Kruuse Buster Cube Dog Toy Large Cherry Interactive Treat Dispensing Puzzle Feeder for Dogs Durable Mentally Stimulating Enrichment

My dogs (an Australian Shepherd and a hound mutt) both love this toy. I feed them part of their meals from it, and they'll toss the cubes around until every last piece is out. My hound can just barely pick it up and carry it (the large size helps prevent it from being a chew toy like many other puzzles we've tried), but for the most part they roll and fling them around. I found it difficult to remove the center piece at first, but once I figured it out it was easy. This is NOT the toy for you and your dogs if you live in an apartment or other shared residence; we lovingly call buster cube time the "demolition derby" because these are LOUD, especially on hard floors. But we get peace after the dogs are done, because they usually settle down for a good nap after playing with these. Important note: we had one of these cubes break in half after several weeks of heavy use (for the record, we bought a black cube and a purple cube, and the purple one was the one that broke). We epoxied it back together and were able to get a few more uses out of it. Then, one of the dogs broke it again and ended up chewing the center piece. I don't fault the toy, because anything that's getting thrown around like these do will break eventually, but I'm hoping it doesn't happen again. That's something you'll have to watch out for, especially if your dogs are like mine and they use them frequently and are very rough on them. I've already purchased a replacement and my dogs and I are eagerly awaiting its arrival! Read more

My girl loves these, if I say "cube" she is ready to go. AND it is a joy to watch. I have had some trouble finding them. lately. Please continue to offer them. I don't think Christmas would be the same without one for her to open. Read more

Your dog will love this cube. It offers much stimulation and fun by simply filling with kibble size dog food or training treats. After a few sessions with kibble inside, your dog will want to play with it even when there's nothing inside. It is a little bit difficult to remove the "cover" for filling but this is a blessing in disguise. Since it's difficult for a human to remove, it's also difficult for a dog to remove as well as unlikely to come out accidentally. It's also slightly difficult to clean but it's very durable. I find that it's best used on a tile or hardwood floor since those surfaces allow it to bounce around like a die (1 is a die, 2 or more are dice). It actually has the die markings although they are a little difficult to see. On carpet it tends to slide around more. Although it works better and is more fun for the dog on a hard floor, it is also that much louder from the bouncing around on the hard floor. You may be a little annoyed by all of the clatter but the noise will also let you know that your dog is having so much fun. Read more

There's a lot to like about this feeder—it's a fantastic puzzle that outlived many, many other toys. Unfortunately, your dog may eventually discover its fatal flaw, so I'm hesitant to give it my full recommendation. For reference, this toy was purchased for an Australian Shepherd. HIGHLIGHTS: • Provides plenty of stimulation. • Appears to provide a genuine challenge. • I found it to be very helpful for dog anxiety! • The exterior shell is very durable. • Usable for treats and meals alike. DOWNSIDES: • It's okay on carpet, but horribly noisy on hardwood/tile. • Using chewy/wet/soft food makes it difficult to clean. • There's a critical weak point: the center post in the core. KRUUSE claims that the Buster Cube is "recommended by many animal behaviorists." I can believe that. The concept is excellent, and it does well with keeping your pup busy for MUCH longer than other toys. It can easily provide an hour of entertainment and activity. This was purchased to help calm an anxious Aussie that struggled with people leaving. When the pup was younger, any departure was met with cries and destructive behavior. A few different strategies were used to help with this, but the Buster Cube was absolutely one of the most helpful tricks, as it acted as an excellent distraction while walking out the door. The cube ended up being damaged beyond repair, though, and the center post is the culprit. It's a little bit tricky to lock it in place completely, because you either have to twist it shut from the outside (which is difficult, because there's nothing to help you rotate it) or jam your fingers into the core and try to use enough outward pressure—while rotating—to lock it. There's just not a good way to do it. Inevitably, the pup figured out how to remove the center post... and after doing that a few times, the post got chewed/damaged to the point where it would no longer lock in place. Taping the core isn’t an option because there is simply not enough of an edge on the lip of the core for tape to adhere to. The SOFT version of the Buster Cube (also made by KRUUSE) might be worth considering. I haven’t used it, so I can’t provide a full opinion on it, but reviews suggest that it’s a good alternative. If you’re looking for a good item to keep your dog’s brain busy, the Buster Cube is fantastic. Just be aware that it might not last forever. Read more