Customer Reviews

Fur Real Friends Biscuit My Lovin Pup

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(29)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

Length:: 1:20 Mins

Fur Real Friends Biscuit My Lovin Pup is a very fun robotic dog. Unlike most dogs, this one actually listens to you when you give a command, and that's without you having to offer it treat after treat! True, there are other robotic toys on the market that are less expensive. But this is the only toy that I've seen that actually comes close to acting like a real dog. Granted, it's not going to fool anybody, because it's obviously a mechanical toy. But it's real enough that kids will be able to play with it like a real dog. And kids who can't have a real dog because of allergies will appreciate the good things about Biscuit and probably ignore his flaws. It moves and reacts to your commands smoothly and it's pretty hard not to smile when you see it in action. That alone will be reason enough for many people to buy it this year.

The holidays make us buy some strange products. I like to research every gift I give, and test them where possible. If it's not as good as advertised I can return it and save the recipient the hassle of having to exchange it. This is one gift that is bound to please, particularly during those holiday parties where groups of kids are wrecking havoc on your home or searching for something to play with.

When the package first arrived, I was surprised by how large the box is. I thought there might be a lot of empty space, but the dog is sitting there staring blankly ahead when you open up the box. Clearly, that's another difference between biscuit and other toys I've seen: this dog is much bigger than any other robotic animal I know of.

Obviously, many kids want dogs and not all of them can have one. This is clearly a lot less work than a real dog. Similarly, many will see this toy and want it, despite the fact that not all parents are going to spend this kind of money on a toy. This is clearly too much to spend on a *surprise gift* if you're not sure whether your kid wants one. But this product will end up on a lot of wish-lists.

One thing the video shows is that there are mechanical sounds to Biscuit moving. They do start to grate on you after a while. Also, there is a lag between when you speak the command and Biscuit follows. So it's not always clear whether or not he heard you. I have to review some other similar toys to know how this stacks up. You will have to see for yourself whether those things are minor to you or not.

PROS:
+ Probably the largest, most realistic robotic dog you can buy
+ Dog responds with great reactions to 7 standard commands and questions, including:
----- lie down
----- give me a paw (one of the cutest!)
----- shake
----- sit
----- do you want a treat? (guess what his answer is :-D)
----- speak
----- sit up and BEG! (I love being able to tell him that!)
+ Commands are all listed on the back of his collar, so younger kids can learn them easily
+ If you command him to do something he's already doing, he will give you that confused look real dogs do - You have to see this to appreciate it!
+ Dog also responds to touch with numerous sensors around his body, including touch sensors on his nose, head, ears, back and paw and a light sensor in his forehead
+ The different modes, including Play, Response, and Hangout Mode, provide subtle reactions that make the dog seem even more real
+ Soft plush body means that kids can play with him in comfort, worry free (no sharp edges)
+ Comes with kids accessories, like a collar, brush and a biscuit
+ The included *certificate* gives your kids a sense of ownership, like with a real pet
+ Simple, easy to follow instructions will have him barking in no time!

CONS:
- List price isn't a great value; many will have to search for this on sale this holiday
- Would have been nice if the dog followed you around a little more
- Limited varieties, and only this one in this size; When they make the Rottweiler, I'm in!
- Lag between the time you give the command and when Biscuit follows it
- Some mechanical grinding sounds when Biscuit moves
- Requires 6 D Batteries, that are not included; Seriously? D Batteries? I haven't had to break those out since I retired my boom box from the 80s. Buy some rechargeable batteries and a nice charger, because the price of batteries add up
- Would have been nice if they would have included a standard rechargeable battery pack instead
- Battery pouch is closed by Velcro, which seems like kids could open or rip too easily

THE MODES

Ok, so let's say you're done playing with him and you leave biscuit alone. Eventually he will enter "hangout mode" and seek attention by barking and whimpering. And if you turn out the lights or don't respond, he will eventually go to sleep! There are other subtleties to this you will have to see for yourself. Be advised though, it's probably a good idea not to leave him with the batteries in forever. But it's definitely a nice shock when you turn on the light and see him "wake up" at least the one time!

CONCLUSION

This is a very nice step forward in these types of robotic toys. And if you have a group of kids at your house for the holiday, this could save you some babysitting time. You just have to tune out the barking and your kids will have a ball with him.

The price is definitely a little steep. Plan ahead this holiday, because this toy is bound to be on sale at the major toy retailers and maybe here on Amazon too.

Enjoy!

Length:: 2:09 Mins

"Biscuit" is an amazing robotic dog that does six tricks from your vocal commands and has seven 'touch sensitive' spots that do other fun things like, sniff, doggie-moan, bark, snuggle, etc. Perfect for the child (aged 5-8) that cannot have a real pet. There is a mechanical sound whenever he moves and I'm not sure he would survive a few drops down the stairwell, but he will certainly entertain any child for hours. The best way to go is to know your child's attention span for this kind of toy. But, "Biscuit" is still amazing.

I have had it with electronic pets - we have way too many. However, with that said, I think they finally got it right with the mechanics on this one. On some of the cheap fur real pets ((Fur Real Friends Teacup Pups - Yorkie) the mechanics are so noisy that they really detract from the realness. In this case, not too noisy. However, not exactly realistic either.

Here's what we like:
1) Lots of sensors - almost everywhere you touch makes him respond
2) Love the fact that he lifts his paw to shake - too cute
3) He makes just the right volume - he sounds pretty close to the real thing
4) He is not too bony
5) You could replace his collar and bone when they get lost with a real dog collar/toy - I can't see how they won't get lost, considering

Here's what we don't like:
1) He is not as cute out of the box. The eyes on the one we've played with aren't as open as the dog pictured (the fur covers them up quite a bit).
2) Also the mouth does not fully close, the teeth aren't as realistic as the dog I linked above, and his fur is really pretty cheap and obviously fake considering the nice stuffed toys with much more realistic fur we've picked up for very little money. Maybe they were trying to keep cost down.
3) His paws are hard plastic (bottoms). I think they could have covered them with rubber, which would have been more realistic and less likely to break.
4) Only 1 color and breed option (although, if you notice my pic, IMHO they picked the best!)
5) My 4 yo has a hard time speaking clearly (and slowly!) enough to reliably get him to follow commands.
6) All he does as far as big movements are sit, lay down, shake hands, move his head, ears, eyes, and mouth - and whimper - so play is really limited - this is too big to pick up and carry around with you but too small to be a "real" lab, so... um... what do you do with him, really?

That said - he is clearly going to be on a lot of kids' must-have lists, and he is really, really, really endearing for a good 15 minutes. However, if he's not on their list - don't buy him on a whim. I expect in a year Craigslist will be saturated with these.

It's a great and cute toy. It performs Like it's suppose to, but my daughter lost interest quickly. However, I think it's because we have two dogs. They are young dogs and always getting into something etc.. So, I think it is perfect for a child who wants a dog, but doesn't or can't have a real one.

Great toy, but disappointed in price. I paid 199, 1 week later it was 179, and now 149..........even in stores. Amazon will not adjust price. Plenty in stores, save 50 bucks and buy at toys r us.

I gave Biscuit to my elderly mother (age 94) and she finds great comfort and enjoyment with him. Many of the other residents at the assisted living facility love him too, and some believe he is real.

I wish that the Fatal Flaw I found with this mechanized toy had been mentioned by someone, anyone!

It did all of the motions listed really cutely but all joy I found in it was drowned out by a very, very loud grinding mechanical sounds that literally wipe out the whines and softer noises he makes. The only sound louder than the annoying grind was his bark which sounded like it was on a cheap sound track and very artificial. I also would have liked to see a better quality fur on the pup. Extremely cheap covering that most likely will not hold up to repeated spot cleaning necessary for cleaning up after messy little hands.

Obviously, I am extremely disappointed and this little pup will be going back to the "pound" right away.

Bought this for Santa to bring to my 5 year old so I can't say how good the toy itself is, but Beware the package. Everything else I've ordered here came in a plain brown shipping box. Not this--I came home and it was sitting on the porch-no cover--fully exposed pictures, name, and all. I cannot express how upset I would have been if my daughter had been with me or at home when it was delivered. Luckily she was at school and I could hide it before she got home. This would have been an awfully expensive gift to have to give a month before Christmas-not to mention---what would santa bring then?

If you are ordering this be careful when or where it is delivered.

I'll let you know how good/bad Biscuit is after Christmas. If it's all I've heard it is I may play with it more than my daughter does.

Firstly, the current price of $[...] is WAY more than I paid or would be willing to pay for this toy. My two boys loved Biscuit when they received it last Christmas and still pull it out occasionally to play, however 11 months on it is rather worse for wear (it is very noisy and clunky when it moves) and it spends 99% of its time hogging the corner of their bedroom. They are not at all fooled that it is a replacement for a real dog and so we still have to go through the "can I have a dog" conversations that I had hoped would be reduced. At the right price it is a nice toy to give a careful child but in general I would say it is not worth the cost.

My daughtergpt this from santa last year. She played with it fro a while, but not that much. The grand kids play with it off and on. Not as big a hit as the smores pony.