Do you work a full-time job outside the home and have a pet? If so, then you probably know the importance of trying to keep your furry friend entertained during those long hours that you are away.

For dog owners like me, that might mean leaving the television on in hopes that a little background noise might make Fido feel less alone. For others, it might mean buying your pet interactive toys that will stimulate it mentally and physically.

With interactive dog toys on my mind, I decided to try the Starmark Treat Ringer Orb ($15.99 at PetSmart). Starmark created the dog toy as a way to stimulate pets on an interactive level by challenging them to work to reach the treat ring inside.

Available in two other shapes (horseshoe and bone), the toy is described as ideal for “power chewers” and claims to offer hours of interactive chewing.

First impression

If you’re a regular reader of Fab or Flub, then you might already know that I own a 6-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi who has a strong obsession with squeaky toys. Because of this, I was a little worried that he might not take right away to the Starmark Treat Ringer Orb.

Unlike his squeaky toys, which are colorful, loud and textured, the orb is pretty plain looking. Made from smooth, durable nylon, the white orb features an inner ring that holds edible treat rings (refills are $7.99 at PetSmart) that your dog must work to remove.

To put it simply, the orb is not the most exciting or cute dog toy you will come across. However, it’s the first toy my dog has ever received that incorporates food, and that seemed like reason enough for him to get excited.

Fab or flub?

Fab! Combining two of my dog’s favorite things (food and toys), the Starmark Treat Ringer Orb has become a big hit in our household. My dog seems to really enjoy the challenge of trying to remove the edible treat rings from the orb.

In the beginning, he wasn’t too fond of the toy and had little interest in it. But once he realized how to use it, he became more comfortable with it and spent a good hour trying to get the edible treat rings off.

As my dog has gotten more familiar with the orb, he has become increasingly faster at removing the rings. It now takes him 15-30 minutes to remove them, depending, of course, on his interest or hunger level at the time.

Some days the rings even linger almost the whole day (I’m assuming that’s when he feels like taking it easy).

Bottom line: I am glad that I’ve found a way for my dog to entertain himself when I’m not around. Now that I’ve tested the waters of interactive dog toys, I look forward to trying out other products (including the rest of the Starmark line) and seeing how they all compare.