Have you been using the Lotus Ball for training, but your dog is now ready for you to introduce more interactive toy play to your training? Developed in conjunction with Rachel Evers, an agility instructor in California, the Fern is a toy that is fun for the dog to play with, even when it doesn't contain food, so you can introduce chase and shake and tug games after your dog gets his treat out.

Since so many dogs love to shake and fling their toys, the Fern has 4 long petals. The dog can grab the petals to play with the toy and you can grab a petal to initiate a game of tug or to drag the toy on the ground and get your dog excited about chasing it.

The main part of the Fern is the same size as the Lily. It has extra material at the top so that the dog can start opening the ball before his nose touches any Velcro. The Fern also has 4 petals instead of 3 (like the Lotus Ball) so that you have more leeway in how easy or difficult you make the toy to open based on how firmly you attach the Velcro on the 4 petals. Your dog can also pick up the Fern by one of the petals if he prefers rather than putting the whole toy in his mouth.

The base of the Fern where you put the treats is 4" high and 2.75" wide. The petals are 9" long and 1.75" wide. The Fern is made from the same fabric as the Lotus Ball. Machine wash and line dry.

The Fern is an excellent toy for food-motivated dogs so that you can throw their reward during your agility training, and trainers around the country have come up with some very innovative ideas for using jackpot toys to teach contacts, distance skills, and much more!