Our Pets Smarter Toys IQ Treat Ball - Colors Mary Vary - 4 - for Larger Dogs

I bought the small version of this for my doxie mix and she LOVES it. Before buying this I had looked a lot of the options out there for toy feeders and this and the Busy Buddy Twist N Treat are my (and my dog's) two favorites. The good: --The best feature is the adjustable opening - this and the Twist N Treat are the only decent toy feeders with an adjustable opening that I've been able to find. It's a big plus since obviously a lot of the kibble and treats out there come in different sizes and with this feature you get to control how difficult the game will be for the dog. --It really does give the dog a good workout - comes in real handy for rainy days or other days when a good long walk is not an option. My dog will keep at it for a long time and looks fairly tuckered out if I let her eat a whole meal of kibble from it. This is a lifesaver b/c she recently underwent heartworm shots and is on strict bed-rest - no excitement, no strenuous activity, walking limited to one block - for 3 months (when the vet explained this I didn't know how we were going to get through it). This and the Busy Buddy Twist n Treat, which she also loves, are good for giving her a mental workout, occupying her time and expending energy in the absence of regular exercise. --Works great on both carpet and tile floors in our experience. Pretty sturdy; haven't had it come apart during use as of yet. --One plus over the Busy Buddy is that this thing makes a lot of noise when used - I guess this could be a downside depending on your preference, the reason I think it's a plus is that when I'm in another room and hear the treat ball rattling around I know the dog is occupied and not up to mischief (she's got a real talent for getting into things she shouldn't ;-). The less-than-good: --After just a few weeks the top plastic part is showing very small feather cracks (it's been banged against walls and furniture legs quite a bit and my dog is a pretty determined chewer), but don't look worrisome at this point because it looks like the plastic is pretty thick and probably wouldn't break. I'll keep you posted, though! That said, I still believe this is one of the best feeder toys out there. Tips/suggestions: --I think it's in the instructions, but you do need to make it a little easier for the dog at first (esp if s/he hasn't ever eaten out of a toy before) so s/he doesn't lose interest. My dog has eaten out of the Busy Buddy for months, so picking up how to use this was not real hard for her. I did still start easy by leaving the opening at the widest option. To make it super easy, you could, as I think another reviewer suggested, remove the inner plastic disc altogether. Read more

I had seen a friend with this toy for her dog. I asked if I could try it for my two dogs (mini schnauzer & chihuahua/pug mix). My dogs loved it! The only way they'll stop playing with it is if you pick it up or when they finally realize there aren't anymore treats available. I now own two of the 5" (which is really 4" in diameter) and one 3". If I know I'll be gone for a while, I'll load up all 3 and they'll have more than enough food/stimulation while I'm out. I am so satisfied with these toys, I looked up the manufacturer and purchased the Large Buster Food Cube. Why? -Simply for variety. The Buster doesn't get quite as good of a following from my dogs as the ball, but it has its own advantages. The chips seen in another reviewers photo(s)..., this happened to me as well. When inspecting the three IQ Balls I have for my dogs, no chipping of the small fins as shown in the photo(s) changed the integrity of the ball. The chips will most likely happen to everyone if your dog is even somewhat of a chewer. I'm not putting these on display for family/friends to come see. They're dog toys. If your dog is a fierce chewer, only use the ball as an entertaining feeding option. The Buster Food Cube could be used permanently with the most determined chewers. Please don't be swayed by those photos. I was a little concerned when I had seen them prior to ordering. Now, I know how inconsequential those chips are and how much those photos make it appear like a potential deal-breaker. Tennis balls and the Kong toy used to be my favorites for my dogs. Now the Treat Ball and Buster Food Cube are the favorites. Treat Ball - Pros ----------------- -More fun for my dogs than the Buster Food Cube -Adjustable food dispensing - you can set it to be depleted quickly, the cube will take a lot longer, relatively Buster Food Cube - Pros ------------------------ -Holds more food -A bit more challenging than the ball -Very quiet compared to the ball (you'll experience a constant rolling until the ball crashes into your wall, furniture, etc. - nothing harmful to either) -Rarely, if ever does it get stuck (with the ball - even the larger size - you may find times when your dog has given up because it has been lost under an accommodating piece of furniture; the cube is truly too large to get trapped) -More durable than the ball - the most determined chewers will not have success destroying this toy *** If OurPets would ever make a larger sized ball (Buster Food Cube diameter), I would buy that in a second. This would keep it from being stuck as often and I would like the increased food capacity, as the cube has. Buster Food Cube Large Size (Colors May Vary) Read more

Update: Purchased this 2 months ago and it has now split in two and is unusable and was a waste of money and the “safety” feature is actually a hazard. When it breaks it can create a shard of plastic they can ingest. I’m just glad I caught it the moment it broke or the puppy would’ve gotten it. ————————————— I love this ball and it’s my second one for a second puppy like 6 years later. BUT…I hate that the top separates now. I wish I had my old one and hadn’t given it away because there was no need to split it and the description BARELY mentions that this is the case now. My puppy that is now a 6 year old slammed it around I can’t even tell you how hard back then and never once did we have an issue. Now I have to juggle being a dog mom of 2 trying to feed both and a cap that I have to sit down and make sure I match up much more slowly than just screwing it on and off. Very inconvenient but since I don’t know other products and have the puppy now - I have to keep it since I have nothing better. Read more