Therefore, Send Not to Know for Whom the Bell Tolls, It Tolls for Thee*

  

      A few months ago I saw an item at Mollie's Pup-Purr-ee in Danville that I knew had the potential to simplify my life.  After some consideration I decided on the leopard print (from the "Classic Personality Collection") and I headed home to install the item.  Set-up was simple at home and I read the directions carefully so I would know just how to introduce this item to my dog, Xena.
     This is the point at which I will spoil the suspense and just tell you that the item is called "Poochie Bells" and it is basically 4 jingle bells strategically placed on approximately 24 inches of decorative ribbon.  The idea behind Poochie Bells is for your dog to learn to ring the bells and thus signal to you that he or she needs to go out.  No more "accidents by the door" the website claims although accidents weren't my dog's problem- I just wanted to know when she needed to go out.
     So I began training Xena to use the Poochie Bells.  Every time that I saw her standing by the door I would gently touch her nose to the bells so that they softly jingled.  I won't say that she got the concept overnight but we persevered and soon the day came when I observed her jingling the bells without my interference. Recalling that specific moment I have a picture of her face as she somewhat tentatively brushed the bells- her expression was speculative but also contained the dawning realization of what she had just done.  I believe that she thought at this moment how this item had the potential to simplify her life.  At that time I was so very proud of my dog and I hastened to open the door for her.
     Now, I have always known how infinitely trainable dogs are.  I know that so well that I also know it is advisable as an owner to keep one step ahead of your dog.  It wasn't long before Xena was making use of the Poochie Bells seemingly every waking minute.  Requests to go out happened principally when I happened to be at the computer and so within sight of the door.  Requests to go back outside seconds after having been let out were frequent.  The jingling of the Poochie Bells (jingle, jingle, JINGLE) was often accompanied by a pointed stare at myself and jingling became more insistent (JINGLE, JINGLE, JINGLE) if my response was not quick enough.  Once I realized that I was the one being trained I contemplated linking the bells to some other task in order to turn the training back on to her.  By that time, however, I was really sick of the jingling (and I like all things Christmas- thanks Xena!) and I put the bells away.  You could say that I threw in the towel at that point.  Score= Xena-1, Laura-0.
     If Xena were human she might be wondering why the training seemed to be going so well only to have her owner lose interest.  It's all about motivation and reward for both of us.  I thought that Xena was rewarded for jingling the bells by the act of me opening the door and letting her out.  It was my mistaken belief that by putting the Poochie Bells into action I was initiating and shaping my dog's behavior.  Little did I realize that my dog was shaping MY behavior at the same time by initiating the jingling.  That realization (and the jingling) took some of the reward out of it for me, I have to admit.
     I don't mind being bested by my dog.  She is smart and observant and I know that.  The bells are up on a counter, far away from the door.  Now if I happen to jingle the bells by accident Xena shoots me a perky look.  She's ready to start the training again.  I think I'd like to get through the holidays first.

The Cats are Happy! The Fun Kitty Egg-Cersizer by Premier

     We have been waiting patiently for this toy to arrive.  Our anticipation was very keen because it is a new product from Premier Pet and we like Premier.  Additionally, this particular toy has the added advantage of being highly recommended by the U.C. Davis Behavior Service, a fact which I discovered while doing an internship with them in April.  Could it really be far superior to Premier's own Fun Kitty Twist N' Treat?  I was itching to find out.




     Well, the Egg-Cersizer is more than just a plaything.  As well as being an interactive treat-dispensing toy you can use it to feed your cat his meals.  I found that my rabbit likes it, too.
     In a previous blog (February 2010) we reviewed Premier's Fun Kitty Twist 'N Treat.  The idea was simple- load the toy with kibble or treats, set the opening to easy or more difficult, show your cat that the toy contains food and away you go.  The Twist 'N Treat is able to contain about 1/8 cup of kibble or treats.  It's spaceship shape and relatively small size makes it easy for your cat to swat it across the floor.  Definite fun as a treat dispenser but what if your cat's meal is say, 1/4 cup?  Two Twist 'N Treats?  You can do that or you can get the Egg-Cersizer.
     The Egg-Cersizer is, well, egg-shaped and has some generous and adjustable holes around the top.  It also has a tabbed exit for kibble at the bottom (think Squirrel Dude).  It can easily hold a meal's worth of kibble which makes it ideal for feeding your cat.  This can be great for the very food-driven cat.  If you have a food-driven cat you already know that free-feeding is a disaster if you want the cat to remain a healthy weight.  Even if you feed a reduced calorie food your cat will still overeat.  The Egg-Cersizer can be a great way to make your chubby cat work a little for his meal.  While he is burning some calories batting the toy around he is also exercising his brain and this makes for a happier cat.
     Our guest reviewer, Sluggo, took on the Egg-Cersizer recently.  Amy, his owner, set the toy to the easiest setting (all holes open) initially until Sluggo got the hang of what to do to enable the kibble to escape.  When Sluggo was consistently getting an easy payoff Amy gradually closed the holes to make the toy more challenging.  Well, Sluggo was already hooked so he didn't notice that he had been working a little harder to get the kibble.  Now Sluggo gets his meals via the Egg-Cersizer.  We don't know whether he has lost any weight but he is, at least, entertained at mealtimes now.
     The Egg-Cersizer comes with complete instructions on how to stuff it and how to best introduce it to your cat.  They stress that you first observe how your cat reacts to the toy before you stuff it and walk away.  You don't want your cat to become frustrated and lose interest.
     We give the Egg-Cersizer an Excellent as to playability.  I think it is easily workable as a toy or a meal dispenser.  Durability is also Excellent as long as it is used correctly and it's use is supervised initially.  Safety is also Excellent as there doesn't seem to be any way in which a cat could become entangled in the toy or bite parts off.  The only question with this toy is- How many you will need?

August 27th Bark & Brew Highlights with my reviewer, Xena and friend , Lili. Part 1/2

August 27th Bark & Brew Highlights, Part 2/2

You Had Me At Woof Photography by Pam Biasotti

You Had Me At Woof Photography by Pam Biasotti. Pam is an extremely talented photographer who clearly enjoys making canine portraits. She was able to catch expressions that I didn't even know Xena had!  Get to know her better- check out her blog.

Bark & Brew at Murphy's Paw

Welcome to Murphy's Paw

Bark & Brew this Friday August 27th, 6PM- 9PM. Drinks and refreshments for you and your canine companion. Donations benefit Tri-Valley Animal Rescue.

Squirrel Dude Product Description - Premier Pet

Squirrel Dude Product Description - Premier Pet

King Kong Has A New Friend

     

     He's deceptively cute, innocent even.  But this is no Beatrix Potter squirrel.  Think Rocky of Rocky and Bullwinkle or better yet the squirrel in your own backyard that taunts your dog from the safety of the fence.  He's The Dude, the Squirrel Dude and he's here to steal some play time from King Kong. 

     Well, you know he's from the Busy Buddy line of toys from Premier Pet Products because he's purple.  Premier has an astounding variety of innovative and effective toys for dogs.  As a matter of fact, to label them  toys is a bit simplistic given that they serve as enrichment for your dog and even assist in behavioral modification. Why purple?  Who knows.  Who doesn't like purple?                                                            

     In many respects the Squirrel Dude seems to be a squirrel shaped Kong- hard rubber, large hole in the bottom, small hole in the top.  The secret of Squirrel Dude's complexity is the presence of tabs across the large hole in the bottom.  These tabs make it very difficult to extract treats from the toy.  As per instructions these tabs may be removed to make the treat acquisition easier for your dog.  I removed one of the tabs and my reviewer, Xena was still unable to access any treats.  In order to give the Dude a fair shake it was clear that we needed to enlist some dedicated chewers.  Ruby and Dudley Young volunteered to work over this most challenging of treat dispensing toys.

     At first Amy (Dudley and Ruby's owner) loaded the Dude with some larger square shaped pieces of kibble.  This presented some difficulty as the tabs effectively prevented the larger odd-sized pieces of kibble from escaping.  Dudley lost interest in the Dude when he realized that treats would not be forthcoming.  Amy then tried some smaller, round pieces of kibble and these Dudley was able to coax out of the toy.  The Squirrel Dude occupied Dudley for quite an impressive amount of time.  Being somewhat single-minded regarding food Dudley was not going to rest until all treats had been consumed.  After the Dude was emptied, Dudley relinquished the toy to Ruby who found satisfaction in chewing the empty version.
     Based on the positive experience of my guest reviewers I would have to rate the Squirrel Dude as Excellent as to Playability.  It has the potential to captivate all levels of food-motivated dogs.  It can be made
an easy treat dispenser by removing all of the tabs on the bottom hole and more challenging by only removing some.  If you have an intensely food- focused dog like Dudley the toy in its original form is the way to go.  Just remember to pack in treats or kibble that can exit the tabbed bottom hole.
     Durability I think is Good.  The Squirrel Dude, unlike the Kong, only comes in one "strength."  It is unknown whether a determined dog might be able to chew a piece off.  However, it is recommended for strong chewers and Premier affirms that "its extreme durability holds up well under the toughest chewers."
     Safety I think is Excellent.  The Squirrel Dude comes in three sizes and so needs to be matched correctly to the size of the dog.  I would recommend observing how your dog interacts with the toy before leaving him alone with it.
     All in all the Squirrel Dude demonstrates that it is not just a Kong copy.  The idea behind the two treat dispensing toys is similar.  They both serve to occupy the dog's time by providing a not too readily obtainable food source.  The Kong may be stuffed with just about anything- dry food, treats, canned food, peanut butter, etc. and can even be stuffed and frozen to provide a longer treat extracting experience.  How challenging the experience will be is determined by how the owner stuffs the toy.  The Squirrel Dude is meant to be stuffed with small kibble or treats that will be metered out as the tabs on the bottom hole allow.  The toy itself and your dog's interaction with it determines how quickly the treats are dispensed.  Stuffing the toy with larger treat items will necessitate removing some, if not all of the tabs.  If all of the tabs are removed it will then be used like a Kong.  I recommend having one of each type of toy.  Stuff and freeze a Kong one day and the next day offer your dog a Squirrel Dude packed with some of his regular kibble.  After all isn't variety the spice of life?

Rabbits...Finally!!! Pooka and the Cat Pyramid

  

     Our lack of rabbit toy reviews reflects the relative poverty of rabbit toys available to the rabbit owner.  Toys for rabbits fall into two categories- items that can be rolled, bounced, chewed and eventually deconstructed and items that can be rolled, bounced, flung and not destroyed.  RABBITS LOVE TOYS.  I will even make a point to state that RABBITS NEED TOYS.  If rabbits are not provided with suitable items on which to unleash their energy they will make do with what is available to them in their environment.  If the rabbit is a house rabbit available items may include television remote controls, wires and cables of any kind, furniture, drywall, rugs and whatever is left within their reach.  Even perpetually caged rabbits will attempt to find some fun in flinging food dishes, dismantling water bottles and mangling litterboxes.  Rabbits do have a propensity to chew and certainly household items that could pose a danger to them should be "rabbit-proofed" for their protection but what's a rabbit to do when its environment is rendered sterile?  The fortunate rabbit has an interested owner that is willing to provide fun and mental stimulation in the form of toys.
     Within the category of rollable, bounceable, flingable toys that can't be destroyed we can include toys that dispense treats.  These are a particular favorite of my rabbit, Pooka.  We have used Small Animal Treat Balls for years to dispense Pooka's daily ration of alfalfa pellets.  Sadly, I haven't been able to find these in stores for a while now.  The balls have an adjustable opening to allow or restrict the exit of the pellets.  These balls can be rolled but not flung or bounced and have served their purpose as a basic treat dispensing toy.  Could Nina Ottosson perhaps come up with any improvements?  Well, yes she could as a matter of fact.  It's called the Cat Pyramid.  Despite the name it is also labeled for other small pets such as the rabbit and guinea pig.

      The Cat Pyramid is hard plastic and the base is weighted so that the toy will always right itself.  There is one hole into which treats/ alfalfa pellets are inserted (like the Dog Pyramid).  In my previous review of the Dog Pyramid I noted that my reviewers found that toy to be very challenging.  One hole that is always at the top of the Pyramid did not allow the escape of very many treats.  My dogs soon lost interest in the meager payback.  I was keen to see how a rabbit would approach this toy.

  

     The Cat Pyramid is a hit with Pooka right out of the gate.  She found that flinging the toy immediately produced results.  One problem with the Small Animal Treat Ball is that it tends to roll under furniture where Pooka is unable to reach it.  Happily the weighted bottom of the Cat Pyramid prevents it from rolling away so it tends to stay put when it is flung.  Because the toy always rights itself with the hole at the top it compels the rabbit (or cat or guinea pig) to actively engage in moving it.  A simple nudge will not elicit treats.
     Playability is rated Excellent by my reviewer.  We have not had the toy for very long but Durability seems also to be Excellent.  Safety is also Excellent if used according to the directions.  Warning on the packaging states that this toy is to be used under supervision so the rabbit is not to be left alone with the Cat Pyramid.  I suspect that Pooka would lose interest in the toy once she had been successful at extracting all the pellets but you just never know what a rabbit will choose to chew.
     This is the tip of the iceberg for rabbit toys.  We will continue to explore and review.  Pooka is currently experimenting with Clicker Training (Karen Pryor Clickertraining) and enjoying the heck out of it.  Can  Rabbit Show Jumping be far behind?
 

The Kong Wobbler

     Just saw the Kong Wobbler today.  Strangely reminiscent of the Dog Pyramid by Nina Ottosson.  I foresee a face off between the two...

And the Winner is......

Scratch Lounge | Catnip

The Catnip Trials

  

     Well honestly, I didn't expect this. Frankly I'm relieved that no wagers were placed backing my assumptions.  My reviewers flat out proved me wrong- this time about the type of catnip they prefer.
     You may recall that in December I was lamenting the absence of fresh catnip.  My catnip plants had all gone to seed in my back yard and I just wasn't able to find any form of the substance that would provoke any insanity out of my cats.  Their response to the dry herb that I was able to procure was fairly lukewarm.  It was plain that the Kong Cats With an Attitude Catnip toys needed to be tested with the fresh stuff in order to make the review complete.  After all, what could be better than fresh?

     After nurturing a plant this Spring and Summer we are now back in the catnip business and I felt we could perform a fair test.  We loaded three Kong Cats With an Attitude Catnip toys with three types of catnip- home grown fresh, Scratch Lounge brand 100% Natural Premium Canadian dried catnip and Catnip Mini Yeowww! brand dried catnip (source unknown).  Mack, and then Pinkie were presented with all three toys at once so that they could each make their selections.  The videos will show the type preferred.  Both of my reviewers eventually found themselves compelled to carry off the toy (the lamb) containing the Scratch Lounge dried catnip. Mack enjoyed all three before making his selection while Pinkie homed in on her favorite right away. Sure, the little canister is pretty but is this particular dried herb really better than fresh?  I guess so.  I don't know what they're doing to their catnip in Canada but whatever it is Mack and Pinkie like it.  I was quite disappointed.  I was of course rooting for the home grown favorite.

Victoria on the Today Show 8/5�|�Victoria Stilwell Positively

Victoria on the Today Show 8/5�|�Victoria Stilwell Positively

First Wednesday Street Fair and Pooch Parade in Pleasanton

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Informational Website for Nina Ottosson Interactive Toys

Nina Ottosson Interactive Toys

Source for Nina Ottosson toys: Paw Lickers Bakery & Boutique

Puzzles & Games | Paw Lickers Bakery & Boutique

Nina Ottosson, Again.

     Today my reviewers are exploring a variation on Nina Ottosson's (www.nina-ottosson.com) Dog Pyramid called the "Dog Dizzy."  The Dog Dizzy ("It Rolls and Twists") is another interactive treat dispensing toy offered by the Swedish dog toy maker.  We filled the Dizzy with a variety of treats and gave it a spin.
     The original reservation about the the Dog Pyramid was that it righted itself rather too aggressively and tended to hit the unsuspecting dog in the head.  The narrowed top also made it very easy for a bigger dog to pick up and carry away.  There was one hole only in the top of the Pyramid which made it at once laborious to insert treats and challenging to extract them.  On the plus side the wider weighted bottom of the Pyramid made it easy for the dog nose or foot to push over increasing the chances that with gravity and a great deal of luck a treat would manage to pop out.

     I wish I could say that the Dog Dizzy is a vast improvement over the Dog Pyramid.  It still has the one treat escape/insert hole, the toy is weighted at the bottom and is constructed of the same hard plastic.  The shape, however,  is radically different being sort of a ball with the top and bottom flattened.  Not being completely round makes the toy reluctant to roll and less rolling means less treats escaping.  My reviewers found it very frustrating.  At first I loaded the Dizzy with regular kibble and interest was keen until no kibble was escaping.  To renew interest I then added some high value training treats.  The Dizzy was then poked, prodded and bitten before interest waned again when no treats were seen.  Just a lazy day for my reviewers?  No initiative to use the higher canine brain functions?  I have to admit that for my reviewers (canine and feline) the Dog Dizzy was a bit of a dud.
     To recap the Dog Dizzy rates a Poor as to Playability.  It has to be said that MY reviewers found it lacking and the Dizzy might find a more enthusiastic audience in the insanely food motivated dog- the Labrador perhaps?  The Durability seems to be Excellent if the item is not gnawed upon.  This is an interactive toy and your dog should play with it under human supervision only.  Safety is also Excellent if used properly, again under supervision.
     The success of  treat dispensing toys as a whole seems to be a balancing act between being too challenging and not challenging enough.  An intermittent reward is the most potent reinforcer (think Vegas slot machines) for dog and human alike.  You have to applaud Nina Ottosson's dedication to unlocking the potential of the canine mind.  Dog toys are simple?- I think not.

Pinkie Doing Homework

      Pinkie is using a new process to select the next toy to review.  There's a fresh crop of catnip, some new toys by Kong and for the dogs, Nina Ottosson of course!

Cheese Chase

     Ah, what cat isn't tempted by the thrill of the chase?  If the prey isn't easily had it's even more fun!  That's the idea behind the Cheese Chase toy by Petstages (http://www.petstages.com/).  It's a one-stop-shopping playstation for your cat.  Our guest reviewer is Lester Weber.  Lester is six months old- at an age when everything has "play" written all over it.
     Cheese Chase is a new incarnation of the old favorite track and ball circuit.  The cat is able to spin the ball around the track but is unable to actually get the ball out.  In my experience the novelty wears off pretty fast with this type of toy once the cat figures out that the ball is going nowhere.  Cheese Chase has added another level on top of the track loaded with another unobtainable ball. This time the ball is accessible through swiss cheese- like holes on the top.  This is topped off with a batta- ball catnip filled mouse.

     Lester rates this toy Good for playability.  The two levels provide a little variety, as does the catnip mouse.  The toy has rubber grips on the bottom which render it stationary on either a hard or carpeted surface.  The toy seems durable and Lester rates it Good for this as well.  We are not sure if the mouse on the stick could survive rough play so we'll have to see.  Safety-wise the toy seems also Good- there are no loose parts to break off.  All in all this seems like a great little time occupier for your kitten.  My adult reviewers have not tested this toy so we will have to report back on its attractiveness to the more mature cat.

     Petstages has a wide range of what they term "Developmental" toys for cats and dogs.  The toys are grouped according to whether they are used for Soothing, Chewing, Interacting or Playing.  They also have a selection of dog and cat bowls for feeding.  The aim of the company is to educate owners about the importance of enriching the environment of their pets and then to provide objects that will do so.  A worthy goal indeed.  We will definitely revisit Petstages to try out more toys.

We've Been Busy!

 

Pinkie is taking a much deserved rest after helping to test several toys.  

Fun Kitty Twist 'N Treat by Premier

      We're back after our holiday hiatus and eager to share some new toy experiences.  Our reviewers have not been idle and have been dutifully testing, testing, testing.  Our guest reviewers have also been busy checking out some new things.  As mentioned at Christmas, Lil Mac Vida volunteered to help us out by testing the Fun Kitty Twist 'N Treat by Premier.  Premier Pet Products (www.premier.com) offers a wide range of toys and gear for dogs and cats. They are primarily known for their treat dispensing "Busy Buddy" dog toys recognizable by their purple hue.  Today we are reviewing a product from their "Fun Kitty" line.
     The Twist 'N Treat is a treat dispensing toy for cats.  I'm excited about this toy for a couple of reasons.  Sure, it can just be a toy for your kitty and a fun way for you as an owner to give treats.  What makes the Twist 'N Treat important is that it can function as a food dispenser similar to the canine Kong toy.  There are instructions with the toy outlining how to get your cat to enjoy working for his or her meals.  Cats are hunters and it can be argued that free-feeding or grazing on food throughout the day is a more natural way for them to eat.  How about letting them hunt for their meals by introducing a toy that will dispense treats while being batted around?  You can even hide multiple Twist 'N Treats around the house for your cat to "hunt" after they're up to speed on how it works.  As I mentioned, Premier gives you a guide on how to get started and a timeline for getting your cat comfortable with the new feeding method.  It's about time that some thought was given to environmental enrichment for cats beyond the obligatory cat trees and furry mice.
     Enough about the background of the product.  Let's talk about how it actually functions.  The toy itself is hard plastic and turquoise in color.  It consists of two halves that screw together leaving a hollow cavity that can be filled with kibble or treats.  Each half has two indentations that when properly aligned form two openings from which treats can escape.  The tighter the halves are screwed together, the smaller the openings are and the more difficult it is for treats to exit.  The directions instruct the owner to initially set the openings wide so that your cat gets an easy payoff.  After your cat gets focused on the treat delivery you can make the openings smaller so he or she has to work a little harder.  The shape of the toy when closed is almost like that of a child's toy top and is readily able to be spun, batted and flung around on the floor. In the first video below Lil Mac Vida shows how to approach the Twist 'N Treat and gently coax it to give up it's treasure.  In the second video Mack and Pinkie show how the toy functions on a tile floor.
     My reviewers rate this toy an Excellent for Playability.  The shape of the toy makes it easy to maneuver and the amount of treats dispensed can be controlled.  The interior of  the toy holds a little bit more than 1/8 cup of kibble so your cat can't get into too much trouble even if the toy is stuffed.  Durability is Excellent as it can withstand vigorous cat play and can also be washed and dried (no heat) in the dishwasher.  Safety is Excellent as there are no bits for the cat to chew off and ingest.  Just make sure that in using the Twist 'N Treat you don't make it available to your dog as it is not dog proof.  Premier states that the toy is not considered to be "indestructible"and they advise you to "supervise your pet during initial play."  They also recommend inspecting the toy regularly and to "replace if excessive damage is detected." 
     The Twist 'N Treat is a must have for the Toy Chest as much for it's immediate fun as for it's potential to make a cat's life a little more exciting.  We are glad that Premier made this version expressly for cats as a rubber dog version exists in their dog product line.  As if the product didn't do enough, they proclaim that it is "Also awesome with catnip."  Well, what isn't?