5 Best Dog Puzzle Toys For Smart Pets

Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Dog Tornado Interactive Treat Puzzle Dog Toy

If your prized pooch isn’t a beginner at decoding puzzle toys, take their problem-solving skills to the next level with something more challenging, like this toy. 

Your pet must work out how to retrieve hidden treats concealed under the red boxes and white bones by combining various actions, like sniffing, pawing, lifting, tilting, and sliding.

The benefits of the Outward Hound Dog Tornado are that your dog has fun through stimulating play with a toy that requires their utmost attention. 

Ten minutes of puzzle time equates to 30 minutes of exercise, which means that your pup can feel happy, satisfied, and relaxed, having expended their mental faculties. 

Considering this game reinforces interactive playtime, a deeper bond between you and your pet is likely to develop. 

This toy shouldn’t be used as a diversion for when you’re not around. The blocks can be destroyed by unsupervised pets who are heavy chewers. 

Additionally, your pet needs to learn that the white bone-shaped pieces aren’t food, which requires training and play being overseen by someone who can act quickly to prevent choking. 

Although intelligent breeds, like Border Collies, might solve this brain tease easily, the good news is they’ll be happy for a refill and to start the game over. 

If you’re worried about your pet gaining weight because of this exercise, use healthy treats instead.

Otherwise, combine mealtime and play by using this puzzle at breakfast and dinner. 

Outward Hound Hide A Squirrel Plush Dog Toy Puzzle, Large, brown

One major issue with puzzle toys is that the rewards are snacks, which is fine if your pet is slim, young, and active.

However, for middle-aged to senior pooches that quickly gain weight, standard puzzle games might be a great boredom buster but result in a rounder middle.

Instead of hiding treats to fuel your pet’s curiosity, cute, removable squirrels are stuffed inside a soft tree trunk.

The objective of the game is for your clever hound to find the hidden animals.

A bonus of using this toy is that actual squirrels visiting your yard are less likely to be pursued by rodent-obsessed dogs.

To encourage your pet to play with the toy, you can toss it in the air. This movement will arouse your pet’s natural desires to give chase. Otherwise, leave it on the floor, it will eventually get his interest and curious nature.

Having to seek out toys enhances brain activity and reduces the occurrence of destructive behaviour caused by bored, frustration, and inactivity.

Since your pet is engaged and occupied, there is bound to be less barking, biting, chewing, and things being destroyed at home.

As the toys are made from soft materials, supervised playtime is recommended. Determined chewers will shred the squirrels apart, so reserve this toy for puppies who aren’t big chewers.

The toy doesn’t have to go to waste if your pet can’t locate the squirrels and gives up. The base can be used for tug of war, while the squirrels can be thrown around in the yard.

Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound MultiPuzzle Interactive Treat Puzzle Dog Toy, Expert

Are you searching for a new puzzle toy to outsmart your canine mastermind?

This puzzle toy is ideal for furry Einsteins that have perfected the tricks and techniques of basic puzzle activities and require a more challenging brain twister.

If alternative toys are too easy for your intelligent furry friend, try this game for size. It will take your puppy longer to complete and out of trouble.

Despite being a game for the mind, this puzzle redirects harmful behaviours like digging.

Instead of burying bones while destroying your garden, your pet channel these instincts into pawing for treats.

Although supervision with these toys is advised, the in-built pieces make playtime safer, since the snack compartments can’t be torn apart by zealous animals.

You’ll also find that the toy is constructed using durable materials. It won’t easily break if your pet likes playing rough while searching for his favourite treats.

Although this toy is harder to destroy than other playthings featured in the Nina Ottosson pet range, it’s not impossible.

Toy-shredding dogs might be able to puncture the outer plastic, so always keep a watchful eye on your hound while he’s having fun.

Trixie 32019 Dog Activity Turn Around, 22 × 33 × 18 cm

Like their owners, dogs need more than physical exercise to sustain their happiness and quality of life.

Teach your pet new skills with this brilliant strategy game.It’s not just fun to play with but contributes toward active learning for all canines.

Whoever came up with the saying that you can’t teach old dogs’ new tricks has never purchased this game for dogs. Seniors with interest in toys will enjoy a round or two of play.

The aim is for your puppy to rotate the treat-holding test tubes and tip out delicious snacks using their paws

The difficulty level can be adjusted to suit your dog’s capabilities.

Remove the test tube caps until your hound gets the hang of the game, then place the caps on the ends to challenge your pet.

One drawback is that the game may not be best fit for ultra-intelligent dogs as this chemistry set can be deciphered within one or two tries.

Additionally, frustrated pets that want instant gratification can bite through the plastic tubes, which aren’t chew-proof.

Snuffle Mat for Dogs- Feeding Mat for Dogs (12" x 18") - Grey Feeding Mat - Encourages Natural...

At first glance, this item resembles a bathroom matt, not a game or slow feeder for canines.

Despite its unusual appearance, dogs seem to like it because it allows them to use their bloodhound scent to forage for food.

Whether it’s for slow down your kibble-guzzling puppy or to induce a fussy pet’s appetite, one of the primary focusses of this toy is around food.

Another is putting your dog’s olfactory system and brain to work by tracking concealed treats.

By hiding kibble in the mat, mealtime becomes more than an exciting game but activates your hounds hunting habits.

The ability to scout their food provides puppies with a sense of having earned their meal while keeping busy. This activity will keep away boredom and depression caused by lack of exercise.

This puzzle toy can be used to keep your pet distracted when he or she is home alone. However, don’t leave your pet to his devices if he likes to chew everything.

Although it’s difficult for puppies to tear the sturdy material apart, determined chewers may be able to detach and swallow fibre pieces.

One pitfall is that although the mat is machine washable and holds shape after being cleaned, it takes a while to dry out fully.