Dog puzzle toys provide their pet with stimulation that satisfies both innate behavioral needs and helps avoid boredom from turning into destructive behavior. Unfortunately, however, some cognitive toys can be costly.
DIY puzzle games can help save money and tailor to the abilities of your pet.
1. Mental Stimulation
Just as with physical fitness, your pup’s brain requires stimulation in order to remain healthy. Dog puzzle toys offer your pup an outlet for exploring his curiosity and mental energy while having fun – helping reduce boredom, prevent destructive behavior and strengthen problem-solving skills!
Your pet’s ideal puzzle toy depends on their personality, age and instincts. Younger dogs may benefit from simpler puzzle toys like snuffle mats or rolling treat dispensers; puppies and young dogs should gradually introduce more advanced puzzle toys such as activity boards as they mature.
Puzzles that provide more steps or greater degrees of difficulty can provide older dogs and adults a stimulating mental challenge. One such toy, Bob-A-Lot, features a rotating disk design that releases treats or kibble with various pokes, nudges, taps or pokes of nose and paw. Plus it is easily customizable and adjustable to various degrees of difficulty!
2. Stress Reduction
Puzzle toys for dogs can help them channel excess energy and focus their focus, leading them to less destructive chewing of table legs, couch pillows, and other furniture – as well as help alleviate behavioral problems such as separation anxiety, hyperactivity, and barking.
There are various dog food puzzles on the market, such as puzzle boards with hidden treat compartments, balls that dispense treats as your pup moves them around, snuffle mats and hide-and-seek plush toys. Each type of toy utilizes your pup’s natural hunting instincts and desire for mental stimulation; helping ease boredom, frustration, and anxiety levels in dogs.
Nina Ottosson’s intermediate-level interactive toy requires your pup to spin alternate blue and yellow layers in order to access treat compartments. Removable bone-shaped covers add another challenge; multiple levels allow you to customize treat locations and levels of difficulty as needed. Plus, this toy is an ideal way to introduce new shapes and movements for puzzle-curious pups!
3. Relieves Anxiety
Idealistically, your dog would spend all their time romping around the park or playing fetch with you – but this may not always be possible. When they become bored and start chewing up shoes or couch pillows, a puzzle toy may provide the solution.
These toys take advantage of your dog’s natural instincts and behaviors – such as sniffing, licking, biting and chewing – to keep them engaged for extended periods. In doing so they help relieve boredom and stress as well as promote independent play and problem-solving skills.
Make the most out of every play session by providing your pup with simple toys like snuffle mats and rolling treat dispensers, or opt for more complex options like activity boards which require them to open compartments and search for rewards.
Richter advises newcomers to puzzle toys to start out with easier options and progress as your dog becomes more adept with each puzzle toy. If unsure which puzzle toy would best fit your pup’s needs, consult an accredited trainer or behavior professional for personalized advice and recommendations. These toys can provide great stimulation for dogs prone to destructive behaviors, anxious dogs trying to establish independence or active puppies who need an outlet on days you cannot take them outside for walks.
4. Helps With Training
Mental stimulation helps alleviate boredom in dogs, thereby avoiding behaviors like chewing, running around, digging holes, barking, ignoring commands or engaging in self-soothing behavior such as licking furniture or chewing up upholstery when left alone for short periods. Furthermore, regular mental stimulation keeps your pup focused and less likely to engage in negative self-soothing behavior such as licking furniture when left alone for too long or chewing up furniture when you leave him or her alone for any length of time.
Snuffle mats provide your pup with an opportunity to find treats cleverly hidden on its surface, engaging their nose and forcing them to breathe deeply – perfect for anxiety relief during travel, crate training or separation!
If you’re searching for more advanced puzzle toys, try something like a flower tower featuring multiple levels with compartments and sliders that open to reveal treats or food for your pup to eat. While more expensive, this type of toy requires much more brainpower from both owner and pup and should always be used under supervision by an experienced trainer or behavior specialist.
5. Bonding
Puzzle dog toys stimulate natural instincts in dogs, helping prevent boredom and anxiety. If a pup feels bored or anxious, destructive behavior like chewing shoes or furniture may ensue; food puzzles provide cognitive stimulation while keeping dogs busy enough that their minds won’t wander to thinking about problems that exist elsewhere.
These toys can be great options for older or sickly dogs as they do not require as much physical exertion to play with. Just ensure your pup is always under close supervision while engaging with these toys!
An obsessed dog may become completely immersed in solving puzzles and forget about other aspects of their care, like sleeping enough and eating well. If you’re unsure which toys will appeal to your pup, consult an accredited training or behavior professional – they’ll offer personalized tips to help your dog thrive!
