Review of the Omega Paw Tricky Ball
It was important to find a way to provide mental stimulation for our dog Toto at every opportunity, and 'working breeds' like our Wheaten Terrier need to have this kind of challenge to avoid boredom and anxiety, especially in an apartment life.
While there were many treat dispensing toys, there were few food dispensing toys that could fit a modest amount of kibble to keep our pup busy. Upon suggestions from family, we decided to try the Tricky Ball.
The Tricky Ball is very straightforward to use: Just put the kibble or treats into the one hole in the ball, and then your dog rolls it around as pieces fall out. What's great about this product is that that the hole in the ball is just right so that it's not too difficult to get food out, but also not too easy that it all falls out right away. The ball comes in three sizes: Small, Medium, and Large. I think we have the medium one, and it fits approximately 1 cup of kibble. Since we feed Toto 1.5 cups every meal, I would usually give him 1 cup in his bowl, and half a cup in the ball. If you are hoping to extend the play, a Large size may be more appropriate as it can fit more kibble.
While there were many treat dispensing toys, there were few food dispensing toys that could fit a modest amount of kibble to keep our pup busy. Upon suggestions from family, we decided to try the Tricky Ball.
The Tricky Ball is very straightforward to use: Just put the kibble or treats into the one hole in the ball, and then your dog rolls it around as pieces fall out. What's great about this product is that that the hole in the ball is just right so that it's not too difficult to get food out, but also not too easy that it all falls out right away. The ball comes in three sizes: Small, Medium, and Large. I think we have the medium one, and it fits approximately 1 cup of kibble. Since we feed Toto 1.5 cups every meal, I would usually give him 1 cup in his bowl, and half a cup in the ball. If you are hoping to extend the play, a Large size may be more appropriate as it can fit more kibble.
On the official Omega Paw website, the claim is this toy will keep your pet entertained for hours. I don't know about hours, but it will certainly keep them entertained until they have gotten all, or the majority of the food out of the toy. For Toto, this can take anywhere from 10-20 minutes. He sometimes leaves it to do other things, and comes back to it throughout the day.
If it is intended for a pup who is still going through potty training, i would recommend to restrict the play to your feeding times, otherwise you may end up with a surprise poop throughout the day.
Durability: 5 out of 5
No visible wear and tear, even from daily use and biting. We had this toy for 4 months now with it being in the same condition that we bought it in
Difficulty: 2 out of 5
While it takes a while to get all the kibble out, getting each piece is not particularly difficult and it's impressive to see your pup becoming proficient at it
Interest: 5 out of 5
This toy keeps our pup busy for 10-20 minutes, depending on how much food is inside. It's the one that keeps his attention the longest out of all the ones we own
Environmental: 1 out of 5
The ball is made entirely from vinyl, and not easily recyclable
Cost: 4 out of 5
For the amount of value and entertainment this provides, the cost of less than $10 is reasonable.
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
The Tricky Ball is a toy that we use several times a day, every day, and helps heaps with providing that extra bit of mental stimulation for our pup. It fits a good amount of food, and is the right level of difficulty to keep him entertained for a while
Pro Tip: Try putting a few high value treats of different sizes in the ball, along with the kibble to make the toy more challenging and enticing to your dog.
If it is intended for a pup who is still going through potty training, i would recommend to restrict the play to your feeding times, otherwise you may end up with a surprise poop throughout the day.
Durability: 5 out of 5
No visible wear and tear, even from daily use and biting. We had this toy for 4 months now with it being in the same condition that we bought it in
Difficulty: 2 out of 5
While it takes a while to get all the kibble out, getting each piece is not particularly difficult and it's impressive to see your pup becoming proficient at it
Interest: 5 out of 5
This toy keeps our pup busy for 10-20 minutes, depending on how much food is inside. It's the one that keeps his attention the longest out of all the ones we own
Environmental: 1 out of 5
The ball is made entirely from vinyl, and not easily recyclable
Cost: 4 out of 5
For the amount of value and entertainment this provides, the cost of less than $10 is reasonable.
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
The Tricky Ball is a toy that we use several times a day, every day, and helps heaps with providing that extra bit of mental stimulation for our pup. It fits a good amount of food, and is the right level of difficulty to keep him entertained for a while
Pro Tip: Try putting a few high value treats of different sizes in the ball, along with the kibble to make the toy more challenging and enticing to your dog.
