ZippyPaws Burrow Squeaky Hide and Seek Plush Dog Toy

The Verdict

Some toys last five minutes. Others teach your dog something. The ZippyPaws Burrow is firmly in the second camp — a simple puzzle toy that turns your dog’s natural prey drive into a game of dig-and-discover. But is it a durable everyday toy or a supervised-play-only novelty? I tested it with small, medium, and “I will destroy this” sized dogs to find out.

What’s Actually in the Box

You get one tree stump-shaped plush base, roughly the size of a small throw pillow, and three matching plush squirrels with squeakers inside. The design is straightforward: the squirrels nest inside the stump’s opening, and your dog has to pull them out. The stump has a soft, slightly structured rim that holds its shape when empty, so it doesn’t collapse into a flat pancake after the first use. That matters — flimsy bases kill the replay value on toys like this.

The squirrels are about 6-7 inches long, which makes them a good size for most dogs to grip and tug. The squeakers are embedded in the torso, not the head or tail, so a dog that grabs the tail can still pull without immediately biting down on the squeaker.

Real-World Performance

The genius of this toy is how it engages a dog without requiring you to be actively involved. You stuff the squirrels in, let your dog figure out the extraction, and they’re occupied for a solid 10-15 minutes — which, for a plush toy, is genuinely impressive. The wide opening means most dogs get the concept within a few minutes. One reviewer noted, “My 4-month-old puppy figured it out in about two minutes and now carries the squirrels around the house like trophies.” That tracks with my experience.

The “burrow” aspect matters more than you’d think. Dogs that love digging at blankets or under pillows will instinctively go after the squirrels. It’s not just a fetch toy — it’s a low-key mental enrichment activity that burns a little brain energy, not just physical energy.

What Buyers Consistently Praise

The 4.6-star rating across 229 reviews is backed by genuine enthusiasm for the interaction value. Recurring themes in positive reviews:

• Multi-dog households: Owners report dogs taking turns or each grabbing a squirrel, which extends playtime significantly.
• Small dog friendly: The squirrels are light enough that toy breeds like Chihuahuas and Yorkies can carry them without struggling.
• Easy to restuff: Unlike some hide-and-seek toys where the pieces barely fit back in, the opening is generous. You won’t be wrestling with fabric edges to reset the game.

Where It Falls Short

Let’s be honest about the durability. This is a plush toy, not a chew toy. If you have a power chewer — a Pit Bull, a Husky, a determined Lab — the squirrels will be disemboweled within the first session. The fabric is standard soft plush with minimal stitching reinforcement. Several reviews mention the squirrels getting shredded within days, and the squeakers dying after a few hard bites.

Also, the squeakers are not replaceable. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. You’re left with a stump and three floppy, silent squirrels. The toy still functions as a hide-and-seek game without the squeak, but it loses a lot of its appeal.

One more thing: the stump itself is not machine washable in the traditional sense. Spot cleaning is possible, but if your dog is a drooler or drags it through mud, you’ll be hand-washing and air-drying.

Who Should Buy This

• Puppies and young dogs learning to problem-solve — this is a perfect starter puzzle.
• Small to medium breeds that enjoy carrying toys around rather than destroying them.
• Owners looking for an interactive toy that doesn’t require them to be the entertainment.

Skip it if you have an aggressive chewer or if your dog’s first move with any toy is to shake it violently until stuffing flies. This is a supervised play toy, not a leave-them-alone-for-an-hour toy.

FAQ: Real Questions Shoppers Ask

Will my dog actually figure this out, or will they get frustrated? Most dogs get it within a few minutes because the opening is wide and the squirrels are easy to grip. If your dog is hesitant, show them once by pulling a squirrel partway out and letting them finish the job. It clicks fast.

How long does the squeaker last? Depends entirely on bite pressure. Gentle nibblers will keep squeakers working for weeks. Dogs that bite down hard with their back teeth will kill them in a day or two.

Is this toy safe for a dog that eats fabric? No. This is not a toy for ingestive chewers. If your dog shreds and swallows plush material, skip this and look for rubber or rope alternatives.

The Verdict

Buy it if you want a genuinely engaging puzzle toy for a non-destructive dog, especially a puppy or small breed. The interaction value far outweighs the price, and the three-piece design gives you options for rotation.

Skip it if you have a heavy chewer or a dog that destroys plush toys on sight. You’ll be cleaning up stuffing and squirrel guts within an hour.

Rating: 4.6/5 — The Burrow delivers exactly what it promises: a fun, mentally stimulating hide-and-seek game for dogs that don’t treat plush toys as a snack. Just know its limitations before you buy.

Price check: This toy frequently goes on sale, so it’s worth watching for a deal before adding to cart. The value is there at full price, but a discount makes it an easy impulse buy.

Where to Buy

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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.