Best Puzzle Toys for Bored Dogs
Puzzle toys are great for mentally stimulating your canine companion and keeping them occupied. These toys are great for when you need to keep your dog busy feed into their natural curiosity.
Outward Hound Hide A Squirrel
Similar to the premise of the game hide-and-seek, Outward Hound Hide A Squirrel requires your pup to search a plush tree trunk in search of some squeaky stuffed squirrels. Once your furry friend can get a good grip on a squirrel, they start to pull them out one by one. After Fido has yanked out every last plush squirrel, just stuff them back in the tree trunk and watch them do it again. Since Hide A Squirrel is food-free, it’s an excellent option for dogs on any sort of diet.
Retail Price: $12.99 – $29.99
KONG Classic Dog Toy
KONG toys have long been a favorite choice among our canine companions. You can stuff the rubber toy with Fido’s favorite treats or dog-safe peanut butter. Freeze the peanut butter, and you’ll have your pup distracted for even longer. Even though Kong has a variety of toys, our favorite is still the Kong Classic Dog Toy that comes in six different sizes.
Retail Price: $7.49 – $24.99
Nina Ottosson Outward Hound Puzzle Toy
For dogs out there who really like a challenge, the Nina Ottosson Outward Hound Puzzle Toy might be just what they need. This wooden toy requires Fido to maneuver levers in order to reveal treats. Be careful, though, because if you let your pooch play with this toy for too long, they might start to outsmart you!
Retail Price: $24.99
Starmark Treat Dispensing Bob-A-Lot Dog Toy
Expect some loud and exciting playtime with the Starmark Treat Dispensing Bob-A-Lot Dog Toy because it requires your pup’s face and feet. Fill up the toy with Fido’s favorite treats, then customize the opening to determine how many treats your pooch can “bob” out of it at a time. With an anti-slip weighted base, this Starmark dog toy will wobble and fall – but always return to its upright position.
Retail Price: $14.99 – $21.99
OurPets IQ Treat Ball
Just like the previous toy, Bob-A-Lot, the OurPets IQ Treat Ball is filled with treats and has a unique opening that allows you to decide its difficulty and how many treats can escape at a time. This toy is more of a one size fits all type of toy. If you notice that it’s too hard for Fido, widen the opening. If your pup is getting all of the treats out in a matter of minutes, maybe tighten up the opening a bit.
Retail Price: $12.45
Snuffle Mat Puzzle Toy
The soft Snuffle Mat Puzzle Toy works by encouraging your pooch to use their strong sniffing abilities. The toy comes in 3 different designs that all sort of look like tall grass growing out of a bowl. Hide some treats within the mat, and your pooch will have to sniff around and find them. The Snuffle Mat is made from durable pet-safe fabric and comes with an anti-slip bottom to help it stay in place as much as possible. Plus, it’s machine washable!
Retail Price: $21.99
Almost all of these toys come in multiple sizes, so be sure to choose one that’s the appropriate size for your canine companion. Also, keep in mind every dog has a different skill level – so if your pup can’t figure out one of these more challenging puzzles, try introducing them to an easier one and have them work their way up. Similarly, if you know your dog can sometimes be too clever for their own good, make sure that you don’t get them a toy that’s too easy; otherwise, they’ll be done and bored with it in no time.