Squirrel Dude Revisited

Our first Premier Busy Buddy Squirrel Dude was a size extra large. While it fit an entire cup of kibble, there wasn't much else I could put in it. Due to the sheer size of the thing, the dogs couldn't reach any food stuck in the very end of the toy. It was too large for them to bite effectively, and even tossing it was a bit of a stretch. I still use it as a roller puzzle toy, but I decided to get an more appropriate medium to size to explore the Squirrel Dude's potential as a Kong alternative.

Photo by Erin Koski

The most important difference between the Squirrel Dude and a classic-shaped Kong is that this toy has four little rubber fingers that protrude into the opening on the bottom. These prevent small treats like kibble from falling out easily.

To make the Squirrel Dude an easier puzzle, the rubber fingers can be trimmed. With time and heavy use, they tend to break off eventually. Once the rubber fingers are gone, the toy remains stuffable just like a Kong.

Photo by Erin Koski

We have a whole lot of Kongs, but only a couple Squirrel Dudes. For this reason, I am hesitant to chop the rubber fingers off our toys. With those intact, the dogs have a tough time getting peanut butter and other sticky treats out of the toy.