Most average dog owners love a game of ball or frisbee with their pups, but you have to be careful that the product you pick up at the market is everything you need. For example, I love the Tuffy's rings that are soft, but still fly quite well with little effort. I even recommend the Kong Frisbees that don't fly as well, but are pliable enough not to hurt your dog or you when it's caught and then returned. A frisbee I'm not going to recommend is the Dogzilla Turbo Disc.
By and large the Dogzilla line (available online and from Walmart) is a good one. They offer a great range of products from tug balls to freezer pops (Arctic Bones) that Cassie really loves. Unfortunately, the Turbo Disc just doesn't come up to snuff. First of all it does not fly very well thanks to the large hole in the middle. I like this feature in theory for it makes the disc easier for the dog to catch and carry. However, in this case the hole makes the disc fly awkwardly and not as far. It really frustrated my husband who is a long time Ultimate player and expects a lot of out of a frisbee. Secondly, the disc is made of a hard plastic that is too rigid for the average dog. Yes, there are dogs who will go all day long for your average run of the mill frisbee, but most dogs prefer a little give. Overall this is not a big deal.
What does make me unhappy is that I can't leave this frisbee around in the yard or the house because Cassie likes nothing better than to chew on the rigid plastic. I wouldn't normally mind except that the packaging clearly states that the Turbo Disc should not be used as a chew (translation: we know your dog will want to chew it, but we haven't been able to make it so that it can't be torn into little indigestible pieces). Also, as Cassie has helpfully demonstrated, chewing the edges of the disc affects how it flies and makes the whole flight even worse than before.
In summation: There are a cast of great frisbee toys on the market for all levels of frisbee dog, this just isn't one of them. Sorry Dogzilla.
I am so happy to be your first follower! What a great idea for a blog. With 9 dogs I can certainly use all the information I can get.
ReplyDeleteThanks and I will be stopping by often.
Thanks Cherie,
ReplyDeleteI thought so too! I've looked at so many sites that give reviews of toys and other dog items, but none that focus on reviews exclusively. I hope you enjoy it...I'll keep my thoughts coming...I don't know how you do it with 9 dogs! You must be a wonder woman!
I disagree about the Turbo Disc comments above. I have an eleven month old GSD who will not engage in play with anything except a rugby ball. After trying soft mouth training he still was popping about $200 in rugby balls a month. At the dog park we found an old chewed on Turbo Disc. My dog actually brought it back after a difficult toss by me. Yes I would say it is hard to throw like a frisbee but it's a disc. As an avid disc golf player of ten years I then tried to throw the disc over hand like a tomahawk. It flew great! I have had three shoulder surgies in the padr two years so if I can throw it 50yards I think most anyone could. I spent an hour with my dog playing fetch with this toy. He has never shown interest or played fetch before but this disc made it extremely easy. With the firmness I could still chunk it far and it is just soft enough not to hurt his teeth when catching it in the air. Plus the hole in the middle made it so easy for him to pick it up the first time, which is why I think he stuck with it. Hope this helps give another point of view.
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous, thanks for the feedback...I'm glad your GSD likes the Turbo Disc. Sounds like he's a tough one on toys! Those are my favorite kind of dogs. This is quite an old post (notice this was pre-photos), so I was wondering whether we were talking about the same Turbo Disc? There were two on the market (Dogzilla & Booda)...The Dogzilla disc (the one I wrote about) was red and I believe is no longer in general distribution. The other disc (I've tried but not written about) is the Booda Turbo Disc. It's blue and less rigid than the Dogzilla one and does fly well. I'm just wondering whether we are talking about two different toys. The Booda is definitely better than the old Dogzilla one! These two have been mixed up before. Other reviewers have focused on the Dogzilla Turbo Disc's durability as a problem...Let me know your thoughts! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree as well my two 100 pound GSD's love the Dogzilla Turbo Disc Dog Toy,... they love that they can pick it up so easy. Sometimes they run with it up blocking their eyes (which looks so funny) or down below the lower jaws and shake it like prey. They are not a breed like a border Collie that wants to leap into the air to catch it as they do in Frisbee competitions. Actually I prefer they don't leap like that. My dogs are 33" long breed dogs and that leaping is not joint friendly. They prefer chasing it and chasing each other for it. Sometime they catch it but I don't fly it high. I have 4 of them and that means I can toss one while they prance with one ... they grab the new one and I am armed with another to toss. I am trying to find 2 more of these so the game can be fast and furious. I have seen many reviews complaining they are chewed up. Geez these are not chew toys. I have had these for a about 2 years.. they hav ea lot of teeth marks and tooth holes but still fly. They even play tug of war but they don't chew them up. I am bummed because I can't find two new ones to buy. I want the red one with the hole in the middle... or another with a hole like that... my regular old frisbees are lying in the dirt they don't even want to run after those and wait till I toss a dogzilla.
ReplyDeleteSounds like the GSD people are having a lot of success with the Dogzilla Turbo Disc. Maybe mouth size is a factor...all I can ever say is that the dogs I've tried it with (two Aussies, a lab mix, and a golden doodle) all seemed to take umbrage with the mouth feel of the disc. The Aussies were especially uninterested, except for using it as an occasional chew toy, which was not the point. I am very clear about things not being chew toys, but I don't like toys that I can't trust to be left alone for at least a little while without warranting a vet visit! I'm glad someone is enjoying it however! If you are still having trouble finding the Dogzilla brand ones...try looking for the Booda brand!
ReplyDeleteMy GSD LOVES the Dogzilla Turbo Disc too! If I throw another fris bee he'll chase it down, but this is the only one he will junpo high for and catch in his mouth. I also disagree that it is hard to throw, although I'm only throwing it about 50 feet max. My GSD also likes to shake it around like prey, and it's softer than the standard frisbee so I have to remind him not to chew on it, which he also loves to do! I am looking for a place where I can purchase them in bulk, as $8.99 at Walmart dopesn't suit me.
ReplyDeleteIt is great when you learn to throw it. You throw from vertical and snap it. Flies great once you get the hang of it
ReplyDeleteThe original one-solid disc with center hole is outstanding. It has lasted about 4 months with my year old German Shepherd. The "new" version is made with two pieces, both of which are cheap plastic. He destroyed it in two days. Does anyone know who still sells the original?
ReplyDeleteTurbo Disk is the only Frisbee that will last my dogs enthusiasm for more than a year. He can chew through anything. And by the way it flies far and with accuracy. I am buying 3 today. Are you kidding me.
ReplyDeleteTurbo Disk is the only Frisbee that will last my dogs enthusiasm for more than a year. He can chew through anything. And by the way it flies far and with accuracy. I am buying 3 today. Are you kidding me.
ReplyDelete