The PFOTENWALD tug toy for dogs made a very good impression in our test. This tug toy is a very sturdy dog toy. It has a very resistant rope and is therefore also suitable for large and strong dogs. The high-quality stainless steel carabiner ensures a good grip in any situation. The ergonomic rubber handle fits comfortably and perfectly in the hand thanks to its special shape. The teasing rod can be used for exercising large and small dogs or for playing with cats. Playing together also helps to strengthen the bond between humans and animals. The interchangeability of the toys prevents boredom. The teasing rod is packaged in a recyclable cardboard box , which is also ideal as gift packaging. It also comes with a practical cotton bag for storage. The company also offers an absolutely risk-free order: if the customer is not 100% satisfied, they will receive a full refund. All in all, a highly recommended product.
Advantages
✅ Sturdy, resistant strap
✅ High-quality stainless steel carabiner
✅ Suitable for large and small dogs and cats
✅ Two different toys included
✅ Ergonomically shaped rubber handle
✅ Can be dismantled for easier transport
✅ Includes practical storage bag
✅ Risk-free ordering thanks to money-back guarantee
Disadvantages
❌ No significant disadvantages
The first impression
The packaging and labelling
ℹ️ Here we take a closer look at packaging. Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important factor. In addition, adequate protection of the product must of course also be ensured.
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Product protection | Sturdy cardboard packaging, additionally packed in a cotton bag, product sufficiently protected | 100 points |
| Sustainability Packaging | No unnecessary packaging waste, packaging is completely plastic-free, item is compactly packed | 100 points |
| Product labelling | CE marking present, warning of strangulation hazard for small children on the packaging box. This warning would also be desirable on the storage bag | 80 points |
| Miscellaneous | Beautifully printed cardboard packaging suitable as gift packaging | 100 points |
| Total | 95 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
The PFOTENWALD stimulation rod arrived in a sturdy cardboard box . The box was undamaged and easy to open without any tools. Inside the box was the product with all the accessories, packed in a printed cotton bag . This provides additional protection for the product and can be used for storage. In this case, the product was fully protected and the dog toy arrived in perfect condition. The packaging is also completely plastic-free and therefore recyclable and resource-saving. No unnecessary packaging waste was produced. The CE labelling is present. A warning about the risk of strangulation for small children is also printed on the packaging . However, this warning would also be desirable on the storage bag, as the product is certainly not kept in the packaging box by all customers, but rather only in the practical storage bag.
Overall, the dog toy makes a good first impression. The attractively printed packaging box is also suitable as gift packaging.
After unpacking
Package contents and instructions
ℹ️ Most people’s first impression after unpacking is immediately memorable. Are the contents of the pack complete and does the manufacturer make it as easy as possible for me to use the product straight away?
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Package contents & scope | Package contents complete with … | 100 points |
| Instructions for use | supplied directly, in German, clearly written and illustrated | 100 points |
| Contact information | The company name and e-mail address of the company can be found on the instructions for use supplied. The postal address is only printed on the packaging box. There is no telephone number for the company. | 80 points |
| Miscellaneous | Practical cotton storage bag included | 100 points |
| Total | 95 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
After unpacking, there were eight items on the table. In addition to the ergonomic handle and the pole, two different dog toys were included. Two carabiners and a sturdy rope are also included with the stimulation rod. The printed cotton storage bag was also included. The package contents were therefore complete. Instructions on how to use the product can be found in the instructions for use supplied. These are clearly written in German and also clearly illustrated. The company name and e-mail address of the company are printed on the instructions for use. The postal address is only on the packaging box, which may not be kept by all customers thanks to the practical storage bag. It would therefore be desirable to be able to find all contact information on the instructions for use or similar. A telephone number is not provided. Overall, however, this is a well thought-out and customer-friendly way of sending a product.
The first time in your hand
Product processing and appearance
ℹ️ Before we start the practical test, we take a close look at the product processing. How high quality are the materials used? Is the look and feel satisfactory?
| Criterion | Remark | Points achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Visual appearance | Colourful, visually stimulating dog toy | 100 points |
| Processing | all individual parts of the stimulation rod are perfectly finished | 100 points |
| Stability | Rope and carabiner made of high-quality, resistant materials, therefore also suitable for large and strong dogs | 100 points |
| Sustainability of the product | Stability of the high-quality material promises a certain longevity of the product, The various materials of the stimulation rod are only partially recyclable | 60 points |
| Total | 90 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
The ergonomic handle of the stimulation rod is made of sturdy rubber. The pole is made of sturdy metal and can be dismantled into two parts and screwed back together again for transport . The two carabiners are made of high-quality stainless steel and are very sturdy. The plush elephant is hand-stitched. The bright colours of the three-coloured braided ribbon certainly have a visually stimulating effect on the animal. All materials and parts of the product are perfectly finished and promise sufficient stability. The thick rope is made of resistant material and is additionally secured with plastic at the loop connection to prevent fraying at this point. This means that this teasing rod is also suitable for large and strong dogs. The product is only partially sustainable. The different materials are only partially recyclable. However, due to the high quality of the materials, the longevity and thus also a certain sustainability is definitely given.
This is what our practical test showed
Does the manufacturer keep its advertising promises?
ℹ️ Our practical test is the most relevant and therefore the most important. Here, the product has to undergo a wide range of criteria and tests. We check the functions and product promises of the test article.
| Criterion | Remark | Points achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| High quality of the material | Sturdy rope made of resistant material and stainless steel carabiner for a secure hold | 100 points |
| Suitable for all dogs and cats | Suitable for large and small dogs, as well as for playing with cats | 100 points |
| Stimulation of the animal | Visually stimulating thanks to bright colours, animal imitation (elephant) and interchangeability of the toys used | 100 points |
| Load capacity | Extremely stable and resilient thanks to high-quality materials and flawless workmanship | 100 points |
| Ergonomics of the handle | ergonomic rubber handle fits comfortably and perfectly in the hand thanks to its special shape | 100 points |
| Transportability | Stimulating rod can be dismantled using the screw thread and is therefore easy to transport in the storage bag | 100 points |
| Total | 100 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
We really enjoyed testing the PFOTENWALD teasing rod. Thanks to the high quality and stability of the materials, it is also suitable for larger dogs. We tested the teasing rod with an Appenzell mountain dog, which was very stimulated by the two different toys. The rope easily withstood the strong animal. It should be emphasised that the rope is reinforced with transparent plastic at the joints to prevent fraying at these vulnerable points. The stainless steel carabiners promise optimum hold and durability. Our cats also accepted it immediately and enjoyed playing with it. The bright colours of the braided ribbon are visually stimulating and the animal imitation of the plush elephant quickly arouses the pets’ interest. The fact that the toy on the stimulation rod can be easily changed means that it never gets boring. Toys purchased elsewhere or toys you have made yourself can also be quickly and easily attached to the product. Thanks to its special shape, the ergonomic rubber handle sits comfortably and perfectly in the hand. For easier transport, the teasing rod can be dismantled thanks to a screw connection and fits neatly into the elongated cotton bag supplied, together with one of the toys. The compact, plastic-free and recyclable packaging of the dog toy is also sustainable and saves resources. All in all, a highly recommended product.
Price/performance ratio
and ratings from consumers
ℹ️ Finally, we look at how the product compares to the competition. Can it keep up with the competition in terms of price and quality? Would we generally recommend buying it? We also analyse consumer reviews and check whether the critical and positive reviews are actually justified.
| Criterion | Remark | Points achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Price / performance ratio | Very good quality and performance at a reasonable price | 90 points |
| Rating cut | 4.2 out of 5.0 on Amazon | 60 points |
| Total | 75 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
On the Amazon platform, consumers have given the product an average rating of 4.2 stars. One criticism is that the rope and the braided band for playing could be even more stable. Many customers like the fact that the toys are easy and handy to replace. It is also mentioned several times that the dogs are happy to accept the stimulation rod and are thus strongly encouraged to play and romp around . This keeps both the animal and its owner fit. In our practical test, we were able to confirm that it is very easy to replace the respective toy and that dog toys purchased or made elsewhere can also be attached to the product without any problems . We were also very satisfied with the stability of the material. This is appropriate for the purpose and is also suitable for use with larger and stronger dogs.
Prices of up to €34.99 are charged on the Internet for equivalent products. Very inexpensive products are available from as little as €19.99. The stimulation rod from PFOTENWALD is currently priced at €31.50, which puts it in the middle to upper price segment. The price ratio is reasonable for the quality and scope of performance that you get.
Display
Overall result
| Weighting | Points achieved* | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. packaging & labelling | 15% | 95 points |
| 2. package contents & instructions | 15% | 95 points |
| 3. product processing & appearance | 20% | 90 points |
| 4. in the practical test | 30% | 100 points |
| 5. price/performance & consumer reviews | 20% | 75 points |
| Total | 92 points |
