Give ‘em something to think about
Do you feed your dog his food in a bowl? If so, you’re missing an opportunity to challenge your dog to think, thereby, tiring his body. Giving your dog his food in a puzzle toy requires him to work, and to think how, to get his food (and to enjoy it even more!). It’s also likely to take him 30 minutes to an hour to eat, rather than gobble his meal in 3 minutes. This provides mental stimulation-- great for a smart, high energy, bored or physically restricted dog. When we ask our dogs to think, whether it be training with us or figuring out how to get their food out of a toy, we check all sorts of boxes:
- Our dog works his brain which tires his body. Who can relate to being in meetings all day, only to be exhausted at the end of the day? When the brain is worked, the body gets pooped.
- The act of searching or hunting for food activates something in the dog’s brain called the Seeking System. This activity allows the release of dopamine, the “feel good” hormone, reducing anxiety.
- Many high energy dogs benefit from having a job to do. Let them work for their food so they can make good choices with that energy instead of other options that don’t work as well for us.
- Gone all day for work? Or too cold to go for a walk? Exercise your dog’s mind by giving him a fun task to do!
- Provides something legal for puppies to do with their mouths instead of chewing on our table legs or our hands!
- Crate training? Give ‘em a food puzzle toy to help them acclimate.
Our absolute favorite food puzzle toy:
-Recommend two XL (XL is minimum size for dogs 40#+) Kongs can be filled with food and given 1-2 times a day in place of food in a bowl.
-Even if you only feed dry kibble, we recommend that you buy a couple cans of dog food for making the Kongs so you can mix the kibble with the canned, making it into a paste that will freeze well in the Kong.
-After filling the Kong with the mixture of canned/kibble*, store in the freezer until frozen solid. That will make it last longer.
-This is much better than just smearing some peanut butter on the inside. Peanut butter is a treat. Your dog’s regular food stuffed in it, and frozen, will then be his meal, rather than a treat.
*To make things interesting, you can add other dog-friendly ingredients such as canned 100% pumpkin, plain yogurt, cooked carrots, cooked sweet potatoes or green beans, cooked meats.
Other great puzzle toys include:
Wobble Kong Rubber ball that you can stuff with kibble
Busy Buddy Tricky Treat ball
Refill shin bone just like you would a Kong
Ideally, you’d give one frozen Kong for one meal and then a Wobble Kong for the next meal and maybe one of the above toys for a midday game.
If your dog likes using her nose, take her kibble ration for a meal and scatter it throughout the yard so she has to walk around, sniff and find her food.
If your dog gobbles his food, and you still need to feed in a bowl on occasion, try a puzzle bowl.
NOTE: If you have more than one dog, be sure to supervise, and consider separating or crating, so as to ensure no arguing over the toys. It’s normal for dogs to guard their food from other dogs and still other dogs cannot have food puzzle toys, unsupervised. Know your dogs and do what’s best to keep them safe.
Some links (underlined words) included in this article are to identify the toys referenced but most can be purchased at your locally-owned small business pet store. Please choose toys that you feel are safe for your dog. We do not endorse any particular brand. Only you can determine what is best for your dog and his chewing tendencies.