Frank the Dogtopus: The Dog Toy That Outsmarts Boredom

I’m Frank the Dogtopus. And my favorite game is “Detective”!

Unlike those not-so-loyal ex-friends that got chewed through and destroyed in minutes, I am designed to stay near my buddy for a while.

With me, they’ll spend up to 35 minutes untying knots, sniffing out hidden treats, and getting a rewarding workout for both mind and body. I keep pups focused, calm, and happy, while you reclaim a few peaceful moments for yourself. 

Truly a win-win, right?

Detective is our fav game… 

With your help, I turn from a standard octopus toy to a tangled, treat-stuffed “monster” full of yummy mysteries to solve for your pup. 

I’ve got 24 treat pockets, and each one is a mini adventure with barriers, spikes, rubbery bumps, and twisty little traps.

Sniffs, chews, unties, and rewards… Every solved knot feels like a victory, fueling your 4-paw “Detective” to keep going until the case is closed.

Let me tell you a secret about your buddy’s brain: it needs 15-20 minutes of mental stimulation to equal 1 hour of physical exercise.

Most dogs are walking around with big, brilliant brains that are desperately understimulated. That’s where I come in! When I activate their natural foraging instincts — sniffing around my tentacles, problem-solving how to untie my knots, manipulating my chambers with their paws — I’m giving them what experts call “species-appropriate enrichment.”

Think of me as your dog’s personal brain trainer. I’m not just entertaining them, I’m exercising the parts of their mind that need to work. 

Result? You have a calmer, more focused dog who’s less likely to channel that intelligence into redecorating your furniture and showing up in your zoom calls.

Your dog has some serious ancestral programming running in the background. And most toys completely ignore it.

Chewing, tagging, sniffing and puzzle-solving: these aren’t just behaviors for dogs, they’re part of who they are. Food appears in bowls, toys get handed over for free, and the biggest “challenge” of the day is finding the perfect napping spot.  

No wonder they try to find alternative options to express themselves, and that’s when the “let’s chew the couch” idea kicks in 🙂

With me, they get those puzzles, challenges, and rewards they’re wired to seek.

We all know the story. A new toy shows up, your dog gets hyped, and some time later… fluff everywhere.

Plush toys barely survive a round. Rubber ones come with chemical odors and are too hard on teeth and gums.

I’m built differently.With a body made from natural rubber and tentacles reinforced with recycled cotton fire hoses—I’m tough enough for even the most determined power chewers, but still gentle on teeth and gums.

I can handle all that enthusiastic detective work without falling apart or hurting your pup’s mouth.

New toy. 3-5 minutes of play… It’s never enough for your excited pup to burn that energy.

They always want more. More challenges, more action, more chances to keep their tails wagging. Dogs need layered challenges to stay engaged, and that’s exactly where I jump in.

I don’t just give your dog one puzzle to solve. I’m like a whole detective case with multiple clues! Animal behaviorists call it “progressive difficulty.”

Each mystery they solve is a new challenge that keeps their brains and bodies fully engaged. Once you tie me up and load my chambers with treats, your buddy faces a real multi-stage experience that keeps the fun going:

• Stage 1: Finding the treat scents (2-5 minutes of intense sniffing)
• Stage 2: Figuring out the knot system (5-15 minutes of problem-solving)
• Stage 3: Working through individual chambers (15-25 minutes of persistent effort)
• Stage 4: Final treat extraction (5-10 minutes of satisfaction)

I keep them busy for up to 35 minutes of sniffing, chewing, and untying.

It’s the win-win you wanted: 35 minutes of adventure for them, 35 minutes of peace for you.

Fast eating isn’t just bad manners; it’s actually dangerous for your dog’s tummy. Gobbling food can lead to bloat, poor digestion, and even choking.

Here’s where my 24 treat pockets and tricky barriers work their magic. I teach dogs to slow down and savor their treats by making them sniff, search, and work for each yummy reward.

Instead of inhaling treats in 30 seconds, they’ll spend 35 minutes or more earning them through problem-solving.

A lot of dog toys are made from cheap synthetic rubber packed with harmful chemicals.

But I like to be different. My natural rubber body and recycled cotton fire hose tentacles mean I’m free from BPA, phthalates, lead, and those nasty chemical odors that make you wrinkle your nose. Safe for your pup to chew, and better for the planet too.

Most enrichment toys get old fast. Once your dog figures them out, the fun is over.

Me? I like to keep things interesting. My difficulty can be adjusted every single time we play, which keeps our games fresh, challenging, and exciting.

Tie my tentacles loose for beginners, tighten them up for experts, or even braid them together for the ultimate puzzle challenge. I adapt to different dogs, ages, and skill levels, so our game never gets boring.

Slobber is an unavoidable part of every dog toy. So are dirt, crumbs, and who-knows-what.

But don’t worry, I keep things simple. Just toss me in the washing machine, let me dry, and I’ll be ready for the next round of detective work.

Quick clean, and no extra headache for you.

Not to brag, but I look pretty good lying around. In Green/Beige or Turquoise/Beige, I add a cheerful pop of color to your pup’s life and fit right in with your home. Finally, a toy that doesn’t scream ‘dog mess’ when left on the floor.

Plus, I’m from the USA, which means supporting local manufacturing, shorter supply chains, and the kind of quality control that comes from keeping production close to home.  

It’s a toy your dog loves, and the one you won’t mind leaving out on the floor.

How one very determined Dog Inspired Frank the Dogtopus

It’s 2020 (yep, pandemic time) and I’m moving back in with my parents… along with my three adult siblings. That’s six grown-ups and one VERY excited dog—Frank.

Two days later, she’d turned into a furry tornado. Barking during Zoom calls, stealing snacks mid-meeting, basically acting like she’d been promoted to household CEO without anyone’s permission.

One night my dad’s sitting there obsessed with his daily Wordle, and I joked, “Maybe Frank needs a puzzle of her own.”

That joke turned into the first Frank the Dogtopus prototype. Literally an old bedsheet tied in knots with some treats stuffed inside.

And you know what? She destroyed it in 5 minutes. 🫤

But we kept trying. Shape after shape, material after material. We pulled in advice from vets, got feedback from dog parents who tested our early versions, and basically let Frank run her own “quality control” department.

Months of trial and error later, we finally cracked it:

• Tough recycled fire hoses that could handle her enthusiasm
• 24 hidden treat chambers for extended puzzle-solving
• A design that actually engaged her natural sniffing and hunting instincts

Frank LOVED it. (So we named it Frank the Dogtopus, obviously.)

More importantly… she actually stayed busy. Like, genuinely focused for 30+ minutes at a time. No more Zoom call interruptions. No more furniture rearrangement projects.

After 27 years of dog ownership and a background in consumer goods manufacturing, I finally understood: Dogs aren’t destructive because they’re bad. They’re destructive because they’re bored. And really, really smart.