Hmmm, tops and dogs, tops and dogs... Wait, I know!
Behold the "Kong top" -- Roxie's small classic Kong toy with an improvised LEGO core (left) providing a nicely aligned stem and tip...
Compared to the fine black tip on the bare core, the small gray ball tip on the top adds some self-righting ability and makes for more interesting travel paths. It also adds a few seconds of spin time on both flat and concave surfaces. Go figure.
As with most tops with peg top-like shapes, critical speed is just too high for hand starts on the ground. But the green/black ribbon-pull starter below turns in wobble-free sleepers of up to 90 s, and the gray high-speed electric starter does almost as well.
Roxie's reaction? A few more sniffs than usual, then nada. She consented to this photo with the top only in exchange for a belly rub. Not surprising, I guess, for a toy she lost interest in long ago.
Video coming soon -- after I recheck interest with some pulverized treats inside.