It can be hard to find the time to always keep your dogs mentally and physically stimulated. Dogs tend to get bored when they can’t be curious and engaged, which can turn into mischievous behaviors. This is especially true for working breeds, including Australian Shepherds, Labradors, English Springer Spaniels, and German Shepherds. We have compiled a list of puzzle toys that can help your dog slow down when eating while also making eating into a fun game with mental stimulation.
Does your dog ever take an interest in something they know they shouldn’t be playing with? This slow feeder also acts as a puzzle, providing mental enrichment and keeping them interested as they figure out how to access the 11 hidden compartments. These compartments can be opened by spinning, sliding, or rotating, forcing your dog to consider the best way to open the individual compartments.
Does your dog eat too quickly and need a fun activity to keep them busy? This treat tumble ball
can be used to drop out kibble or treats as your dog pushes it around. They fall out slowly, so your dog must stay engaged by moving the ball to get all the food. Dog breeds that tend to be food-obsessed, including Beagles, Labrador Retrievers, and Golden Retrievers, tend to love this game.
Another food-based puzzle game that will keep your high-energy dog entertained, such as a Pug, Bulldog, or Corgi. This puzzle is great because they need to spin three layers of dog
compartments to get their dog food or treats. Turning a 5-minute meal into a 15-minute meal.
This sliding dog toy puzzle is designed for dogs with no puzzle experience. Your dog must pick up the bone to find the treats inside. This is a good feeder to determine if your dog
enjoys puzzles, and keeps them interested if they’re unsure what to do.
If your dog needs more of a challenge with its puzzles, you can give them a more advanced sliding dog toy. The advanced version has flippers to swivel and sliding blocks hiding the dog food. This is a great way to keep them entertained while also feeding them.
Are you looking for more enrichment ideas for your dog? We have previously blogged about puppy-friendly enrichment games; you can access this article here. You can also find our favorite fall enrichment games here.
We hope your dog loves these slow feeders and is mentally stimulated when using them. If you have any training needs or questions, we are here to help. You can schedule a free consultation today, and one of our behavior consultants will help determine a program to address your personal training goals.
