West Paw Zogoflex Toppl and Jive dog toys

What they’re made of

Both the Toppl and Jive are made in Bozeman, Montana, by West Paw, a certified B Corporation. They’re made from Zogoflex, West Paw’s own thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), which is free of BPA, phthalates, latex and silicone. West Paw says it meets the US FDA standard for materials that touch food, which matters because the Toppl is designed to hold food.

One important difference: the Toppl uses Zogoflex Echo, a deliberately softer, bendier version made so dogs can get food out easily. The Jive uses the original, denser Zogoflex, which West Paw rates 5 out of 5 for durability, its toughest material. Don’t assume the two toys are equally tough. They aren’t.

West Paw says its manufacturing produces zero waste, with offcuts fed straight back into production.

The Toppl: a treat puzzle that’s less frustrating

The Toppl is a food puzzle. Its main advantage over the Kong Classic, the best-known treat toy, is its wide, open bowl shape. With a narrow cone-shaped toy, your dog has to work food out through a small hole, and many dogs get frustrated and give up. The Toppl’s wide opening, with soft nubs inside to hold the food, lets your dog get small rewards along the way, which keeps them interested for longer.

To make it harder, you can fit two sizes together (Small into Large, or Large into XL) to make a closed capsule. That’s great for clever, driven breeds such as Border Collies and Kelpies that solve the standard set-up quickly.

How tough is it? West Paw makes the Toppl for moderate chewers. Several Amazon Australia reviews report it cracking or being punctured by strong chewers such as Staffies and German Shepherds. If your dog is a heavy chewer, use the Toppl only while you’re watching, and take it away once the food is gone. Don’t leave it with them as a chew toy.

Toppl sizes: Small (6 × 8 × 8 cm), Large (9 × 10 × 10 cm), XL (10 × 12 × 12 cm).

The Jive: a tough fetch ball

The Jive is at the other end of the scale: West Paw’s toughest toy, rated 5 out of 5 for durability and marketed as “built for tough chewers”. Its dense, solid Zogoflex stands up to strong chewers that destroy a tennis ball in minutes.

Its grooved, uneven shape makes it bounce unpredictably, which makes fetch more interesting than with a round ball. The Small Jive (6 cm) fits a standard ball launcher (it works with Chuckit), so you can throw further without tiring your arm.

West Paw says the Jive is safer than a tennis ball: no glue, no rough felt that wears down teeth over time, and no hollow core that can collapse and become a choking risk for dogs with strong jaws.

Jive sizes: XS (5 cm, for very small dogs), Small (6 cm, tennis-ball size, fits launchers), Large (8 cm, softball size, for large dogs).

Keeping them clean

All Zogoflex toys can go on the top rack of the dishwasher. For the Toppl, which often holds raw meat, yoghurt, bone broth and other perishable fillings, that’s an important hygiene benefit rather than just a convenience. The smooth, non-porous surface is also harder for bacteria to cling to than porous natural rubber.

Recycling

Zogoflex toys can be recycled. In the US, West Paw runs a “Join the Loop” program where you can send worn toys back to be made into new ones. This isn’t fully available in Australia yet. Here, clean the toy and check with your council or a local recycler whether they accept TPE plastics; most kerbside bins won’t.

How they compare

Kong Classic (treat toy): The Kong Classic ($15 to $30) is the best-known treat toy. It’s made from natural rubber, comes in different strengths (Puppy, Classic, Extreme) and is sold almost everywhere. But its narrow opening frustrates some dogs, so they lose interest sooner. The Toppl’s wide bowl avoids this, but it costs more and is less durable for heavy chewers. For moderate chewers, the Toppl is the better puzzle. For heavy chewers left on their own, the Kong Extreme is the safer choice.

Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Snoop (treat toy): The Snoop ($25 to $35) is also a recyclable TPE treat toy, but dogs roll and flip it to release kibble rather than licking food out. It’s better for dry kibble; the Toppl is better for wet, frozen and mixed fillings. Both are recyclable and non-toxic. The Toppl is more versatile.

Standard tennis ball (fetch): A tennis ball costs $2 to $5 and lasts days to weeks. The rough felt can wear down teeth with constant fetching, and the hollow core can be a choking risk for dogs with strong jaws. The Jive ($24 to $36) costs five to ten times as much, but it should last for years, it won’t wear teeth, and it floats.

Do they save money? An example

Here’s an example for an energetic large dog over 12 months:

Cheap toys: tennis balls ($3 each, one a week) = $156 a year; a rubber chew toy ($12, replaced monthly) = $144 a year; a cheap treat toy ($15, replaced every three months) = $60 a year. Total: about $360 a year, plus several kilograms of plastic and rubber in landfill.

Zogoflex: a Toppl Large ($45, lasting a year or more) plus a Jive Small ($30, lasting 2 to 3 years, so $10 to $15 a year) = about $55 to $60 a year.

Your numbers will depend on your dog, but for a dog that gets through toys quickly, the Zogoflex toys can pay for themselves within a few months.

Love It Guarantee

West Paw backs all Zogoflex toys with its Love It Guarantee: a one-time replacement or full refund per household if a toy is damaged. That’s a generous guarantee for a dog toy and reduces the risk of paying more. You’ll need your receipt to claim.

Breeds that love fetch and puzzle toys, and suit these well, include the Border Collie, Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever.