Finding a dog toy that genuinely holds your furry friend’s attention for more than a fleeting moment can feel like an impossible task. Yet, having such a tool is invaluable, whether you’re juggling remote work responsibilities or stepping out for necessary errands. This challenge led us to eagerly test The Game from Fable, a product positioned as a sophisticated, high-quality slow feeder toy designed to deeply engage dogs. The promise: extended periods of captivating entertainment. After putting it to the test, the verdict is clear – this Fable Dog Feeder earns our official Paw of Approval, successfully occupying our canine testers for a solid 30 minutes or more! Read on to discover why we (and our Dodo dogs) found it so impressive.
What Is The Game Dog Feeder?
The Game is an interactive treat-dispensing toy developed by Fable. It boasts a sleek, premium design that not only looks good but also excels at capturing and maintaining a dog’s interest. More than just a simple toy, it serves as a tool for both mental and physical stimulation, effectively doubling as a slow feeder. To use it, you simply fill it with dry dog food or small treats – it accommodates up to 1.5 cups. The dog then works to figure out how to access the rewards inside. The device features adjustable difficulty levels, allowing you to tailor the challenge to your dog. According to Fable, it’s designed to prevent boredom and keep dogs engaged for a full half-hour, potentially even helping to alleviate anxiety due to its prolonged occupational effect.
The base of this Fable Dog Feeder is weighted, contributing to its total weight of 2 pounds. This weight distribution causes it to wobble and move unpredictably when nudged, stimulating a dog’s natural hunting instincts and keeping them mentally alert. The top surface also incorporates ridges, perfect for spreading treats like peanut butter to further entice your dog. Constructed from silicone, The Game is designed to minimize noise – a welcome feature considering the potential racket a heavier toy could make when batted around. It comes in four stylish color options: green, navy, light gray, and purple. For ease of maintenance, this fable dog feeder is also designed to be dishwasher safe.
Our Canine Testers
To thoroughly evaluate The Game from Fable, we enlisted the help of two enthusiastic Dodo dogs as our judges. Their playful nature and varied experiences provided valuable insights into the toy’s effectiveness across different canine personalities.
Fable The Game interactive dog feeder toy
Did The Fable Dog Feeder Keep Our Dogs Occupied?
Absolutely. The Game from Fable succeeded in capturing our judges’ attention for impressive durations. Both their human companions were notably surprised and pleased by how long the toy held their pups’ focus. Beyond its primary function as an engaging toy, they were also delighted to find it worked remarkably well as a slow feeder.
- “It took Sasha about 30 minutes to get half a cup of kibble out, and she was actively playing the whole time.” — Katy B.
- “Nice way to slow feed. It took Lefty quite a while to get everything out. He batted it around into three different rooms of our house.” — Brian C.
Because The Game is so effective at keeping dogs busy and entertained, it stands out as a potential solution for distracting anxious dogs when left alone.
- “It tired Sasha out physically and mentally! It’s also sturdy enough that I felt comfortable leaving her home alone with it when we went out, and she stayed out of trouble. It’s great to find something that holds Sasha’s attention for more than a few minutes.” — Katy B.
It’s also an excellent way to provide entertainment for dogs when their owners are unable to actively play, perhaps during a work call or while attending to other responsibilities.
- “This will help now that Lefty gets less attention due to the new human baby!” — Brian C.
What the Dogs Loved: A Fun Puzzle with Tasty Rewards
Unsurprisingly, a toy combining food and treats was an instant hit with our canine judges. They were immediately captivated by the challenge of extracting snacks from The Game.
- “Lefty could smell the food and treats and went right for it. He was not bothered by the movement at all and took to it immediately.” — Brian C.
- “Sasha was immediately curious about how to get the food out, and figured out how to use her nose and paws. It definitely tired her out, and she seemed almost relieved when it was empty — but still didn’t want to let our other dog near it!” — Katy B.
Lefty the dog enjoying snacks from the Fable dog feeder
One of our pups even seemed to view The Game as a comforting companion after tiring herself out retrieving the goodies.
- “After playtime, Sasha wanted it close by — she’d lie next to it on her bed or carry it with her when she moved around the house.” — Katy B.
Sasha the dog focused on the Fable interactive feeder
What the Owners Loved: Durable and Distracting
Our canine testers employed various strategies, including chewing, to access the treats, leading their owners to be particularly impressed by the high quality and durability of The Game – despite it not being marketed as a chew toy.
- “When Sasha finally figured out how to pick it up in her mouth, I was worried she’d chew it up, but it’s been heavy and durable enough not to show any signs of wear. It’s stood up to weeks of pittie chewing and still looks and feels like a quality product.” — Katy B.
- “It’s very heavy, but easy for my dog to move around to get to the good stuff.” — Brian C.
Beyond mental engagement, this fable dog feeder proved excellent for expending physical energy.
- “It’s a good activity for an energetic dog! This would have been great when Lefty was a puppy.” —Brian C.
Close-up of a dog interacting with the Fable treat dispenser
Any Downsides to the Fable Dog Feeder?
One minor point raised was the absence of included instructions, although the setup is largely intuitive.
- “I didn’t see any instructions — it is pretty easy to figure out, but maybe more info on the different levels of difficulty.” — Brian C.
Additionally, one tester noted that the top part of the toy sometimes loosened slightly during play, although it never fully detached.
- “I did notice that the top started to unscrew after a while of playing. I tightened it, but found it loose again. It never came fully apart though.” — Brian C.
Both pet parents expressed initial hesitation regarding the $55 price tag, acknowledging it’s on the higher side for a dog toy. However, they ultimately agreed that its exceptional quality, impressive performance, and unique design justified the cost. Both judges indicated they and their dogs would continue using The Game and would enthusiastically recommend this fable dog feeder to fellow pet owners.
Durable Fable dog feeder after being played with
Our Takeaway: Perfect for Keeping Your Dog Busy
Dogs thrive on attention, but with The Game from Fable, it’s okay if they don’t receive your undivided focus every single moment. This innovative toy effectively provides both mental and physical stimulation, keeping our canine companions occupied in substantial 20- to 30-minute intervals. This means you can potentially enjoy an uninterrupted virtual meeting or tackle other tasks. Our testers had a blast channeling their energy and obtaining treats, and The Game proved resilient, even standing up to the determined efforts of pups known for their chewing prowess trying to get to the hidden goodies.
Shock Naue may receive complimentary samples for review purposes, but all opinions are independent and based on real-world testing. Endorsements are only published for products we (and our test subjects) genuinely approve of.
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