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Toy Review
As this page grows, I will probably divide them up. Until then, it will be all sorts of dog toys - plush or tug, ball or cube or whatever!
Items reviewed:
The IQube, Puzzle Plush Dog Toy by Plush Puppies. Bought at Asheville Pet Supply for $11.65 (incl tax). (This review originally was posted on the OT-Adog list, altho this is the edited version) Its a multicolor cloth cube with each side having an 'X' cut in it. It comes with 4 colored cloth balls that have sewn in squeakers with firm stuffing around them. The cloth is all real soft and not stiff, its like the fleece on fleece jackets, not the white fluffy fleece in slippers. The fuzz on the outside would be difficult to pull off without ripping the entire thing. Its a real short fuzz.The seams are all stitched nicely, with the edges trimmed. This is both the outside edges of the cube and the insides of the 'X' cuts on each side. The seams on the balls are like the outside of a pumpkin - running from top to bottom. The IQube is roughly 6.25" cubed. So its rather large yet a small dog would have just as much fun. Jo can get almost her whole muzzle in there.
Anyway, got down on the floor with Joella and showed it to her. I took it apart, making all the balls squeak. I then played with one until she was chasing it. Then I squeaked them and put them all back in the cube. I then put my hand in one side and make a ball squeak.
At first, she wanted to pick it up and take it elsewhere but I had her stay there. Eventually she laid down and started trying to figure what it was for. I stuck my hand back in the side and pushed one of the balls out then pushed it back in, making it squeak. In about 30 minutes of play, she was pulling them out. I took them and put them back in the box (not the cube but the box it came in) and had her try for the next one. After she had taken all 4 out, we yippeed and yayed and put them back in.
I think The IQube is a cool toy. Joella really had fun with it! It was great to see her brain clicking on how to get them out. The first one is not too difficult once she figured it out but the last one is hardest cause there is nothing holding it in place. The whole thing is cloth so her sticking her entire muzzle in there doesn't hurt. I think tho that with all those neat flaps, that its a toy that you would have to be with the dog when its playing. I think the best part of this toy is that its a mutual thing. There is no tugging or roughness to the play so it would be good for someone with limited dexterity to play with the dog. The dog can pull out each ball, give them to the handler then finally hand over the empty cube. The handler restuffs it and the process begins again.
I kept putting my fingers in one of the sides and teasing her with it. We had a blast! We decided to keep it in its box and only play with it together. I may use it as the treat at the end of training.
I think that if you have a dog that likes to figure stuff out, this is a great toy. There are also stuffed animals with 'eggs' in them but I don't like them for some reason. Maybe its that I feel the dog will learn that gutting a stuffed toy is a good thing. They are, however, made by the same company.Can be found online at: Foster and Smith, Pet Food Direct, Pooch Toys
Can be seen being used at: Worth a Thousand Words
AirDog Fetch Stick (purchased at Asheville Pet Supply) AirDog makes tennis ball type toys in various shapes. There is the Fetch Stick, the AirKong, a square ball, a bone shape and a donut shape. I got Joella the large Fetch Stick, about 10.5" long. She plays with it occaisionally. It is not too large for her to pick up but since its softer than I thought, a smaller one would probably not live long. The other AirDog toys, like the AirKong, are harder. I think its the hot dog shape of the Fetch Stick that makes it softer. Its still a tough toy, but I would suggest one of the other AirDog toys over this one. These toys can be found at most pet supply stores both in reality and on the net.