K9 Connectables is one of the latest innovations in the valuable pet sector. It’s a toy designed to ‘challenge the dog’s brain’ in order to stop it biting.
Invented and designed by dog lover James McIlvenna, K9 Connectables has been nominated in the consumer product category in the Irish Design Awards. Here, he speaks to ThinkBusiness about the new device.
Where did the idea for the toy come from?
The idea for K9 Connectables came about when my wife and I got our own dog Sandy about four years ago. Everyone is well aware that dogs require food, shelter and most importantly exercise and it’s this last point that is most important if you want to have a well-balanced dog. It’s not just physical exercise a dog requires but mental stimulation as well.
Dogs have a lot of energy and if we don’t channel this energy in a positive way, behaviour problems can arise. Most dog owners have hectic lives so it can be difficult to provide all the necessary requirements their dogs needs. This is where K9 Connectables come in. Being a product designer I noticed a gap in the market for toys that really challenge a dog’s mind.
How does the product work exactly?
The idea is that you stuff the dog’s favourite food and treats inside and connect them together. They can smell the treats through the small holes in the toy but they have to use their brains to work out how to break the connection. This engages the dog, keeps them occupied and rewards them when they manage to get the treats out. You can start out easy with the connection system and then the further you connect the toys the more difficult it gets.
Did you face any difficulties or challenges when you were designing the product?
We created over 100 different prototypes on 3D printers
