Furbo Not Tossing Treats? Treat Size and Jam Fixes

A Furbo uses an internal launcher to move one or more treats from the hopper into a chute and flick them out of the front of the camera. Anything that keeps treats from flowing freely into that launcher can cause a failed toss. The most common causes are treats that are too large or elongated to fit the launcher, soft or sticky treats that clump together, crumbly treats that leave dust and fragments inside the mechanism, and an overfilled hopper that packs treats tightly. Less often, the problem is the inner tosser being knocked out of position, or the app losing its connection to the camera so the toss command never arrives.

Furbo's help center and treat guide consistently recommend dry, firm, round treats around 0.5 inches across for the best results. Furbo's help article for the Furbo 360° Dog Camera describes a workable range of roughly half an inch to three-quarters of an inch, and says treats should not be sticky or easily crumbled. Round and small treats work better than long shapes such as bone biscuits, which can wedge sideways in the launcher. Furbo also suggests doing a test run with any new treat before relying on it while you are away. Its own roundup of suggested treats includes Zuke's Mini Naturals, Plato Small Bites, Natural Balance Mini-Rewards, Bocce's Bakery Crispies, and similar small training treats.

Two cautions apply. First, soft training treats can work, but they are the most likely to stick together in humid rooms, so try a small handful before filling the hopper. Second, count tossed treats in your dog's daily calories. Many veterinarians suggest keeping treats to about 10% of daily intake, and Furbo recommends checking with your veterinarian on the right treat size and amount, especially for puppies.

Work through these steps in order and test with a single toss after each one.

Step 1: Empty the hopper completely and clean out crumbs and fragments. Furbo's troubleshooting guidance and iFixit's Furbo guide both start here, because residual dust is the most common cause of repeated jams.

Step 2: Give the unit several firm shakes with the hopper empty to dislodge treats caught in the mechanism.

Step 3: If the launcher still seems stuck, iFixit's guide suggests gently using a pen to loosen jammed treats in the inner launcher so they drop into the tunnel. Unplug the camera first and never force the mechanism.

Step 4: If the inner tosser has been pushed out of place, push it back until you hear a click, reload a few treats, and try four or five tosses.

Step 5: If the toss cycle stops partway, unplug the Furbo for about 20 seconds, plug it back in, and test again.

Step 6: Reload with a small number of dry, round treats that match the checklist above, and run a final test while you watch the live view.

If tosses still fail after a clean hopper and correctly sized treats, contact Furbo support. A repeated failure with good treats suggests a hardware problem that may be covered by warranty.

If you tap the treat button and the camera makes no sound at all, the problem may be the connection rather than the launcher. Check that the live view is current, not frozen, that your phone and the Furbo app are up to date, and that the camera is on a stable 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connection. Placement matters too. Furbo recommends supervising your dog in person during early tosses, and a camera placed too high or aimed at furniture can land treats where your dog cannot reach them, which looks like a failed toss from the app. For placement tips, see our guide to setting up a pet camera at home.