I realize that I may have done my greyhound an injustice by stating that he is totally disinterested in toys. His interaction with the Dog Pyramid has shown that he is not totally immune to the allure of certain toys. Hobbes is a ten year old retired racer. He loves treats, the dog park, sleeping in the big chair and riding in Elaine's Rialta. I was surprised to see that he had some interest in the problem solving toys so we will welcome his input in the future. If he gets out of the big chair to check out a toy we know it has the potential to be a winner.
We've barely scratched the surface of the treasure trove of treat dispensing toys that Nina Ottosson (http://www.nina-ottosson.com//) has on offer. The Dog Pyramid is our second subject for testing. It looks deceptively simple to operate but don't underestimate the ability of this unassuming toy to challenge your dog. It is devilishly difficult.
Outwardly the Pyramid is distinctly different from the Tornado. It is hard plastic, not wood. It is, with some imagination, vaguely pyramidal. The hollow center can be loaded with treats through a hole near the top of the toy. The weighted bottom and rounded shape enable the toy to right itself after every attempt to tip it over. In its own way it is a puzzle because the dog (or cat) needs to figure out how to keep the treats coming. With one hole for the treats to come out of the payoff is not immediate and when it happens it is short lived. No sooner does your dog obtain a treat then the toy is up again, ready for action, rather like a prize fighter who refuses to stay down after a knockout blow. Is your dog up to going a few rounds with the Pyramid, the Rocky Balboa of dog toys?
Hobbes and Xena volunteered to experiment with the Pyramid. The toy was first baited with small pieces of freeze dried liver and with kibble for the second session. There was slightly more enthusiasm for the liver initially as everyone (including the cat) was hot to get a treat. Enthusiasm waned, however when my testers discovered that, try as they might, liver delivery was infrequent. Payoff was a little better with the kibble as the pieces are larger and heavier. You don't have to be a genius in physics to grasp that when you have a few tiny objects flying around in a large hollow space with one small exit hole, you're not going to get one of the objects to fly out very often. Difficulty is compounded as the toy as previously mentioned just will not stay down to allow gravity to assist the exit of treats. Frustration with the Pyramid mounted with my testers and manifested in two different behaviors. Xena walked away from the toy and Hobbes decided to take matters into his own hands (or mouth) and attempt to force the Pyramid to give up its treasure. The video shows Hobbes' behavior. This is one of the reasons that this toy is labeled as an interactive toy only to be played with under the supervision of the owner. You never know how your dog will react when faced with this level of frustration.
Overall my reviewers would rate this toy Good for Playability. Notwithstanding my dogs' frustration I'm sure they would tackle the Pyramid again. Hobbes and Xena, at 68 lbs and 26 lbs respectively, were easily able to knock the toy over but I could see that a small dog might have a problem getting the Pyramid to horizontal. Some treat delivery toys such as the Buster Cube and Premier's Twist and Treat are able to be adjusted to vary the frequency at which the treats are discharged. The Pyramid with its static hole at the top is just not a very giving toy. Therein lies its charm.
I think the durability of the Pyramid is Excellent if used properly with supervision. Safety likewise is Excellent if used with supervision. A dedicated chewer might be able to break the Pyramid if left unattended- a potentially serious safety issue for your dog as the toy is hard plastic and the pieces would be sharp and might cause a GI obstruction if ingested.
My reviewers may never solve the mysteries of the Pyramid but no matter. The greatest fun is always in the attempt, is it not?
We are back from the land of the flu and we're itching to try some new toys! Before we jump into the newness I wanted to see how my reviewers here at home would fare with the Dog Tornado toy by Nina Ottosson.
If you recall the Tornado was no match for Kirah Lopez. I received the Dog Smart blocks that make the toy more difficult from Paw Lickers (http://www.pawlickers.com/). More on Kirah's experience with the revised Tornado later.
My review team was immediately interested in the Tornado. It seemed to be a hit with both the cat and dog team members. Even Hobbes the greyhound was excited, although less so when the Tornado was filled with his regular kibble. Mack the cat held his own with Xena the whippet and they exhibited the kind of interspecies cooperation that warms a mother's heart. My reviewers would rate this toy Excellent for playability although I would have to say that after the first couple of rounds they needed a bit more of a challenge. Again the toy has Excellent durability if used properly with supervised play. Safety is also Excellent if used properly. Placing it on a non skid surface such as a mat or rug will stabilize the Tornado, making it less likely to carom about your floor. Again, be careful not to drop the toy on anything that you would mind injuring.
The next step is to increase the degree of difficulty for my reviewers. I anticipate that the Dog Smart blocks may pose a problem for the cats!
Is it a box? A basket (or collection of baskets)? An actual chest? Where do your dog and cat toys repose? Are they safely locked away until the next playtime or are they a readily accessible smorgasbord for your pet? We show Portia Davis and her toy basket. Portia will show us later why Kong is King!
