove to add kibble, and I usually end up prying it out with a butter knife. For a while I blamed my husband for this, but then I found it flipped while he was out of town so now I'm blaming the lizard people from beneath Los Angeles.

Photo by Erin Koski

The yellow cap can be left off the Bob-a-Lot so that the toy must be tipped over to dispense it's treasures, but I did this once and Briz chewed it. The yellow cap still screws on nicely so I just use the bottom opening and load kibble through the top. This bottom opening is set low on the purple section. It features a little sliding door that makes the opening adjustable. I could fill this thing with tiny kibble and make the opening tiny so the toy takes longer to empty! This definitely solves that 'kibble just falls out constantly' problem.

Puzzle Toy Rating

Capacity: 5/5

I can fit several cups of food inside this thing, enough for an entire meal even for Josie.

Loading Speed: 2/5

Neither of the holes in this thing are very big, so it basically needs to be loaded one kibble at a time.

Photo by Erin Koski

I try pouring it in the top and they usually just jam up. 

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 5/5

The Bob-a-Lot usually wore Josie out long before she finished her meal. She could get about half a cup out in 30 minutes and then needed a nap.

Unloading Speed (superdog): 5/5

A quarter cup of kibble takes Brisbane easily 20 minutes to empty, even with the bottom door all the way open. Occasionally I accidentally leave the door closed and he spends 45 minutes batting it around with increasing frustration. I apologize to my neighbors for any hysterical screambarking that results from this error.

Durability: 4/5

As long as I screw the yellow cap on, this thing is indestructible. Minus the cap, the rim is an invitation to chew. Briz doesn't often chew things that aren't food, but this was apparently worth it. Like pretty much everything else out there, I wouldn't leave the Bob-a-Lot unattended with a serious power-chewer.

Size: 5/5

We have the large size, and even 6-lb Ru could play with it if he felt like putting in any effort to get food. There is also a small size, so even more ridiculously tiny dogs can play with it. The large is very large, I would give this to a Great Dane or a mastiff without worrying about the dog choking.

Noise: 1/5
If I lived in an apartment, my downstairs neighbors would hate me. This thing is heavy, and we have hardwood floors. As an added bonus, it's tall enough to whack into the kitchen cabinets when Brisbane really gets it going.

Locatability: 5/5
This one is way too big to lose!

Washability: 2/5
The Bob-a-Lot does not open up at all, but it's not meant to be filled with peanut butter or anything either. The Starmark site says it can be cleaned by pouring in soapy water, shaking, and drying by setting it upside down. I have never washed our toy. That might make me a bad person.

Hoardability: 1/5
Since he removed the ribbon at the top of his Bob-a-Lot, Brisbane is physically incapable of carrying this toy. It generally stays in the same room where I leave it.

Total: 35/50

I use this toy at least once a week, often more. I can increase the loading speed by dumping kibble into the top so it has to fall into the bottom chamber before falling out the lower door. Briz will enjoy that.

Puzzle Toy: Kong Wishbone

The Kong Quest Wishbone is a rubber toy with grooves on either side for stuffing with kibble, dry biscuits, or pastes like peanut butter. It comes in five colors and two sizes. Unlike Kong's classic toys, the Wishbone is not made to be gnawed.

Photo by Erin Koski

We have a large pink Kong Wishbone. I originally bought it with Josie in mind, and she enjoyed it very much. Putting kibble in it was a great way to entertain an elderly dog with limited mobility, but it was basically the same as putting it in a bowl for Brisbane.

These days I sometimes put large dog biscuits inside the Wishbone. Briz had to bite the thing and break them order to get them out, much like his strategy for the Starmark Treat Ball. More often the Wishbone is part of our endless collection of freezer toys. I usually stuff it with a combination of peanut butter, cooked sweet potato, and banana, freeze it, and then give it to Briz before I leave the house.

Puzzle Toy Rating

Capacity: 2/5 

We have the large Wishbone, and it doesn't hold very much kibble. I could fit perhaps half a cup in here, but a lot would fall out. This isn't really a meal-feeding toy, it's a treat-feeding toy.

Loading Speed: 3/5

I can sort of bend the Wishbone open and pour kibble into it, but only on one side, and not very much kibble. I haven't found an efficient way of getting squishy stuff into this thing, I always end up mooshing it in with my fingers and getting peanut butter everywhere.

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 4/5

It took Josie a good ten minutes to get kibble out of this thing, and she could spend a long time licking peanut butter out of it.

Unloading Speed (superdog): 2/5

I'm always amazed how fast Briz can empty the Wishbone, even when the contents are frozen solid. It takes longer than a bowl, but not that much longer.

Size: 3/5

I can fit a decent amount of peanut butter and sweet potato in here, there's a ton of surface area but very little depth.

Durability: 4/5

I wouldn't give this to a dog that really enjoys chewing, and I would supervise any new dogs until I knew their chewing style very well. That said, ours looks brand new even after quite a bit of use. I expect it to be around for many years.

Noise: 5/5

This is another silent licking toy, it basically guarantees peace and quiet.

Locatability: 5/5

Brightly colored and does not roll at all. It stays where I put it, or where Brisbane feels like licking it. Either way, we've never lost it.

Washability: 4/5

The Wishbone can go in the top rack of the dishwasher, for those who have a dishwasher (grumble grumble), I haven't had any issue scrubbing it out with a baby bottle brush either. The grooves make it annoying, but not difficult.

Hoardability: 5/5

When the Wishbone isn't in the freezer, it's in one of Brisbane's lairs. He prefers a little privacy while he licks all the goodies out of it.

Total: 37/50

It's not the easiest or most efficient toy, and it doesn't keep Brisbane occupied for all that long, but it's still a regular part of the freezer toy collection. 

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.

Puzzle Toy: TreatStik

The TreatStik is a hard plastic toy that dispenses food when rolled across the ground. It is incredibly durable, easy to clean, and fast to load. The kibble is dispenses via a hole near the bottom of the toy.

Photo by Erin Koski

For most of his life, Brisbane has not eaten meals out of bowls. I prefer he spend a bit more time and use his brain in order to get food. Briz also used to have separation anxiety issues as a puppy. The TreatStik is one of the toys I used to help him get over this. I would put some kibble in the toy and hand it to him before I left the house, and Brisbane learned that my leaving also meant dinner time. The TreatStik forced him to spend several minutes working for each piece of kibble.

Photo by Erin Koski

My favorite feature of this puzzle toy is that the entire end of it opens up. I can dump a cup and a half of kibble in there with zero effort. Of course, Brisbane doesn't eat more than a quarter cup of kibble per day right now. I need to think about switching him to a lower-calorie food.

Puzzle Toy Rating

Photo by Erin Koski

Capacity: 5/5 

At 1.5 cups of kibble, this thing not only holds an entire meal for Brisbane, it could hold nearly an entire meal for Josie. This is probably our highest-capacity puzzle toy.

Loading Speed: 5/5

Unscrew lid, dump in a scoop of kibble, screw lid back on. This is the paragon of easy-to-fill toys by which I judge all other toys.

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 5/5

Josie could spend all day long getting her kibble out of this toy. I would fill it to capacity and she would work on it for an hour and need a nap before she emptied it.

Unloading Speed (superdog): 4/5

Brisbane can get his daily 1/4 cup of kibble out of this in less than 5 minutes, but more kibble takes more time. The TreatStik website suggests putting chunks of carrot in there to liven things up, I'm gonna try that next. I should also have a look at the smaller one and see if it has a smaller hole to drop kibble slower.

Durability: 5/5

My TreatStik is nearly nine years old, Brisbane has had it his entire life and it has been rolled, bashed, and lost countless times. It's a bit beat up on the outside, but still completely functional.

Size: 4/5

The large TreatStik is big enough for the biggest dogs, as long as they are supervised with it. However, the smaller size is too big for toy breeds. This isn't a huge issue for us because Ru doesn't care about food, but it does make the appeal of the TreatStik slightly less than universal. This toy is too big for any dog who's jaw can fit through the hole.

Noise: 2/5

This is the second noisiest puzzle toy in our house. It would be fine if we had carpets and the kibble just rattled around, but on hardwood the Treatstik sounds like a herd of elephants.

Locatability: 3/5

The relatively large size makes this toy difficult to lose for very long, but it the round shape and low profile mean that it very easily rolls under furniture. It's usually under the kitchen cabinets, otherwise it can take a very long time to locate.

Washability: 5/5

Dishwasher safe, awesome if you have a dishwasher, otherwise it scrubs clean nicely with soap and hot water. Vinegar, bleach, and boiling water should eliminate any leftover nasties if necessary.

Hoardability: 1/5

Brisbane doesn't like to carry the TreatStik in his mouth, so he rolls it around until it's empty and then abandons it.

Total: 39/50

This is definitely one of our favorite puzzle toys, and probably the one that gets the most use because I can just dump in kibble and then run out the door.

Puzzle Toy: SafeMade Biggie Bone

The SafeMade Biggie Bone is a stuffable toy shaped like a bone. This toy is not only freezer-safe, it is also oven-safe, something I can't say for any of our other toys. Since the Biggie Bone is from SafeMade, it's also toddler-safe, and infant-safe, and grandma-safe.

Stuffed with love, also peanut butter.

I like the size of the stuffing chamber in the Biggie Bone, it's cylindrical and goes all the way through the toy. A bit small for most biscuits, but it can be easily stuffed with sweet potato, banana, and peanut butter. I could also fill it with kibble and seal the ends with peanut butter. This is not something I would have purchased myself, but it came in this month's BarkBox and I feel obligated to give it a fair chance.

The concept of the SafeMade company is pretty good, basically everything they sell is safety tested for everybody in your house. We know that some imported dog toy tennis balls contain very high amounts of lead, and babies will put anything in their mouths. I solve this issue by not buying imported tennis balls, especially ones specifically marketed for pets. I also don't have a baby, and I might be more concerned about my dog toys being safe for babies if I had one and/or lost my mind.

Puzzle Toy Rating

Capacity: 3/5

It's not cavernous, but bigger than it looks.

Loading Speed: 4/5

No curves or nooks to load, just shove stuff in.

Unloading Speed: 5/5

I gave this to Brisbane yesterday and he still hasn't gotten all the peanut butter out of the center.

Size: 4/5

These come in three sizes, we have the largest one. It's pretty big, but I wouldn't give it to a giant dog or a power-chewer.

Noise: 5/5

Blissfully silent.

Locatability: 4/5

Doesn't roll, but the dark color can make it hard to spot if it ends up behind the couch.

Washability: 5/5

Dishwasher-safe, of course. The lack of curves and corners makes it really easy to scrub.

Hoardability: 2/5

Exciting enough to drag off to the lair, but boring once empty. SafeMade makes a lot of non-stuffable chew toys that Briz would find completely useless because he doesn't chew anything that doesn't involve food.

Total: 32/45

Not a bad product, this one has joined my collection of stuffable toys that live in the freezer. Still haven't tried baking anything into it, though.

Puzzle Toy: Kong Quest Starpod

In my ongoing quest to keep Brisbane occupied, I own, have owned, or plan to own pretty much every food-dispensing toy on the market. It's worth mentioning that the number of toys I haven't tried is definitely the minority even as manufacturers introduce new products.

Admittedly the bright colors are mostly for my own benefit.

The Kong company is much-loved by dog owners everywhere. Their products are a staple of basic
dog behavior management, and Kong is a household name. Their product line is forever growing, and they recently introduced a couple of new toys that look like a lot of fun. The Kong Quest Starpod comes in two sizes and several colors, I have a large purple one.

The Starpod features a large central well and eight smaller satellite wells. The central well only has one opening, but the smaller circles are open on both sides. When I first spotted this toy at the store, I pondered what exactly one would cram into it. The smaller holes are way too big to contain kibble, and the big one would be emptied as soon as the toy flipped over. The Kong video shows Kong-brand treats, both soft chewy treats and the stuff that comes in the spray can. I've considered getting some Cheez-Wiz for rapidly stuffing dog toys, but my husband would probably eat it instead.

Stuffed with love. And sweet potatoes.

Stuffing all the little wells in the Starpod is actually kind of annoying. I usually end up using my fingers to smear stuff around the walls of the small wells and hoping it sticks. Microwaves sweet potato is a food toy staple around here because pretty much everything in the house will eat them (dogs, birds, turtles...) but Brisbane isn't madly in love with them. Our food toys usually end up stuffed with sweet potato, peanut butter, and occasionally leftovers.

I did find that I could stuff a very specific size of biscuit into the wells of the Starpod. It has to be small enough to fit in there, and big enough not to fall out immediately. The California Natural biscuits worked pretty good when I broke them in half, but that's an awful lot of effort for something Brisbane is going to pop out nearly as fast. It may have taken Brisbane a full five minutes to figure out how to get the first one out, and maybe 15 minutes total to get them all.

Doesn't everyone have a drawer of stuffed toys in their freezer?

Puzzle Toy Rating

Capacity: 2/5 

I can probably fit half a cup of squishy stuff in the big well.

Loading Speed: 1/5

It takes as long to smear each little circle with peanut butter as it takes Brisbane to lick it all off if the toy is frozen first.

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 3/5

Josie spent quite a while slurping each individual circle clean.

Unloading Speed (superdog): 1/5

Sometimes I am too lazy to fill this toy.

Durability: 3/5

It's not hard rubber, and I wouldn't give it to a recreational chewer. 

Size: 4/5

Comes in two sizes, and wouldn't be a choking hazard for a nondestructive large dog.

Noise: 5/5

Blissful silence, except for all the slurping.

Locatability: 4/5

Might get nosed under the furniture, but it's not the type of toy that encourages nosing so it's pretty safe. I usually find it in Brisbane's livingroom lair. 

Washability: 3/5

It would probably go through the dishwasher just fine, but I don't have a dishwasher and scrubbing all those nooks and crannies is annoying.

Hoardability: 4/5

Brisbane typically drags it away to empty it, but then ignores it.

Total: 30/50

It's pretty novel, and I'm sure it amuses Brisbane to forage for peanut butter in all those little circles, but this toy sort of annoys me. Good thing it's cute. I'm pretty sure Kong designed these things to be attractive to humans more than anything else.

Puzzle Toy! Treat Jack

Brisbane didn't eat out of a bowl for the first few years of his life. I firmly believe that just handing a dog a bowl of food is a waste of a perfectly good opportunity for enrichment. Briz is incredibly intelligent, and defeats most food toys in a matter of minutes. I like to keep him busy by trying new and different toys whenever I find them.

This is the Grriggles FUNdamentals Treat Jack. It is made from sturdy nylon (or maybe plastic, not totally sure there
is actually a difference) and is not tooth-cracking hard. It kind of reminds me of a Nylabone. Each side has triangular flaps forming a half sphere. The flaps are somewhat flexible, but didn't bend enough for me to shove a California Naturals biscuit through them. I could wedge the cookie halfway in. I could also drop pieces of kibble through the flaps without needing to bend them. I'm not entirely certain I could stuff this thing with peanut butter without getting it everywhere.

I originally shoved a couple of biscuits in the thing so they were sticking out. Brisbane rolled the toy around for a few minutes before picking it up by one of its arms and taking it to his livingroom lair. He had it emptied in maybe a minute. Next I tried a few pieces of kibble, he rolled it around and found that they fell out with minimal effort. Again, emptied in minutes. This is a nice quiet toy, we have some hard plastic kibble-dropping toys that are incredibly noisy so this was a nice change.

The Treat Jack doesn't have much capacity, it might take a quarter cup of kibble at most, dropped in one piece at a time. Capacity and loading versus unloading time are my biggest considerations for puzzle toys. Can I fit an entire meal in it? Does it take more time for me to fill then it does for the dog to empty it? This partly depends on the dog.

Josie was my next product tester, she spent several minutes sniffing and licking the toy before she experimented with nosing it around the floor. Once she discovered that it dropped food, she spent ten minutes carefully rolling the jack and eating the kibble one piece at a time. Josie has a very thoughtful and logical approach to food toys, and if getting the food out is too difficult she is likely to give up. I kind of assume this is what life is like with a normal dog. Brisbane is more of a frantic dog-genius who can empty anything in mere moments and quickly gets frustrated if he can't figure it out instantly. Obviously different toys get different results for these two. Meanwhile, Ru will barely eat enough to survive when coaxed, bribed, and forced. If he had to work for it he'd probably just starve.

Puzzle Toy Rating

Capacity: 1/5
This is about a small as it gets.

Loading Speed: 1/5
One. Kibble. At. A. Time.

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 3/5
Not bad.

Unloading Speed: (superdog): 1/5
Took longer to stuff than it did for him to empty.

Durability: 4/5
Ru the chihuahua is my only recreational chewer so this is really just a guess. I suspect a really powerful chewer would have those little arms off in a few minutes, but otherwise is seems pretty sturdy.

Size: 4/5
If Ru cared about puzzle toys he could probably manage to enjoy this one, and it didn't seem undersized for Josie either. I wouldn't give it to a power-chewing bulldog or a Great Dane.

Noise: 5/5
Brisbane brought it out to join us while we were watching a movie and the toy was totally silent while he rolled it around.

Locatability: 5/5
Briz carried it around a bit, but it isn't going to roll under the furniture and disappear forever.

Total: 24/40
I'm not going to be feeding meals out of this thing, or expecting it to hold their attention in a stressful situation, but it's a novely that can keep them quietly occupied for a few minutes at least.