Treat dispensing dog toys cause huge debates in our home…
My husband thinks they’re cruel and he wears a scowl on his face whenever I fill them with treats for the Boys…
I tell him all the time –
Treat dispensing dog toys allow dogs to work for a little sumpin’ special and gain healthy mental and physical stimulation.
But the man of the house is not feeling it!
DO I LIKE THEM? –
If I’m going to be honest – not the ones I used to own.
They were small, round and they rolled all over the place.
For that reason – playing time was limited because I was always crawling on my hands and knees retrieving the thing from under furniture.
One day at the pet store – Jaxson fell in love with a Buster Food Cube Dog Toy – he wouldn’t let it go…
Because he looked so freaking cute cuddling it, like any respectable, irrational, obsessed pet parent – I walked out of there with two!…
PRO’S –
- It’s durable, and the large cubed shape prevents it from rolling under stuff!
- The shape makes it difficult to turn over therefore more challenging. #busydoodle
CON’S –
- It doesn’t roll – but it slides. #likeahockeypuck…
This of course reinforced Doodle Dad’s dislike. #morewierdfacialexpressions
Watch Harley playing with his cube…
Until it slid under the table…
When chewy.com sent them the Star Spinner Puzzle Dog Toy – it solved all of my problems with the exception of one….
It comes with 10 chambers that I can fill with treats.
Using their paws or noses – they learned quickly how to find the hidden treats…
Three tiers of of treats makes plenty of hidden places for both Harley and Jaxson to enjoy together…
They’ve even worked out their own system.
Jaxson does all the work while Harley lays and waits on the other side to reap the benefits.
Together (especially on rainy days) they’re happy Doodles entertaining themselves.
I also like that I can adjust the difficulty knob to make them work a little harder. #quiltypleasures
And here’s the best part –
IT DOESN’T SLIDE!
The last hurdle would be Doodle Dad himself. He hasn’t seen them play with the Star Spinner yet. I’m interested in his facial expression when he does. #inquiringminds
So how do you feel about treat dispensing dog toys?
Have a Doodle*tastic Weekend
In full disclosure: Groovy Goldendoodles™ is not being compensated for this review. We were asked to select products from chewy.com for Harley & Jax to enjoy. Groovy Goldendoodles™ only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. All opinions are my own, swayed only by Harley & Jaxson’s tail wagging approval. chewy.com is not responsible for the content of this post.
June 3, 2016
I love puzzle toys. There is actually a science out there that says dogs prefer to work for their meals and I agree. Zoe would rather get a puzzle toy than her food dumped into a dog bowl. Dogs need to forage for their food and the mental stimulation that these sorts of toys provide is awesome. Dogs generally get more tired from mental exercise than physical exercise. I honestly wish more people would utilize puzzle toys. I don’t think they should be fed in bowls.
June 3, 2016
I like the concept too, but I also think it depends on the dog. Jax? Absolutely. Harley? I think he’d look for another forever family LOL
June 3, 2016
Both of my girls love puzzle toys! The mental stimulation is really good for them. In addition to several different puzzle toys, they also love to play hide and seek. These games are especially important to them during the winter months when we don’t get out much. I just love your two doods…they are beautiful!!
Enjoy your weekend!!
June 3, 2016
I don’t do much hide and seek in the house, Jaxson gets too excited and with his size that could be dangerous. I enjoy reading your posts too, your bichons make me smile – so many people ask me if Harley’s a big bichon. It’s like somehow they’re cousins 🙂
June 3, 2016
Katie had a food ball as a little puppy and loved it. We still have it and until recently she enjoyed using it. Now she doesn’t have the balance to push it around. Bailie also loves food puzzles, Kongs, and the like. Me, I refuse to dip to that level. I would rather starve than work for my food or treats. We do also use interactive feeders and food dispensers for cat bro Bert who does really well with them.
June 4, 2016
Emma both you and Harley could be twins! LOL
June 3, 2016
I got Leroy a treat dispensing toy last year and he really likes it. I thought he would ignore it but he actually uses it until all the treats are out of it. Sherman isn’t a fan. He just lays there and waits for me to dump the treats out! Lol!
June 4, 2016
Sherman and Harley are cut from the same cloth. LOL
June 3, 2016
They look really cool!
Purrs xx
Athena and Marie
June 4, 2016
So far the Boys are having a great time working for a few tidbits of treats. I’m able to sip some tea and catch up on a little reading too!
June 3, 2016
We have a similar block that is many years old… Teutul thinks it’s da bomb!
June 4, 2016
That makes me feel good Nicole – our blocks should last a long time then!
June 3, 2016
Harley looked so cute just standing under the table! Oh, the facial expressions of men…they don’t really have to say anything, do they? LOL
These look like fun. We have a certain beagle that thinks all treats should be hers though (and also doesn’t think she should have to work for them), so we have to separate the crew in order to use these kinds of games so they don’t get used a lot.
June 4, 2016
I use them for inside entertainment when it rains. We’re so accustomed to being outside, if it rains we all look so confused and depressed. LOL So the treat toys are my port in the storm. And when it’s raining, Doodle Dad is also inside – hence the “look.”
June 3, 2016
Personally, I love the concept. BUT I have two dogs who do NOT like being approached by the other one when food – or treats – are in their bowls (or toys).
Even before Ducky came along, Shadow protected her food/treats from Callie. She would growl at Callie to warn her off, and if that didn’t work, they’d get into a bitey-face argument until Callie backed off. I never scolded Shadow for it; but did have to watch Callie for signs that she was about to approach Shadow’s bowl so I could steer her away from it.
So, since they otherwise played well together, I put those toys away. And most times now I forget I even have them for Shadow to use when Ducky’s at daycare.
June 4, 2016
I certainly understand. I was apprehensive when I tried them the first time. Jaxson is quite content letting Harley run the show, so there’s never any issues or confrontations. But I can imagine and empathize with you. Perhaps it becomes something special for Shadow when Ducky goes to doggie daycare.
June 3, 2016
I use them when Mr. N needs something to do for a while. He’s not highly food motivated though. I think he prefers training over food puzzles.
June 4, 2016
I only use them when it rains. We’re so used to being outside, when it rains we all (myself included) feel caged/crated.
June 3, 2016
I love treat dispensing toys! I got the Buster Cube when Kronos was a pup and it’s one of his favorites (and mine!). I have a cupboard full of different treat puzzles and use them a lot for mealtimes. I’ll put Bella, Terra, and Kronos in different rooms with their puzzles and they enjoy searching, rolling, and working for their food. Two thumbs up from me and all paws up from them 🙂
June 4, 2016
The Buster Cube is the best because of it’s size. I got the large on purpose, so it rolls into furniture and not under.
June 6, 2016
I like them! Pug is sedentary but he will work for food! We tried the Doggy Blocks toy and even though it didn’t involve rolling it around, he still got out of breath.
Now, Molly on the other hand takes a different approach. She waits for Pug to get the food out and then steals it, haha!
June 7, 2016
I love when there are two or more each one takes on their own roles. One is the hunter and the other is the recipient of the hard work LOL