REVIEW—As you can see from the picture above, I am the proud pet parent of a four-year-old mixed breed (okay, mutt!) named Peanut. He weighs in at 17 lbs and has hiked over 5 miles with me in several state parks. He is also the karma that has finally come back to get me for all of the trouble I caused my parents when growing up! He is very smart but has a mind of his own, just like his Momma! He gets a dental treat every evening that he will finish in less than two minutes! I am always looking for something to give him to occupy his time longer and not make a mess in the house as he chews on it. The Pupsicle by Woof looks like it might fit the bill. Read on to see how the Nut handles this new treat.
What is it?
The Pupsicle is marketed as a dog toy, but I find that it is more of a specialized treat dispenser. It comes apart in two pieces and lets you insert ball shaped treats. The two pieces screw back together, leaving a small hole that the dog can access to get the treat.
What’s included?
- Woof Pupsicle – small size in purple
- One bag of pupsicle refill pops – beef and peanut butter flavored for the small pupsicle
- Welcome Postcard
- Bonus – Make your own Pupsicle treats at home tray
Design and features
The Pupsicle comes in three sizes.
- small – 10-25lb dogs
- large – 25-75lb dogs
- xl-arge – 75lb+ dogs
It also comes in three colors. Lavender, forest green, and a power chewer black that costs an extra $5. Since the Nut only weighs 17lbs, I opted for the small size. The Pupsicle comes inserted between a piece of cardboard that has instructions for use.
A small booklet of tips and tricks was included. It talks about creating your own treats and freezing them to make them longer-lasting. It also suggests starting with something like peanut butter if your dog does not figure out how to get to the treat right away. The Nut had no issue figuring out how to get to the treat, as you can see from the pictures in this review!
The bottom side of the Pupsicle has a nice grip that lets you easily unscrew it from the top.
The picture below shows the bottom and the top of the Pupsicle when it is opened up.
Assembly, Installation, Setup
Assembly using the Pupsicle pop was very easy. I simply unscrewed the two halves from each other. I inserted the pop into the bottom of the Pupsicle, then screwed the top back onto the bottom. The treat sits completely inside the Pupsicle. The dog must work his tongue through that hole to get to the treat.
Performance
The first time I gave the Pupsicle to the Nut, I made sure to lay it face up where the hole with the treat was on top for easy access. All it took was a couple of sniffs and he was fully engaged.
This picture and the main image at the top of the review are his favorite positions to eat the Pupsicle. He lies down and uses a paw to hold it into place.
The first time I gave him the Pupsicle, he spent 20 minutes getting every last bit of the treat out of it. Since then, he has it down to a science and can finish a treat in 15-18 minutes. Remember when I said he was smart? When he is finished, he brings it over to me and tosses it in my lap so I can unscrew it and let him get the last few swipes out of his treat. Then I take it to the sink, wash it with some soap and water, and it is ready for the next time. It is also dishwasher safe if you want to clean it that way.
Peanut loved the peanut butter and beef flavored treats, but honestly I have never seen him reject food of any kind! I tried putting them in the freezer to see if I could get the treat to last a little bit longer, but he still finished it in under 20 minutes.
We also have a Kong, and I have to say I much prefer the Pupsicle over it. I have to spray peanut butter or something soft into the Kong, and the dogs can never get all of it out. It is then a chore to try to clean the Kong afterward. Plus, with the Kong, I find the dog tries to chew on the entire thing, making it very slimy, which tends to spread around the carpet. The Nut does not seem to want to chew on the Pupsicle and will lick it to death through that single hole. So, there is a lot less of a slimy mess to handle.
What I like about Woof Pupsicle
- Very easy to use. Unscrew, put in pop, screw it back together.
- Easy to clean
- It keeps him occupied for at least 15-20 minutes.
- I can make my own treats should I wish to.
What needs to be improved?
- Nothing!
Final thoughts
If you are looking for a way to treat your dogs and keep them occupied at the same time, you really should check out the Pupsicle. It is much easier to clean than the Kong, and I think it will also keep your house cleaner as your dog plays with it.
Price: small and large – $19.99, x-large – $24.99. add $5 to any size for black super chewer color
Where to buy: Woof and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by Woof. Woof did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
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Peanut is super cute!
@John, Thank you!
so cute!