Food puzzle toys are a fun and easy way to provide enrichment for your dog. If you’re not sure where to start, or you want to add to what you already have – this guide will help.
How to pick food puzzles for your dog
All of the puzzles I’ve suggested here are things I’ve used with my own dogs, but every dog is different – so the first step in selecting a food puzzle is knowing what your dog likes to do, and if you’re not sure, you might need to try a few things out. For example, some dogs like to lick stuff, perhaps because it’s soothing, while others will prefer puzzles that they push around to create a foraging activity.
Introducing a food puzzle
When you introduce the puzzle to your dog for the first time, you might need to help them a little bit. Sometimes it takes several tries before a dog ‘gets it’ – so don’t give up if they seem disinterested initially! Here’s a little video of a puppy learning about a new puzzle.
If your dog is nervous about a food puzzle – and this might happen with the puzzles that move around a bit, make it easier for them – hold it so it moves around less, or put it on a towel or mat to soften noise and movement.
And of course, be safe! Pick up the puzzles and put them away when you’re dog is finished. This is for safety, but it also keeps the puzzle interesting. Rotate them regularly to keep things interesting!
Food puzzle suggestions
The great news is there’s a lot of options, so you should be able to find something your dog likes, and you’ll be able to have some variety to keep the puzzles interesting.
For dogs who like to lick stuff
Kongs are a classic and a staple in our home! Our dogs get at least one Kong everyday – at bedtime, we call them ‘baby snacks’ – our dogs eagerly get ready for bed when they hear it’s ‘baby snack’ time. These bedtime snacks soothe and calm the dogs – facilitating an easy transition to sleep.
I encourage you to think about how you’ll introduce the Kong to your puppy. This video about “beginner” Kongs is very helpful!
You can get pretty creative with what goes into the Kong, just check with your Vet to make sure it’s safe. My favorite stuffings include canned tuna or canned dog food, yogurt, cottage cheese, canned pumpkin or canned sweet potato, blueberries, carrots, and bananas.I like to mix it up, or layer ingredients so the Kong is always a little novel. We make a batch all at once, and then freeze them so we always have something ready.
West Paws has a number of options that I also love. The Topple and the Tux are my two favorites, but there’s lots of other options. These puzzles are durable and easy to clean. I often feed entire meals in the Topple, and use the Tux for little enrichment snacks. Here’s an enrichment snack we use often: mix some canned dog food with water, fill a Tux, and freeze. It’s a great light snack for hot days!
Lickimats are great enrichment items, and I also use them regularly when I want to do nail trims, clean ears, or get a leash on when my puppy is way too excited. There’s several brands and fun options to choose from. I love options that have suction cups on the bottom. I use the suction cup version to make bath time fun and easy – I just stick it to the side of the bath tub!
There’s lots of things that you can spread onto the mats – you might try dog-safe peanut butter, canned dog food, yogurt, canned pumpkin, cream cheese – or a combination of things on different parts of the mat.
For dogs who love to forage
The Bob-a-Lot has been in staple with my dogs. It can be adjusted to make it easier/more difficult – and that’s one of the reasons why I really like this one! I’ve had the same Bob-a-Lot for about 10 years – it’s still in great condition and my dogs still LOVE it!
Snuffle mats are great enrichment, and they can be used to slow down a dog who eats too fast. There’s a lot of really good versions out there (you can even make your own) but I like this one for beginners because it’s durable, easy to wash, and has a large surface area.
To achieve the same kind of experience without a snuffle mat, you can also use a sheet or a towel. Here’s a cute video of some puppies snuffling in a sheet!
For the brainiacs
There’s a whole series of popular puzzles offered by Nina Ottosson – these puzzles are categorized by difficulty level. You can find these puzzles in most pet stores.
Have fun!