Toy review: Kong Satellite treat dispensing toy

We are Kong fans over here, and already own the Kong Extreme (for tough chewers) and the Kong Genius Leo (which, by the way, makes my dog look stupid :P)

So I was pretty happy to see the Kong Satellite toy in the parcel sent by Earnest Mutts Online Store to Donna.

Here’s what it looks like:

What I like about the Kong Satellite

1) Design challenges dog mentally
Both the dog and human here get bored of our toys easily, so this new addition to our collection has definitely enlivened her meal time. :D

The design is also different from our existing toys. Each hole is placed facing a different direction on the toy, which gives the play added complexity. It requires Donna to learn to spin, tilt and tumble the toy so that the kibble falls out from one of four holes randomly.

This presents a great, new learning experience for Donna. She is already savvy with treat dispensing toys, so the different design mentally challenges her. She took more time to finish her dry food.

If your dog gulps down her food, this is a great option to help her eat slower. It’s definitely a food bowl replacement.

2) Semi-translucent plastic lets you see if there is food left in it

Our rubber Kong toys are nice toys that bounce around quietly. But they are opaque, and it can be a little bit of a task to try to see if the inside is really cleaned out, especially when I use really sticky canned food in our regular Kong. :P Nothing that can’t be dealt with easily with a toothbrush of course. :P

Anyway, half of the Kong Satellite is made of semi-translucent plastic. Together with the bigger holes on this toy, it makes checking on whether there’s left over food inside easier. Of course, you can shake it too!

Other thoughts about the Kong Satellite toy

3) I have selectively bought only the rubber Kong toys before because I thought the plastic toys could be noisy and annoying. But as I was writing this post, Donna went and played with the toy herself and I realise it’s really not that noisy. I didn’t find it a bother at all in the flat.

4) The toy cannot be taken apart, so washing and drying out the inside of it might take some time. Filling in the treats or dry food also may take some patience, if you reference this review. But really, it doesn’t take too long. In fact, I would say dropping the kibble through the hole is easy, and definitely faster for the Kong Satellite than the Kong Genius Leo. I do see myself perhaps using the Kong Satellite more often than the Kong Genius Leo in future simply because of this. :P

5) I had Donna play with it on different ground textures both indoors and outdoors. It was, of course, scratched but held up well. A new toy always requires supervision to help Donna learn how to play with it properly. It’s definitely quality bonding time.

Tips to help a dog who is new to playing with treat dispenser toys

If you are shopping for a treat dispensing toy, this is a good one to get if your dog has experience playing with such toys. Otherwise, the regular Kong is an easy starting toy for any dog to learn to use. But if you would like to start with this toy, here are some tips that you may find helpful!

1) Reward the dog with praise and a treat for every interaction with the toy, especially if the dog is unable to successfully get the food out yet. This helps to make the toy a fun toy, rather than a frustrating toy. It also encourages the dog to continue to interact with the toy.

2) Supervise your dog to help your dog learn to play with the toy properly. It is normal for the dog to get frustrated and attempt to chew the toy when he can see the food inside but can’t get it out. But treat dispensing toys are not chew toys, so supervision is necessary. Cheer your dog on during play, especially when she is playing with the toy correctly. Give the dog a time out and take the toy away when the dog tries to chew the toy.

And before you know it, your dog may just be checking on that toy as often as Donna and coming to nudge you with her nose asking for more. ;)

The Kong Satellite toy is kindly given to Donna in a care package from Earnest Mutts. They are currently offering $8 off a minimum purchase of $80 on their website. Use this promo code “PROMO8“.

Look out for more posts on the other items in the package! weliveinaflat.com was not paid in this honest review of the product, but we truly appreciate the curated package of quality brands from Earnest Mutts.

Joining the Positive Pet Training Blog Hop with Tenacious Little Terrier, Cascadian Nomads and Rubicon Days because this month’s theme is reviews on Positive Training books, tools, DVDs, etc. ;)