The Wobbler That Keeps on Giving The treat dispenser by Kong has a weighted base that keeps it upright just like those inflatable clown you can punch. Would this actually be fun for a dog or would my dog want to just punch it in frustration? Fun Factor Initially my dog Eli did not know what to do with the Kong ...
Your Dog Says Drop the Mike Finding a decent treat dispenser isn’t always easy. Some are too big or small for your dog or the dog treats you want to use. The Kong Genius Mike combines a well-sized dispenser with room for most treats to fit in.Fun FactorWhat I really like about this treat dispenser was the size and ...
It’s Literally A-Maze-BallsI was drawn to the Orbee Tuff Mazee toy by Planet Dog as it had an original design and combines a treat dispenser with a 3D puzzle maze. It was a stand out compared to generic dog treat dispensers in that the dog would really have to work at it to figure out how to get the treats out and as ...
Watch Your Dog and Home with FurboThe Furbo camera for pet comes fully loaded with a camera, treat dispenser, sound notifications, night vision and even a handy night light. It certainly has a lot to offer for you and your dog as well as adding safety and security, but is it the best dog camera? There are a lot of ...
Regular dog toys are passive – they sit and do nothing no matter what you do. Interactive dog toys on the other hand respond to specific actions taken by the dog playing with them. There can also be various responses that change according to each toy’s design. Interactivity is a feature and less of classification; the toys sorted into this category have different approaches or solutions to their challenges. That provides your dog with different experiences every time they engage with the toys.
Chew toys, for example, have a linear and limited interaction. These dog toys can also be designed to present a dog with various challenges and create engagement through the learning experience such as ones with a cavity to put treats into. Treat toys can be interactive, especially when they’re made with a puzzle feature.
When talking about smart dog toys, we’re looking at dog toys with advanced features that are usually digital. Those features are helpful to the dog and the owner in various ways. A simple example would be an automatic dog feeder that can come with a camera, microphone, speaker, and a mobile application with WIFI or Bluetooth functionality. Others can be complex machines with programmed controls, behaviors, and responses. Some smart dog toys can also make your dog smarter by presenting it with a challenge. The reward will most likely be tasty treats with the smell acting as strong encouragement for the dog to complete the task.
Not all of them are electronic dog toys, most of them are battery powered, but some can be made from simple materials like wood. Puzzle toys, a subset of smart dog toys, will usually be simple pet-safe materials with no advanced features or battery. Nina Ottosson’s line of dog toys are a perfect example of interactive dog toys that aren’t electronic.
Designing a compelling interactive dog toy is a difficult job. Combine that with the high cost of the electronic dog toy components leads to higher prices than say a rubber ball. The best options among all the interactive toys on the market are few and far between, making them feel super expensive compared with the plethora of cheaper and inferior ones as well. But even by the lower standards of those bottom-of-the-barrel products, they still cost more than twice as much as any other decent dog toy that isn’t interactive. Chances are, however, that your dog will spend more time on average with something interactive if they connect with it and are more engaged.
