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I was walking through Mud Bay one day, not really looking for anything in particular, when I saw what was basically Hungry Hungry Hippos for dogs.
Obviously, I stopped.
It was an intermediate-level interactive dog toy and was rated pretty highly for mental engagement. At around $24, I figured it was worth trying.
Plus, I immediately had a vision.
Zeus on one side.
Electra on the other.
Two little French Bulldogs frantically smashing their paws down while treats flew out.
Actual Hungry Hungry Frenchies.
I was sold.
Unfortunately, my dogs did not understand the assignment.
First Attempt: Why Would We Do the Work?
When I brought it home, I showed Zeus and Electra how it worked.
The concept is pretty simple: treats go inside, and the dog presses down on the paw mechanism to release one.
I demonstrated.
Treat came out.
Both dogs were VERY interested.
So far, so good.
Then it was their turn.
Nothing.
They seemed to think the game was much better when I pressed the paw and they ate the treats.
Which, to be fair, is an excellent system from their perspective.
My son and I both tried different ways of showing them what to do and encouraging them to press it themselves.
They really weren’t interested.
Apparently we’d spent $24 on a dog toy that required a human employee.
Fantastic.
Two Days Later, Zeus Had Been Thinking
A couple of nights later, we suddenly heard Zeus messing around with the toy.
He hadn’t forgotten about it.
He was trying to tip it over to get the treats out.
Why solve the puzzle when you can simply break into the vault?
Electra was nearby supervising the operation, presumably waiting to collect anything that fell out.
We decided to give the toy another shot and showed Zeus how to press the paw again.
And suddenly…
It clicked.
Within a few minutes, he figured it out.
And once Zeus realized that pressing the paw made treats appear, there was no going back.
He was THRILLED.
Paw.
Treat.
Paw.
Treat.
PAW. TREAT. PAW. TREAT.
He couldn’t hit that thing fast enough.
I finally had my Hungry Hungry Frenchie.
Well…
One of them.
Electra Chose a Different Strategy
Electra still did not understand the toy.
Or perhaps more accurately:
Electra saw absolutely no reason to learn.
Why should she spend all that time figuring out how the mechanism works when Zeus was already doing the labor?
Her strategy was much more efficient.
Stand next to Zeus.
Wait for Zeus to press the paw.
Honestly, I can’t even argue with the logic.
We thought maybe she’d eventually learn by watching him, but so far she has shown very little interest in operating the toy herself.
She’s management.
Zeus is production.
Zeus Attempts a Hostile Takeover
Of course, once Zeus understood where the treats were coming from, his next thought was apparently:
Why am I accepting ONE treat at a time when ALL OF THE TREATS are inside this thing?
So he started trying to tip the entire toy over.
And this is actually one of my favorite things about the design.
The top stays closed.
Zeus could shove it around and attempt his little snack heist, but he couldn’t simply flip it over and dump the entire treat supply onto the floor.
Nice try, buddy.
Back to work.
So Zeus returned to enthusiastically slamming his paw down on the button.
Meanwhile, Electra continued her role as treat thief.
Everything was going great.
Until it wasn’t.
And Then I Heard Electra Choking
Suddenly, I heard a sound from Electra.
And this wasn’t her normal coughing or gagging.
She was in distress.
She had been rushing to grab the treats as Zeus released them, and I believe she swallowed one wrong and it became lodged.
One second we were laughing at Zeus playing Hungry Hippos.
The next, I was looking at Electra thinking:
Oh my God. My dog is choking.
And then I had an even scarier realization.
I didn’t know what to do.
I know what to do if my child is choking.
I know CPR for humans.
But my French Bulldog?
I had no idea.
I grabbed Electra and ran to my husband yelling for help.
Somewhere in the process of grabbing and carrying her, I apparently put enough pressure on her abdomen that she vomited.
Everywhere.
And out came the lodged treat.
It was disgusting.
It was also one of the most beautiful piles of dog vomit I have ever seen in my life.
She could breathe.
Electra recovered and was okay, while I stood there realizing I had just learned a pretty important lesson.
The Toy Gets a 10/10. I Get Homework.
The choking incident didn’t actually change my opinion of the toy.
I love it.
Zeus figured it out and genuinely enjoys using it. It keeps him busy, makes him problem-solve, and gives him something mentally engaging to do—especially on days when it’s too hot, too cold, or otherwise miserable outside.
I also really like that Zeus can’t simply tip it over and dump all the treats out.
He tried.
Of course he tried.
The design won.
I’m still hoping Electra eventually figures out how to operate the other side so my original dream can come true:
Zeus on one side.
Electra on the other.
HUNGRY HUNGRY FRENCHIES.
Although, considering Electra has already figured out that Zeus will do all the work for her, I’m not optimistic.
Would I Recommend It?
Absolutely. 10/10 from us.
It’s funny to watch, mentally engaging, more challenging than some of the puzzle toys we’ve tried, and Zeus keeps going back to it.
Just remember that treats are still food, dogs can get overly excited or competitive around them, and interactive toys should be used with supervision.
Especially if one of your dogs has decided the objective isn’t “solve the puzzle.”
It’s:
BEAT YOUR BROTHER TO EVERY SINGLE TREAT.
The biggest thing this toy gave me, though, wasn’t actually entertainment.
It was a wake-up call.
Electra was okay.
But for those few terrifying seconds, I didn’t know how to help my own dog in a breathing emergency.
And I don’t ever want to feel that helpless again.
So now I have some homework to do.
I need to learn what to do when a dog is actually choking, how canine first aid works, and whether I should know pet CPR just like I know human CPR.
And since I have a feeling I’m not the only dog owner who wouldn’t know what to do…
That’s exactly what I’m learning next.
This post describes our personal experience with Zeus and Electra. It is not veterinary or emergency medical advice. Electra’s treat became dislodged during the incident described above, but the way it happened should not be treated as instructions for helping a choking dog. If your dog is experiencing an emergency, contact a veterinarian or emergency veterinary service.
