You have probably been trying to look for ways to keep your canine busy during the lockdown, and we can understand your dilemma completely. We try opting for problem-solving dog toys to accomplish our goal.
To help other dog owners like ourselves, we have decided to review the best dog puzzle toys to help you get an idea about the typical prices and features that work best. Aside from our experience, we have also included additional details as well.
So, without further ado, let’s move on to the list.
1. JW Pet Company Treat Pod for Dogs – Buy it here
Price Point: $.$$$
We had an excellent experience with the treat pod because it proved to be ideal for our doggie. The rope can get a little dirty, so we made sure to keep it inside.
However, otherwise, there have been no problems. We simply fill it up with treats and leave it with our dogs to give them something challenging and durable to play with.
If your dogs are not aggressive chewers and get bored often, this will be a great dog puzzle toy to gift to them Irrespective of their size.
The best part about the treat pod is that it is cheap and sturdy. So, it’s both affordable and durable. We even used it as a food dispenser sometimes to keep our dogs distracted and active. It is perfect for puppies too and treat-motivated; so, it will help you keep them occupied as well.
The only issue with the treat pod is that it is not for aggressive chewers. There is a risk of them chewing up the material and damaging their canines in the process.
2. Pet Zone IQ Treat Ball – Buy it here
Price Point: $$.$$$
We had a lot of fun with the Pet Zone IQ Treat Ball because it offers great mental stimulation for dogs.
If you have an energetic husky, you will appreciate getting this because it is a slow feeder and will keep them busy for extended lengths of time.
Our favorite part about this treat ball was how much our dogs loved it. We would fill it with different kinds of treats and watch them attempt tricks to get it to release more food.
Your dogs will love this toy because it is an interactive treat-dispensing ball. It will mentally stimulate your dog with kibble and hidden treats and keep your pup busy. It was also pretty easy for us to clean and durable against some aggressive chewers as well.
While it is durable, the Pet Zone treat ball isn’t ideal for larger dogs. It can fit inside their mouths, and there’s a chance they will clamp down on it to destroy it.
3. Nina Ottosson Puzzle Toy for Dogs – Buy it here
Price Point: $$.$$$
Out of the several puzzle toys for dogs we have tried out, this was probably the one that kept us engaged along with our dogs. We had a lot of fun monitoring our dogs and the amount of time they took to solve it.
It is mentally stimulating, and your dog will like playing with it even when it is empty because it is entertaining.
So, you don’t have to worry about always needing to fill up the treats if you have a smart pooch.
This dog brick is great for beginners because it is cheap, sturdy, and non-toxic. It is both engaging and great for their development, making it perfect. Your Border collie puppies will find it mind-stimulating as they try to paw out the treats from within.
Some customers mentioned that their dogs chewed off the parts and could have swallowed them. It is best to supervise your dog during play-time or train them to choose the treats and not the toy.
4. Trixie Dog Activity Flip Board – Buy it here
Price Point: $$.$$$
If you have a poodle and are looking for smart dog toys, this flip board by Trixie will be perfect for you.
It is essentially slightly more complex than the ones mentioned so far and acts as a brain teaser for the pups engaging with it.
We liked having it around because our dogs something both durable and challenging to keep our dogs entertained. It is also a great way to show off your doggy’s intelligence.
The flip board is advanced and entertaining for smarty pant pups who love finding hidden treats through brain teasers. It is perfect for small dogs like some poodles because it gives them an excellent opportunity to stay active.
The only problem is that this dog puzzle toy may require some teaching. Therefore, dog owners will initially have to put in a little effort to get their furry friends to understand it.
5. Outward Hound Wooden Puzzle – Buy it here
Price Point: $$.$$$
We got this wooden game for our dogs to kill their boredom with some classic treat-motivated activities. It was a huge success, and they have been fond of it ever since.
We usually struggle to find indestructible dog toys that are also mentally stimulating so we were definitely happy with this one.
It also has expert approval and can keep your dogs busy so definitely worth the additional dollars.
Its best benefit is that veterinarians and dog trainers recommend it for dogs’ mental development. It uses a fun hide-and-seek challenge to provide mental stimulations for the dogs, reducing their boredom and destructive behavior.
Despite being interesting and entertaining, this dog puzzle toy is pretty easy to figure out for smart dogs and doesn’t pose much of a challenge to them.
6. Nina Ottosson’s Dog Tornado Toy – Buy it here
Price Point: $$.$$$
If you don’t want an advanced toy but also don’t want something easy, you will like the Dog Tornado. It isn’t very complex but challenging enough to keep your dog entertained for a while.
We got this after the other by the same brand and noticed that our puppy ended up preferring this because he got to rotate it around.
So, it made him curious and kept him from getting bored, which worked well for us.
The dog tornado is an interactive intermediate dog game that will keep your puppy from getting bored. It is also durable and easy to clean; so, your furry friends can continue enjoying it for some time.
It is slightly advanced for some dogs, and the brain games are better suited to adult dogs rather than puppies.
7. PAW5 Wooly Snuffle Mat – Buy it here
Price Point: $$.$$$
This Wooly Snuffle Mat is an excellent purchase for keeping your dogs physically active. We have received positive reviews from a lot of people who have been using it to help their doggie burn off a few calories at home as well.
We stuffed some treats in the mat and let our puppies foraging for them. It kept them curious and entertained while allowing us to relax as well.
The mat is a DIY dog puzzle that offers mental stimulation and calms down nervous dogs. It is usually ideal for fast eaters who eat after mealtime as well. The mat is also machine washable, making it easy to clean, and that makes it even better.
It is a bit more premium than the other options on the list. Additionally, as per one review, you will have to work a little to stuff the treats instead of dropping them to make it difficult for dogs to find them.
8. Corspet Hachi – Buy it here
Price Point: $$.$$$
This product is great not just to keep your dog entertained but also from a health perspective. One of its best features is that it is flexible and strengthens the dental health of the pock chewing at it.
We tried giving it to our dog normally, but that didn’t work for too long. Then, we added treats to it to make it stick, and that did the trick.
This way, we were able to keep our dogs both interested and healthy for a reasonable price.
This dog treat dispenser is extremely engaging for your pooch and will keep them busy while you work. It’s the best toy for chewers and highly recommended for dental health benefits.
Its only disadvantage is that it is not durable and prone to breaking apart when faced with very aggressive chewers.
9. Busy Buddy Tug-A-Jug – Buy it here
Price Point: $$.$$$
The Tug a Jug is the best for dogs who tend to get a little aggressive during gameplay and are unlikely to remain calm with simple brain teasers.
You can fill this up and give it to your dog for playing. It will be equal parts hilarious and impressive the lengths they will go for getting the treats out.
The best part is that it keeps them busy for long enough to make it worthwhile.
The jug is an interactive and challenging treat dispenser for dogs and forces them to use their smartness to reach the rewards. It is difficult enough to keep your pooch busy but offers enough stimulation to keep them curious. It is also durable and made from non-toxic material, making it safe.
It is somewhat heavy for dogs to carry around.
10. Omega Paw Red Treat Ball – Buy it here
Price Point: $.$$$
The Omega treat ball has been our go-to when we run out of dog toys and the budget to buy more premium ones.
It is available in several sizes so you can get the size better suited to how much a challenge you want for your dog as they try to force out the treats.
It is pretty easy to handle and clean so you won’t have to worry about it becoming too much of a hassle for you.
The ball is fun to chew for the dog and also great for fetch and play. It is available in small, medium, and large sizes, so you can get the right one for your dog, fill it with hidden treats, and keep them entertained.
The ball is not suitable for tough chewers because they can bite through it to get the treats.
11. Outward Hound Feeder Slo Bowl – Buy it here
Price Point: $$.$$$
This isn’t really a toy, but it is very helpful for dogs who are fast eaters and like to eat a lot. It’s a useful product and effective for managing your furry friends’ dietary habits and their overall health.
If your dog has a habit of wolfing down its food, getting this fun feeder will really help you elongate their meal times and reduce vet visits.
This slow dog treat dispenser is effective for giving kibble to fast chewers like a German Shephard. Vets recommend it, it is cheap, and easy to clean, making it the perfect solution for your doggy.
The feeder is suitable for dogs with longer snouts. However, Pug dog owners have complained about their dogs not being able to reach the food in it.
12. Dog-E-Logic Interactive Dog Toy – Buy it here
Price Point: $$.$$$
This is an interesting buy as it can help you assess your dog’s IQ with its 2 challenging games structure. You will mostly like it because your dog will be fascinated with all the designs and the equipment.
The lure of the treats will also keep them engaged and involved.
You can also use it for dog training by getting them to access the treats in the puzzle for good behavior. That is not the intended purpose, but it works well for it.
This interactive dog toy is recommended by vets and trainers to provide mental stimulation to curious dogs. It is the best gift for new pet owners and will allow them to hide treats to train their puppies.
It is easy to solve and does not remain entertaining for extended periods.
To sum up, the best dog puzzle toys match your dog’s intelligence and habits. They should also keep them engaged through stimulations. We hope our reviews help you find a challenging and interactive toy from the list to give to your furry friends for their entertainment.