Blowing bubbles is one of those forever young activities.Why not introduce a bubble-blowing liquid as a great way for kids to have fun with their dogs? Crazy Dog Catch-A-Bubble did just that, advertising that kids can play for hours with this product and their pups. Sounded like a good way to mentally stimulate and physically exercise dogs, so I decided to try it.
What is It? This is a bubble-blowing liquid, packaged in either a yellow or purple bone-shaped plastic bottle (mine is purple.) The liquid is thicker than other bubble-blowing mixtures, and sticky to the touch. The bottle holds 29 ml of bubble-blowing fluid and comes with a wand. Cost is about $6.
To use, lift the wand from the bottle, allow excess fluid to drip off, and then blow through the hollow diamond shape at the bottom of the wand. Bubbles galore! Most are small or medium-sized, with only an occasional big one. I imagine the idea here is volume, not size, because the point is that dogs will chase and jump after the bubbles.
Product Claims True? Crazy Dog Catch-A-Bubble really does produce lots of bubbles from one single wand of liquid. In that regard, it's a very satisfying product. Of course, it's always fun to watch all of those bubbles flit and float. But what of the specific claims made by the company?
Claim #1: long-lasting bubbles. Yes, they are long-lasting, but not any more than other bubble-blowing mixes.
Claim #2: strong bubbles you can catch. True again - they seem to be stronger than other bubbles and don't pop as readily if you touch them in mid-air.
Claim #3: Peanut butter smell. Smells like soap to me. Maybe the dogs, with their superior scenting apparatus, can single out the peanut butter odor. I can't. (Catch-A-Bubble also comes in a cat formula, which is supposed to have a catnip odor. I haven't tried that.)
Let's Hear What the Intended Audience Had to Say
Here's a rundown of my pets' reactions:
- Kaleb Dog - "Hey, I don't like being fooled. If I'm gonna take time and energy to chase these things, I want something solid to sink my teeth into!" (That's the Siberian Husky in him.) - Pepper Dog - "I need to lie here, observe, and plot out how they move so I can circle and herd them properly." (Typical Shetland Sheepdog.) - JoJo Cat - "Let me outta here!" - Pixie Cat - "Help! I'm surrounded!" - Ingrid Cat - "Ooh...that tickles my nose." - Toby Cougar Cat - "Kill it!" - Phantom Cat - "You've got to be kidding. You know it's beneath me to engage in such tirelessly juvenile antics. How condescending that you would even suggest such a demeaning activity! Now, where's the tuna?"
Bottom line: the bubbles generated some interest, but other than Toby Cougar, no one seemed particularly motivated to chase or jump after them. His interest faded quickly, though. Curiosity has its place, but evidently not as part of an exercise plan. Ingredients The ingredients in the product concern me a bit. There is a warning that young children should only use this with adult supervision. You don't want them swallowing this stuff or splashing it in their eyes. Here's why: - Polyvinyl prolidine - this is a chemical binding agent (perhaps the reason the bubbles hold together so well?) - Hydroxyethy cellulose - a chemical thickening agent - Ethyl alcohol - since this is an intoxicating ingredient found in beer and wine, I wonder if it's included here to create that effect in a mild way - at any rate, this ingredient can potentially burn eyes as well - Peanut butter scented fragrance - Distilled water
So, do I really want my dog lapping up these bubbles?
My Final Reaction Considering the questionable ingredients as well as the lukewarm reception my dogs and cats gave this product, I'm not likely to buy it again. I do think that some dogs would probably have lots of fun chasing these, so I can't completely rule them out as a way to stimulate exercise and play. It just didn't work for my crew.
On the other hand, I had fun playing with the bubbles. Then again, I might simply be trying to get back my long lost childhood.
Fantastic prices with ease & c...(Stock status: N/A)
Magical long-lasting bubbles scented with catnip are the purr-fect interactive toy for kids of all ages and their cats. Bubbles will stay for hours. ...More at Amazon Marketplace
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