Busy Buddy Tug A Jug Treats

Spyglass Sally · 12-14-2010, 06:38 PM

I don't know if any of you have a Busy Buddy Tug A Jug

but Buddy loves his and it's been a constant source of entertainment for him. He's had it for about a year and hasn't tired of it (or broken it!). The only problem is that the treats they sell to go in it are 1)pricey 2)hard for me to find.

We've tried things like cereal but they either come out to slow or they are too big and don't come out easily enough to keep him interested. We stumbled on a solution I thought I'd pass on. We found Blue Wilderness Duck kibble to be perfect! They are a bit of a challenge to get out, but not too much of one. Plus he loves the taste.

Buddy normally eats raw but if he's had 2-2 1/2# and is still acting hungry, we give him the Blue Duck kibble. He's always liked it as food and now he's really crazy about getting it out of his Tug A Jug as well. It's not cheap dog food (guess no good food is), but it's way cheaper as a jug refill than the stuff they were selling for it - and better for him too. So just in case anyone is interested, here's the what the bag looks like:

Erin251 · 12-15-2010, 08:33 AM

we were going to be getting Bo one of those for x-mas. thank you for the tip about the treats for it. i have also heard that you can crush up their regular treats(like milk bone) into really small pieces and use those for it.

Spyglass Sally · 12-15-2010, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin251

we were going to be getting Bo one of those for x-mas. thank you for the tip about the treats for it. i have also heard that you can crush up their regular treats(like milk bone) into really small pieces and use those for it.

We've tried different things like that, including Cherrios which look about the same size as the commercial jug treat. But whatever else we tried tended to either get jammed up in the "tug" part of the jug opening or spill out too quickly. Maybe you'll have better luck.

It really is a great toy - I'm sure Bo will love it. I can't think of any toy Buddy has had longer or played with more. I think he really enjoys the challenge of it, plus he likes to pounce on it when he's in one of his "Grrr...somebody's gonna pay!" moods. We have hardwood floors and I think he also likes the racket of it spinning around. Cheap thrills and keeps him entertained as well.

It's not uncommon for him to go through a jug of treats (~1+ cup) in a day or two. I actually feel kinda sneaky now that he's eating "good for you" kibble instead of the treats which I know are not as good for him. He also seems to like it better now than when I used the treats they sell for it. I'm guessing Duck is very aromatic.

Our son has a jug toy for his dogs and Buddy's giving them a bag of kibble for Christmas.

Ron · 12-15-2010, 11:53 AM

that looks like a great toy

Ruby Red · 12-15-2010, 02:25 PM

I would love to buy one of those but with 3 dogs in this mad house, it would cause a riot. They are ok with the soft toys now - after some disagreements between Ruby and Roddy, still every now and then Roddy wants Ruby's toy and Ruby will pinch Jakey's toy, but something with food in it...........no chance, there would be all out war here for that. It wouldn't help if I bought 3 either, they always seem to want what the other one has got even if it is exactly the same. But thanks for sharing Sally, I have seen something similar in the pet shops here in the UK, and it is great to read how Buddy plays with it and what you are using in it. BW is yet another dog food I can't get over here either.

Doreen · 12-15-2010, 04:10 PM

I was looking at that too, but they would chew the rope right off the bat. I guess you need that rope for the toy to be productive? I always cut off rope if it comes on a toy. As a matter of fact, I just bought 2 toys for them for Christmas that has rope on it and before I wrap them I will cut off the rope.

Spyglass Sally · 12-15-2010, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doreen

I was looking at that too, but they would chew the rope right off the bat. I guess you need that rope for the toy to be productive? I always cut off rope if it comes on a toy. As a matter of fact, I just bought 2 toys for them for Christmas that has rope on it and before I wrap them I will cut off the rope.

There is a rope in the pic, but in the one I have it's a hard rubber rope, not something even Buddy can destroy, lol! Like Kong rubber hard. Guess I didn't get a pic exactly like the one he has.

The rope is something he can jerk (or swing) to try and get more treats to come out. It helps coax them out. He can also spin it and they might come out, or box it with his paws and they jostle out too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruby Red

It wouldn't help if I bought 3 either, they always seem to want what the other one has got even if it is exactly the same.

Our son has two dogs (not boxers) and one jug toy. You are right - they do want whatever the other one has! It only makes them more crazy for it! Guess they're kinda like people in that regard.

He just got done playing with it again - for about the third time today. Which is really amazing since he's had it for about a year and he's only two years old!

CharliesServant · 12-16-2010, 03:45 AM

I love the look of that toy!