Introducing Jolly Pet, the innovative iPad game designed to entertain our beloved furry friends. As I delved into this interactive experience with a mix of anticipation and curiosity, the results were as diverse as our canine companions themselves.
The premise of Jolly Pet is simple yet engaging, aiming to captivate pets with a colorful interface and stimulating activities. Some dogs, like my own adventurous pup, couldn’t get enough of the game. Their eyes sparkled with interest as they enthusiastically pawed at the screen and booped it with his nose. He did become fully immersed in the virtual world presented before him.
Despite the mixed reactions, one cannot deny the potential of Jolly Pet to provide entertainment and mental stimulation for certain pets. The engaging graphics and interactive elements have the power to engage and delight specific dogs, bringing moments of joy and engagement to their day
One major con of this app is the amount of dog slobber that you get on the screen. It was pretty disgusting after 3 – 4 minutes of play. I also cringed when he started really pawing at the ipad. Thank god I purchased the scratch proof screen.
In conclusion, Jolly Pet offers a whimsical and interactive experience that is sure to charm and entertain some of our four-legged friends. While the reception may vary from dog to dog, the sheer potential for engagement and fun makes it a worthy addition to the digital repertoire of pet entertainment options. So, why not give it a try and see if your furry companion is among those who find delight in the world of Jolly Pet?
After much review by our team we give this pet product a 3 Butt Wiggles Rating.
Product Review: Jolly Pets Tug-n-Toss Heavy Duty Dog Toy Ball
Are you on the hunt for a durable and engaging toy for your four-legged friend? One that won’t pop after only a few minutes of play. Look no further than the Jolly Pets Tug-n-Toss Heavy Duty Dog Toy Ball! This innovative toy is designed to provide hours of fun and entertainment for your canine companion.
One of the standout features of the Jolly Pets Tug-n-Toss Heavy Duty Dog Toy Ball is its durable construction. Made from high-quality, non-toxic materials, this toy can withstand even the toughest play sessions. Whether your pup loves to tug, toss, or chew, this toy is up for the challenge.
What sets this dog toy apart is its versatile design. The Jolly Pets Tug-n-Toss Heavy Duty Dog Toy Ball can be used for a variety of activities, making it a great choice for dogs of all sizes and energy levels. Whether your pup prefers solo play or interactive games with you, this toy will keep them engaged and entertained.
In addition to being durable and versatile, the Jolly Pets Tug-n-Toss Heavy Duty Dog Toy Ball is also easy to clean. Simply rinse it off with water or give it a quick wipe down, and it’s ready for your pup to enjoy again.
Overall, the Jolly Pets Tug-n-Toss Heavy Duty Dog Toy Ball is a fantastic addition to any dog’s toy collection. With its durability, versatility, and easy maintenance, this toy is sure to become a favorite for your furry friend. So why wait? Treat your pup to endless hours of fun with the Jolly Pets Tug-n-Toss Heavy Duty Dog Toy Ball today!
We did experience some mixed interest with the toy. Our older dog who is high prey behavior barely gave it a second glance. While the other two younger (3 and 6), who are herding dogs enjoyed it immensely.
Four wiggle butts rating
Our in house testers gave this toy 4 butt wiggles.
If your dogs are anything like my dogs they suffer from horrendous breath. Well, I don’t think they actually suffer too much, I think they rather enjoy it. It is we, humans that suffer as they kiss our faces, lick our hands or just plain breathe on us.
I brush my dog’s teeth on a fairly regular basis. I have bought many different types of doggie toothpastes from peanut butter flavor which in my opinion, might clean the tartar off their teeth, but leaves their breath smelling like a combination of PB and poo. I have also tried the chicken and beef flavors but again there is always that underlying, I just ate a load of deer poop, funk. I also have tried the flavorless enzymatic pastes, which, I am sure, do what their intended for plaque and calculus, but have limited effects on breath quality.
I have also tried various dental chews and oral care products with no success in alleviating the stench. Even when my dogs don’t get into something as odiferous as deer or bunny droppings, their breath still isn’t pleasant.
I also want to mention that my dogs see their vet regularly and have no known dental issues. They just have doggie halitosis.
So, our team took to the internet to find a homemade, homeopathic solution and we believe that we have finally discovered something useful and worth sharing.
Our internet excursion took us to a site called Princess Peaky Girl and she shares a recipe called Minty Fresh Dog Pupsicles. Our test kitchen went to work.
The ingredients are simple and not budget breaking.
Fresh mint
Honey
Plain Greek Yogurt (if your dog has a problem with dairy you can use water or unsweetened coconut milk)
Fresh curly parsley: Do not use spring parsley as it can be toxic to dogs.
Fresh spinach
Coconut oil (we used unrefined but you can use either)
You will also need:
Food processor
Silicone molds or ice cube trays
Here is the recipe
PREP TIME
CHILL TIME
TOTAL TIME
5 MINUTES
6 HOURS HRS
6 HRS 5 MINS
1 cup Plain Greek yogurt
¼ cup chopped mint
¼ cup chopped curly parsley
½ cup chopped spinach
¼ cup coconut oil
½ cup honey
INSTRUCTIONS
In a food processor, combine all ingredients. Be sure to pack tight.
Blend ingredients together for about 1 minute or until the mixture is smooth. Add ¼ – ½ cup of water if needed.
When done, spoon mixture out into silicone molds all the way to the top.
When the molds are filled, place inside the freezer to chill for 6 hours or overnight.
Notes: Store leftovers in a baggie in the freezer. If you use silicone molds place them on a cookie sheet or a rigid piece of cardboard before putting them in the freezer otherwise you will end up with a mess.
Now comes the true test – presenting them to the Canine Connoisseurs
They rated the treats for: Palatability, Flavor and Tastiness
Our team gave the categories these ratings
Palatability – 5 Butt Wiggles
Flavor – 5 Butt Wiggles
Tastiness – 5 Butt Wiggles
Now it was time for the human’s ratings.
On a scale of 1-5 butt wiggles all three concurred that there was an overall improvement. After the second serving of the pupsicle treat there was a distinct odor of mint. We all ageed that this recipe was a keeper. The dogs loved them and it did freshen their breath considerably. They were easy to make and easy to store. The humans rated the treat with 5 butt wiggles.
In my continued pursuit to find toys to keep my dogs inactive yet entertained, I purchased the the “UFO Interactive Push Button Food Treat Dispenser”. Mung Mung is the brand name of this flying saucer, shaped toy; hence the name UFO and it sells for $23.99 on Amazon. This toy is touted as an interactive, brain stimulating puzzle for dogs. It features a clear, center bubble in which you put kibble or tasty treats. Your dog needs to push on the bubble with their nose or paw in order to dispense the treat.
Remember the game Trouble from your childhood, where you pushed the bubble to roll the die, this toy operates the same way. Instead of the die being rotated, in the UFO toy, several dog treats are released through six holes on the sides. When your pet pushes on the bubble, they are rewarded by treats dropping into the bowl where your dog is easily able to retrieve them.
Our smart little guy learned very quickly how to obtain the tasty bites by pushing the bubble with both his nose and his paw. He could even do this while wearing his “cone of shame”. The real trouble started when the dispenser became empty. Our guy, Dax, found a way to remove the bubble top container from the base. (Just to check that something hadn’t become trapped, we’re sure). When he was positive that there were no more undiscovered treats, he began carrying the bowl around in his mouth. https://youtube.com/shorts/OfIkZCL3euc?feature=share
We then had our other two quality control associates review the product, as an interactive toy/puzzle versus a meal feeder. They both found it easy to learn and had treats dropping regularly. The oldest reviewer became bored as soon as she figured out that there were no more morsels dropping. The 7-year-old thought it was extremely fun to flip the bowl with her paw to try to shake out any items that she may have missed. It did not seem overly challenging to her. Flipping the toy became her primary objective until we took it away from her.
Our final review of this particular toy/puzzle was that it might be stimulating for some dogs but for dogs that learn really quickly they created their own ways to interact with the toy in ways which was not as the product was intended.
The product was made of non-durable materials not suitable for dogs that like to chew or aggressively interact with their toys. Both the bubble (treat) holder and the bottom (dispenser) bowl were made of brittle plastic that all the dogs chewed and one was able to break off pieces of the bubble top. This is definitely a toy that should not be left unattended with your pet, and could be dangerous if you did.
The dogs learned very quickly how to dispense the treats and there was no way to increase the difficulty or make it more challenging. All three QA consultants rapidly lost interest in the product within 10 minutes.
This toy may be appropriate for small dogs as well as dogs that need to slow down their eating pace. My three did not find it brain stimulating and it did not keep them busy for any meaningful length of time.
As I have discussed in a previous blog there is nothing worse than the feeling you get when your Vet says you have to keep your dog from playing while he or she recovers from surgery or an injury. I used to struggle with the concept of how does one do that? I have 3 incredibly active dogs and even though one just turned thirteen she is still a handful when she wants to be.
After our latest was neutered, I felt that I had to up my game. I tried a variety of puzzle toys (some of which I will review later) but Dax is a problem solver and most puzzles were conquered in mere minutes. I use the word conquered because the word “solved” doesn’t quite describe his interactions with puzzle toys. Dax, if he was a human, would be that kid that pulled the head and arms off of his sister’s dolls and interchanged them. Given a puzzle toy, his main objective is to secure the treats first and then repurpose the puzzle pieces.
I have been hearing a lot about these snuffle mats and how they invigorate a dog’s sense of smell as well as stimulating their brains. The purpose of snuffle mats is to: Provide mental stimulation Prevent speedy eating Reduce begging Burn energy Keep your dog entertained Help curb separation anxiety Reduce stress Stimulate their sense of smell Help keep doggy dementia away Redirect problematic behaviors to positive ones
I decided to give it a shot.
After a little research, I decided on two different mats both available at our favorite “go to” online retailer. The price ranged from $32 – $42.99.
The first was the AWOOF Snuffle Mat for Large Dogs and the second was the ZMUBB Pet Snuffle Mat for Dogs. I chose the Awoof one because it had a large surface space and I knew the two girls would be fine sharing the two sides. My girls are not resource guarders and have been taught to share toys etc. The boy, well he is a different story and needs his own. So, he started with the Zmubb.
The Awoof is a large mat, 34.6 x 19.6 inches and had lots of nooks and crannies to hide treats. It offered two different foraging areas. One was a large bowl shape area with tons of felt flaps “grass” to hide treats in. It also has a pull cord which presented a second challenge where the dogs had to figure out how to open that. The second side was a large flower-like section where you could place goodies under the various petals. It also had a crinkle center which made noise when the dogs pushed it with their noses and a bell.
The bottom of the mat is non-slip so it worked well on kitchen floors and other slick surfaces. When you are finished with the mat, it folded up into it’s own carry case. The instructions say to tie it to something to keep it from moving but I did not see a way to do that other than getting some string and tying one of the handle to something. I did not need to do that for the girls.
The second mat the Zmubb was slightly different than the Awoof. It came in 3 sizes and I bought the medium which was slightly smaller than the Awoof at 31 x 19 inch. This was perfect for my 40 pound beast. It, also had a large flower where items could be hidden beneath the petals. There is also a large “grass” area made of felt strands where treats could be tucked away. It has a carrot patch which holds 3 carrot shaped, squeaky toys that could be pulled out with treats hidden underneath.
The Zmubb also has a non-slip backing and it does have a belt that can be tied to a chair or other stationary object to keep it from moving. The belt also helps to secure the mat when you roll it up to put it away.
So, what did the product testing team think?
The Canine Connoisseur’s tested both mats separately. The girls tested the Awoof mat first which they shared. Willow (age 8), loved the bowl of felt grass and was able to open the draw string in a matter of seconds. She spent a considerable amount of time digging into the big bowl and kept returning to it. The little pockets for treats entertained her but she did get a little rough with some of them and in her excitement ripped a few. Sydney (age 13) our oldest tester enjoyed the large flower and being the part hound that she is, had a ball digging out the savory morsels. When the girls swapped sides, Sydney had just as much fun ruminating through the bowl as she did the flower puzzle. Willow, also attacked the flower with as much gusto as she did the bowl. They both found the little pockets entertaining. Willow did figure out that if she flipped the mat over any undiscovered treats were now easily discovered. You can see the girls in action here
Dax, the 2-year-old Aussie, approached the mat as a predator would. First, he vacillated between the giant flower and the thick grass area. When he lost interest there, he immediately removed all the carrots from the carrot garden and located those treats. The carrots themselves were disregarded initially. The mat itself, even though it was tethered to a chair was flipped, shaken and gnawed. The buckle to secure the mat when you roll it up became a chew toy. Later, the carrots with their squeakers and stuffing became interesting and one or two were eviscerated before the human quality control assessor could intervene.
When Dax was switched to the Awoof mat, he really focused on the bowl section. He appeared to find it more challenging than flipping the flower petals over and poking at the little pockets. We thought he might try to chew the cord on the draw string bowl but he did not.
All in all, the team voted these mats to be a great asset for quiet play and crappy, rainy days. If you need to slow down your dogs eating behavior these would definitely help. The mats are well designed and held up well to rough play and chewing. The buckle on the Zmubb was helpful in keeping the mat rolled up but it proved to be too much of an attraction for a young dog that likes to chew. The plastic buckle could be a choking or other hazard if you left your dog unattended (which we do not recommend for any toy that has small parts or could be a resource trigger). The carrot garden, although cute, was too easy for this team to solve and then the carrots themselves were messy because they were easily destroyed and for a small toy, held an unbelievable amount of stuffing.
These mats, although slightly different, both kept the team entertained and busy for 10 to 20 minutes depending on the dog and the curiosity of returning “just to check”. The best part was their minds had been stimulated which equates to tired dogs. As we like to say 10 minutes of training is equal to a 30 minute walk for the mind. We gave these mats a 4 out of 5 WiggleButts.
I don’t know about you but whenever my vet tells me that I have to keep my dog quiet with minimal activity for several weeks, I start to get physically ill. I become nauseous, my blood pressure goes up and my heart rate increases. I know those instructions are tough for any dog owner but I have an Australian Shepherd not a Basset Hound. No offense to Basset Hounds intended.
Aussies can be high-strung hyenas and I have three. Fortunately, only one was being neutered and needed to be kept calm. Yes, I went through it with the girls too, but that was awhile back and I honestly forget what we did to keep them from wrestling out their stitches or conjuring up a hematoma.
The vet’s advice: don’t let him play with other dogs, (did I mention I have 2 others), leash walk him and no jumping or vigorous activity. Oh, and do not let him get at his stiches. Here is how day one went. I put the leash on him to take him out to do his business. Somehow, this signaled to the girls that it was let’s play “attack the puppy” and he was up for the challenge. So, I learned not to walk the boy with the girls around. Next, I put the “cone of shame” on him. The vet said it would keep him from getting at his stitches. I am sure it might have if he didn’t destroy it in less than an hour. He used it as a front loader scooping up mud and dirt from our garden, he found a way to remove it himself by scraping it against the trees in our yard (it took an hour to find it) and somehow he chipped away at the plastic until there was barely anything left. There was no amount of duct tape that was going to save this thing.
OK, OK, I know you are looking for a product review not the “day in the life of an Aussie owner” so here is what I tried. I decided to address the “don’t let him get at his stiches” issue first, so I bought the Suitical Recovery Suit for Dogs. I bought it at Chewy because they do stand behind all the products they sell.
I can honestly say we were not disappointed. It covered his surgical area and he did not try to get at his wound. It was very easy to roll the bottom (backside area) up to let him do his business. He was so much happier than being in the cone.
Here were the specifics that I really liked about it • Comfortable, stress-reducing alternative to the traditional cone is recommended by vets. • Snug fit with rear fastening prevents the pet from wiggling out; can be pulled back for potty breaks. • Covered areas are kept clean and dry, which prevents bacteria and dirt from causing an infection. • Made from a non-toxic, breathable, 4-way stretch fabric that is machine washable for reuse. • Allows air to circulate around the wound for healing, with built-in pockets for gauze pads.
Dax was actually much happier not having to wear the cone. In all honesty, I wish I had purchased 2 suits because we did want to wash it once a day so it was hygienic for his wound. My only real complaint about the suit was that he was able to chew through one of the legs when he was bored one afternoon. He did not get to his surgical site but I did have to sew the area.
Pros: The dog was much less anxious than being in the cone It did keep him away from his wound Is perfect for both males and females He looked adorable in it Cons: He was able to chew on the stitching around the legs and do some real damage.
All in all we rated this product Four Butt Wiggles.
I have 3 Australian Shepherds. They are beautiful, intelligent and highly energetic. They can also be very mischievous if they are bored. Because they are so energetic, I find myself trying to come up with new ways to entertain them in every season. Geocaching or as we call it “dogcaching” has become my answer.
If you are not familiar with the term geocaching, it is the “not so” new high-tech sport, that has swept the country and the world. The great thing about this sport, is that you do not have to be a technical person and your dog does not have to be specially trained. You only have to have an appreciation of nature and the desire to get out and enjoy it.
In the sport of geocaching, a container (called a cache) is hidden somewhere and the longitude and latitude coordinates are recorded. The container, can be anything from an army ammo box, 35mm film canister, piece of Tupperware, a plastic jar or something more creative. The rules of the game are simple, the cache must contain a log book or a way that a person can acknowledge their find and it must be clearly marked with the official geocaching documentation so that it is not mistaken for something sinister. If the container is medium to large, it usually contains some small items for trade. This can be anything from key chains, figurines, toy cars etc.
Participants in the game use their GPS to find the hidden containers using the longitude and latitude coordinates. When they find it, they sign the log book and then go online to record their find. If you take an item from the cache you must also replace it with an item.
Why is this a great sport for your dog you might ask. Dogs are inquisitive animals. They enjoy new sights, smells and sounds. When you take your dog geocaching, they get to go to a different place every time and their senses are stimulated by the new surroundings.
I used to do a perfunctory 10-15 minute walk with my dogs in the local dog park. They always enjoyed meeting up with their friends and running down the familiar trails. Now, however, each excursion is a new adventure with new trails to explore and new friends to meet. Sometimes, our walks last 3 or 4 hours and when I arrive home, I have two very happy but tired Aussies. At the same time, I am feeling good as well. It is nothing for me to walk 5 or more miles in a day to find 3 or 4 caches.
Not every geocaching adventure has to be a long walk. The wonderful thing about this sport is that you choose your challenge. You can pick from urban or rural caches. There are ones that take only 15 minutes to find or ones that are extremely difficult to find.
Your geocaching adventures can also be geared towards your dogs needs. My dogs crave a good run but they also enjoy games that stimulate their minds. When I know that I am getting near a hidden cache, I will ask them “where’s the cache”? This has become their cue that we are looking for something. After hours of watching me hunt for something buried under a log or a rock they will look too. Although, they have yet to find one before me, I think it is only a matter of time. Some fellow geocachers have scent trained their dogs to seek out the caches and although I know that is possible, I prefer to just enjoy the time I spend with them exploring.
To get started geocaching with your dog he or she does need some basic training. Any dog that travels with you off leash needs to have 100% recall. That means they must return to you each and every time you call. This is not a typically difficult command to teach, but so many dog owners never teach it or accept less than 100% from their dog. Other commands your dog should know are “sit”, “down”, “wait” and especially “leave it”. If you are out exploring new places with your dog you may encounter snakes, snapping turtles or other animals. You will need to be able to call your dog off if it begins to chase something unfriendly. You may also encounter glass, sharp rocks, drop offs or other dangerous situations for your dog and they must be able to stop or wait for you to get to them. If in doubt keep your dog leashed. This is a sport that can be enjoyed on a 20- or 30-foot tracking lead.
To get started geocaching all you need is an inexpensive handheld GPS or your cell phone and a basic membership on the www.geocaching.com website. There you can download geocaches directly to your GPSor the app from your computer. We also recommend checking on whether the cache is dog friendly and to get specific dog related information about the area. We do not recommend using an older automobile GPS (if anyone still has these) as the coordinates may be slightly off because a cars GPS expects that you are moving at approximately 4mph at least.
Other equipment you will need to get started geocaching is a backpack with a few items in it. We recommend a small first aid kit, a flashlight, bug spray, sunscreen, items to place in the cache when you find it, a pen, a camera and water for yourself and your dog. Don’t forget the bowl.
There are over 1,000,000 caches hidden around the world and there are an estimated 3 – 4 million people that geocache. They range from the extreme cachers, who program their computers to notify them when a new cache has been hidden so they are the first one to find it, to the casual cacher who hunts for a couple over a weekend. Then there is everything in between.
Our philosophy at wiggle butt nation is “taking the time “not” first to find”. So what are you waiting for? Grab your pack, grab the dog and grab the leash lets go dog (geo) caching.
As the owner of multiple dogs (3) right now, wife says absolute NO to a 4th, but I can be persuasive), I am always trying out new products to make life easier for me and my fur babies. Just like you, I have discovered some incredible gems and some unbelievable bombs.
The pet industry itself is huge now, for example in 2022, Americans spent $136.8 billion on their pets, which is up 10.68% from 2021 ($123.6 billion). Dog owners spend an average of $730 a year on their dogs. Younger Americans, between the ages of 35-44 years spend almost $137 per month on their pets.
We as owners, love to give our dogs birthday, gotcha day and holiday gifts. We buy fluffy beds and fancy collars. I have 3 baskets of dog toys throughout my house and almost every room has a treat jar filled with the latest trendy morsel. There are more dog crates and beds in my house than places for humans to park their behinds.
How do you know if a product, whether it is a grooming tool or a puzzle toy is good for your dog or just a gimmick? Personally, I know that I have spent many dollars, over the years, on toys and treats that my dogs have had zero interest in. Like a little kid they would rather play with the box it came in. Likewise, I have purchased many items that were supposed to make my life easier, cleaner or less complicated only to toss it out within a week.
So, I decided that I would enlist my 3 besties (and sometimes a few of their friends) to get their honest assessments of what they love and what they hate. Sometimes the friends will be human (depending on the product) and sometimes they will be other breeds of dogs. They nor their friends are being compensated in any way for their honest opinions*. We want to answer the questions is this really the best all-natural dish liquid, does that pet nail trimmer really work or does that spray really eliminate dog odor?
We decided to rate products on the “does it make your butt wiggle” scale of 1 – 5 with 5 being “a wiggle so hard that you practically fall” over to a 1 which would equate to “a stinky air biscuit”.
We welcome you to share your families’ experiences with us as well in the comments or via email.
We hope our blog makes your butt wiggle.
*if for some reason we are being compensated for a rating or we have been provided with a product to test we will make that abundantly clear
