Enrichment toys keep dogs entertained and mentally stimulated, from puzzles to plush toys that dispensing treats.
Dogs love to chew, and need both mental stimulation and physical playtime. Instead of providing your pup with toys that will be torn to shreds within minutes, look for durable ones that can stand the test of time.
1. Kong
An enrichment toy that requires your dog’s active participation to unlock treats, this device uses motion sensors to activate lights and sounds sequences and satisfy their natural urge to chew. It is an effective way of satisfying their natural instinct to chew.
Most owners reported that their dogs enjoyed playing with this toy, which was easy to use and clean. However, power-chewing canines may find another alternative more suitable; additionally, batteries must be charged every 10 hours or so; which could prove cumbersome and annoying for some owners.
2. Qwizl
Qwizl is a puzzle dog toy designed to challenge pups’ minds and extend playtime for longer. Owners report using it successfully in training commands and discouraging behaviors like door rushing.
This small hopper-style ball launcher keeps dogs active by encouraging them to lick and paw at its layers to open it up. It offers multiple settings and a 15 minute rest cycle, which help prevent fetch-obsessed canines from tiring themselves out too quickly. Plus, its safe for teeth and easy cleanup makes this an attractive pet product!
3. Tricky Treat Ball
Treat dispensing toys are designed to stimulate your dog mentally while appealing to their natural instincts of foraging and hunting for food. In addition, these toys promote physical activity as they work for their food supply – both mental and physical benefits that help support overall wellbeing in dogs!
Fill this toy with treats or kibble, and your dog will need to roll it around to release them. Additionally, this toy helps slow down eating processes for fast eaters, while supervised play can keep your pup safe while discouraging destructive chewing behavior. Made of sturdy petsafe plastic that won’t damage furniture.
4. Dog Tornado
Families with pets that react strongly to storms like tornadoes should give their pet a calming separation anxiety toy shortly before it happens. This chamomile-scented toy will distract their fears until they’re safe to go back inside.
Nina Ottosson’s interactive level 2 puzzle toy for dogs includes 12 treat compartments designed to store treats, kibble or wet food. Add extra challenge by covering some compartments with bone-shaped covers; your pup will love this mental and physical challenge!
5. Bob-A-Lot
Bob-A-Lot is an interactive treat dispensing toy that is both challenging and educational for your pup! You can fill both chambers with treats or kibble, while its opening can be adjusted to regulate retrieval difficulty.
Puzzle toys like this one can help prevent destructive behavior caused by boredom. Additionally, puzzle toys stimulate their mind and may calm hyper pups. Although puzzle toys are helpful, they should not replace other enrichment activities; make sure that your dog gets plenty of mental stimulation and exercise!
6. Sniff ’n Seek
There are an assortment of interactive toys on the market, but most tend to fall into one or two categories. Some require you to control them from your smartphone via an app while others offer scent-based games.
Snuffle mats are soft interactive toys designed to challenge your dog’s nosework skills. By taking advantage of their vastly superior scent receptors compared to humans, these games allow your pup to gain additional exercise by engaging his senses and challenging his nosework abilities. Some designs even look like bees or birds for added amusement!
7. Nosework
Nose work is a fantastic way to keep dogs active, engaged and mentally stimulated while combatting boredom – which often results in destructive behaviors like barking, digging and chewing.
Start out by playing simple scent games that don’t require much equipment, like scattering treats or kibble over a blanket for your dog to find. Or try a snuffle mat, with multiple compartments where items can be hidden.
Some nosework toys can be interactive, such as the CleverPet console that requires your dog to press illuminated buttons for rewards. But some dogs prefer simpler toys like this water bottle toy from The Barkington Post that require less interaction from them.
8. Squirrel Family
Squirrels are mammals belonging to the rodent order, Rodentia. The squirrel family, Sciuridae, currently comprises 51 extant genera and 230 species; typically tree squirrels and flying squirrels fall under this classification while chipmunks, prairie dogs, and woodchucks also fall within this grouping.
African pygmy squirrels, for example, reach only a head-and-body length of around three inches; by comparison, ground squirrels (genera Spermophilus or Antelope Ground Squirrels) may reach over 24 inches.
9. Skinny Peltz
This toy satisfies pups’ natural hunting and tug of war instincts, helping them expend excess energy while stimulating socialization. Plus, its durable construction means it will withstand even aggressive chewers while being adaptable enough for even greater challenge if desired.
No-stuff plush dog toys with three round squeakers make great additions for calming anxious or compulsive lickers like Maggie! For an additional treat, we offer Hide-A-Squirrel tree stump toys containing three squirrels which squeak; additional packs can be purchased separately.
10. Chewy’s Frisco Spaceship
Once your pup has developed the skill of using their nose to push obstacles away, a snuffle mat or other beginner puzzle toys such as Kong can provide hours of amusing entertainment. West Paw Qwizl offers particularly durable play that features an unusual grippy surface to engage chewers.
Futuro House once situated in Hatteras and used for beach cottage, Girl Scout meeting house, and hot dog stand purposes is now serving as cat housing with corrugated cardboard that allows cats to play, nap and hide away safely in this otherworldly space.
