What is a Kong Wobbler?

Have you seen the Kong Wobbler in the store and wondered what is different about it and the other Kong products? Our experienced dog trainer reviews the Kong Wobbler and will tell you if the product will work for you and your dog!

Check out others' reviews of the Kong Wobbler on Amazon. Both the small and the large version are available for your pup!

Overall the Kong Wobbler is a great toy for almost every dog! It is an interactive toy that helps keep dogs busy and it provides a ton of mental stimulation. The mental stimulation portion is key to keeping your dog out of trouble and doing a positive behavior of playing with the toy. The AKC recommends Brain Games for Mental Stimulation. 

Putting the Wobbler to Work!

The way the Kong Wobbler works in simple terms; you put your dog's food into it and then they knock it around trying to get the food out. There is a small hole in the side of the Wobbler, unlike the standard Kong that has the hole in the bottom. There is also weight in the bottom of the Wobbler, the weight causes the Wobbler to pop back up after your dog knocks it over. The small Wobbler will fit enough food for small and medium dogs. Many large dog's feeding requirements will also fit for the small wobbler, but giant breeds and those with a large diet will need to go with the Large Wobbler.

The combination of the weight keeping the Wobbler upright and the small holes on the side of the toy keeps the food coming out slowly. This allows the Kong Wobbler to work similar to a slow feeder puzzle bowl. If you are looking for a puzzle bowl instead, I recommend that you check out this article on the 12 Best Slow Feeder Bowls. Here is our favorite:

When comparing the Wobbler to slow feeder bowls, results vary. For many dogs the Wobbler will keep the dog busier longer and slow their feeding down more than a typical puzzle bowl. This is because they have less access to the food and only a small hole for it to come out of. The disadvantage is that the dog will be moving around a lot more and eating their food all over your room as opposed to in a single location. This also leads to them licking the floor where the food came out. While this is fine for some dog owners, others are not a fan of the potential mess it causes and would prefer the dog to eat in a single location and straight out of a bowl instead of off the floor.

Many of our clients that buy the wobbler will use them with their puppy at both breakfast and dinner. This keeps the dog busy for a while so the owners can have a little free time to make their own breakfast or dinner! Many clients will even bring it into the bathroom and feed their pup while they are showering/getting ready in the morning. The Wobbler is a great toy for either a young dog or an older dog that needs a little more mental stimulation in their life.

Showing Your Dog How to Use the Kong Wobbler

It is important to note that the Kong Wobbler is not meant to be utilized as a chew toy. It is an interactive toy that keeps your dog busy but should be taken away after they have gotten all their food out of it. Some dogs take a little effort to understand how to use the Kong Wobbler Toy. The first couple of times your pup plays with the Wobbler, keep an eye on them. If they try and chew the wobbler open stop them by taking the toy away for a brief second. Then place it back in front of them. Then knock to Wobbler over with your hand to show them that food will fall out.

Similarly, if your dog just looks at Wobbler and doesn't know how to use it, just knock it over a few times so that they see that food falls out of the hole when they knock it over. They can use either their paws or their nose to knock the toy around.

Final Verdict on the Kong Wobbler

The Wobbler is a great buy for anyone who wants to slow their dog down while eating and give them mental stimulation. The only downside we see is the potential mess the Wobbler can create with your dog eating all over the house!

Find both the small and large Kong Wobbler on Amazon! If you do a House Call or Board and Train with one of our experienced trainers, they can sell you the product right there on your lesson!