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Elsa and Raven (really Colby wants to do the review) have been wanting to do a West Paw Design Toppl review for several years now.
Of course Harley and Charlie did their own review a few years back that we’re able to share here on the blog.
One of these days we’ll get our own Toppl for Raven and Elsa. Until then read on to hear what Harley and Charlie thought about this tough chewing treat dispensing toy.
UPDATE: This post was originally published on MyDogLikes on March 3rd, 2017. We recently updated and republished here on PuppyInTraining.com.
It has been a crazy week weather-wise, even by Rochester standards.
Yesterday was nearly 70 and today it is in the 30s!
With that sort of temperature swing comes very high winds, so we were stuck inside last night and today – without a walk!
With a couple of bored and stir crazy dogs on our hands, we figured it would be the perfect opportunity to test out a brand new interactive dog toy!
Introducing the Toppl
The Toppl is another innovative dog toy from our friends at West Paw Design. This rugged, cup shaped toy is designed for treat dispensing, fetching, and even chewing!
It can also be converted into a puzzle toy to challenge your dogs problem solving skills!
Toppl is made from Zogoflex, which is one of the toughest (and safest) dog toy materials on the market.
West Paw was kind enough to send over a couple Toppl’s for us to test out!
They are also sponsoring a giveaway for 3 lucky readers, so make sure to read through until the end!! (this giveaway has long since past, sorry)
More About the Shape
The Toppl comes in 2 different sizes and 3 vibrant colors.
The large Toppl has a height and diameter of 4″ while the small a height and diameter of 3″.
The easiest way to describe the basic form would be that it looks like a cup with a rounded bottom. It is unable to stand up sturdily on its own, hence the name – Toppl!
On the inside of each toy are a series of ribs which fan out from the center. These are designed to hold dog treats and create a challenge for your dog to access or release.
Another cool design feature is that the small Toppl is made to fit into the top of the large Toppl. This creates a challenging puzzle toy for your dog to solve!
There is a small hole on the side of each Toppl which allows loose treats to tumble through as it is being manipulated and batted around.
What exactly is Zogoflex!
Zogoflex is West Paw Designs proprietary material which has been specifically designed for tough chewers.
We have tested several Zogoflex dog toys in the past including the Hurley, Bumi and Tizzi – and been extremely impressed with them all!
Among other things, Zogoflex is:
- Ultra Tough
- Flexible
- Recyclable
- Non-Toxic
- BPA-Free
- Phalate-Free
- FDA Compliant
- Buoyant
- Dishwasher Safe
And if that’s not enough, it is also manufactured right here in the USA in West Paw Design’s own Bozeman Montana facility.
Multiple Ways to Play
Just like most of West Paw dog toys, the Toppl really shines in it’s versatility.
There are tons of different ways to use it, so you can always be mixing things up to keep your dog entertained.
Mental stimulation is just as important as physical stimulation for dogs so this is always something we look for when evaluating dog toys.
The easiest way to use the Toppl is to stick some treats between the ribs and let your dog have at it!
You will see both their jaws and their brains working together as they manipulate the toy to shake loose the treats at the bottom!
Another option is to slather some peanut butter (xylitol free of course!) or another favorite spread around the sides and in between the ribs.
This is a great way to keep your dogs occupied for a bit while they work diligently to get the goodness out from all the cracks and crevices.
PRO TIP: The Topple can also be used to create a frozen treat to cool down a hot dog! Just fill with peanut butter, yogurt, or pumpkin and toss in some treats before placing in the freezer.
Finally, the Toppl can also be used as a treat dispensing toy!
All you need to do is fill the large Toppl with a handful of treats (training treats work best) and insert a small Toppl into the top. You will hear a snap as they lock together.
Now watch with joy as your dog tosses, bounces and rolls it around to work the treats out through the holes in the sides!
PRO TIP: This would be a great way to feed a dog that eats too quickly! Fill up a set of Toppl’s with kibble and make them work for their meal to slow them down!
Time to Play! (Our Toppl Review)
We tested out the Toppl in all its different varieties of play and our boys enjoyed each and every one of them!
Inserting a few large treats between the ribs is a quick and fun way to game to play with your dog.
You will enjoy watching them use their brains to figure out how to access the treats, and they will appreciate the mental challenge.
The rounded bottom of the Toppl causes it to wobble and move in ways that are unpredictable and help to keep your dog engaged.
With a combination of brain, paws, jaws and tongue, your dog will be rewarded throughout for their persistence!
We also tried filling the Toppl with a thick spread to see how well it held up under heavy use. (There is nothing like a little peanut butter to grab a dogs attention, right!)
Harley and Charlie got right down to business after receiving a peanut butter filled Toppl!
The taste and aroma also got them to do a bit of chewing and gnawing once the spread was all gone.
This is a great way to burn off some anxious energy and strengthen those jaw muscles!
Both of our Toppl’s looked like they had just came out of the package after our boys were through with them! Talk about a tough dog toy!
Finally, we tested the Toppl as a treat dispensing toy by adding some small treats and interlocking the large and the small together…
It was a blast to watch the boys try to figure out how to get at the treats that they could clearly smell and hear shaking around inside!
If they are having difficulty or getting frustrated give them a hand and try to get them to nose it around.
Once they see one treat come out they will often get the hang of it and keep trying to repeat the action.
Crafty dogs may even learn how to toss the Toppl’s in the air to knock the treats out quickly!
We would highly recommend picking up both sizes of the Toppl so that you can use them in this way!
Why My Dog Likes the Toppl Dog Toy
This is one of the most versatile dog toys that we have ever come across.
Not only is it a great treat dispensing toy, but it can also be converted into a puzzle toy with the addition of a second Toppl.
Since it bounces and floats, it is also ideal for fetch both indoors and out.
Best of all, this thing is extremely tough! After hours of heavy use, ours don’t have a scratch on them.
The Toppl should be able to withstand your dogs chewing, but as with all toys, make sure that you are keeping an eye on them as well!
Should your dog manage to rip or tear their toy, West Paw offers a product replacement guarantee!
This toy would be great for dogs of all shapes, sizes and chewing strengths!
Want to Give West Paw a Try?
That’s it for our Toppl review! Are you ready to give one a try? Click the button above!
Have your dogs played with the Toppl?
Tell us about your experiences with this versatile toy in the comment section below.
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