5 Ways to Keep Your Dog Happy While You’re at Work

Choosing the Best Interactive Dog Toys for Mental Stimulation

multipuzzle dog game

Do you feel guilty leaving your furry friend home alone when you go to work? It’s true that for most of us pet parents, those sad puppy dog eyes can work a guilty conscious on you. However, since most of us can’t take our doggies to work every day, there are a few things you can do to keep your pup happy and occupied. Interactive dog toys are great for preventing separation anxiety and keeping your pup busy while you’re away.

One of the most important things is making sure your best friend has adequate exercise both mentally and physically. What’s “adequate” is based on the breed, age, and temperament of your dog, so discuss it with your veterinarian.

Next, tell your pup you’ll be back later (oh wait, is that just me?) and leave him with a treat-dispensing interactive dog toy for a little fun before the dog walker arrives. Read on for how to keep your dog from being bored when home alone.

5 Treat Dispensing Interactive Puzzle Toys for Dogs Home Alone

unique dog gifts food puzzle

If you have a dog who’s a chewer, then you’ll want to tempt him with suitable chew toys rather than leaving destructive behavior to chance. If you have ever come home to find your couch cushion or dog bed stuffing scattered around the living room or your leather shoes dented with teeth marks, you know what I mean.

They say “a tired dog is a happy dog,” but your dog needs a mental workout as much as they need socialization during play dates or a tiring session of fetch. Bored dogs will find themselves something to do and it’s rarely something you’d want them to do.

Instead, tire them out with a little physical exercise in the morning and leave them with fun mental stimulation options like the following interactive dog toys. This way they’ll focus on getting the tasty rewards in the form of dog treats rather than your new shoes they could have shredded. New toys like puzzles are a fun way to stay occupied.

1. Dog Brick by Nina Ottosson

small brown and white dog playing with red, white, and blue puzzle toy

Give your smart dog’s brain a fun challenge with this puzzle. Hide treats, dog food, or peanut butter in the compartments and let your dog paw them, nuzzle them, and otherwise figure out how to access the goodies. The game changes every time your dog plays with it for the ultimate brain tease.

2. Outward Hound Hide-a-Squirrel

best interactive dog toys for puppies

Does your dog love chasing squirrels? Then bring the squirrels inside for playtime with this squeaky plush dog toy. Tuck the squeaker-filled squirrels into the tree trunks and let your pooch figure out how to pull them out one by one. Maybe you can even train your dog to put them back into the holes. It’s like hide and seek! Some dogs even like to use the trunk as a tug toy for games of tug-of-war.

3. Carrot Stuffer by Petstages

dog with carrot stuffer

Fill with baby carrots or your dog’s favorite treats or peanut butter and let your busy buddy work to get them out. The carrot’s texture also massages your dog’s gums while they to release the treats. Why is gum massage a good thing? It stimulates blood flow to increase nutrients and boosts the immune system. This is basically two toys in one! A chew toy AND a dog puzzle toy.

4. Dogwood Chew by Petstages

corgi with a dog chew toy

Is your dog an aggressive chewer when it comes to sticks? Chewy sticks can splinter and damage your dog’s mouth, but this stick-like chew won’t. It’s made from a polypropylene blend that does include a little wood for your four-legged friend but is designed to flake off gently.

With a variety of scents like the smell of real wood or Mesquite BBQ, this alternative dog chew toy is a treat for letting your dog work out their destructive chewing or for pups dealing with teething pains. Dogwood alternative wood chew sticks are also great for outdoor play, game of fetch, and can even float in water!

5. Snoop by Planet Dog Treat Dispensing Dog Toy

how to keep your dog from being bored when home alone

Fill this interactive treat dispenser with kibble or dog treats and watch your pup nudge it, push it to make it wobble, and have tons of fun releasing the goodies with this award-winning dog toy. This interactive dog puzzle toy is great for bored pups who need a rewarding brain teaser or to encourage slower eating habits in fast eaters.

Large dogs and small dogs love this toy that utilizes their sense of smell. It’s translucent and squishy with a deep crevice that conceals the treats. And if your dog likes chasing tennis balls from a ball launcher, they’ll love chasing the treat-filled Snoop.

How to Keep Your Dog From Being Bored When Home Alone: Final Thoughts

lickin layers dog puzzle

Not everyone can do doggy daycare. Finding the right type of toy for your dog home alone will depend on your dog’s breed, temperament, or just plain personal preference. One dog might respond to a treat ball more than the other. Another could prefer a kong toy, slow feeder, or snuffle mat.

The smarter the dog, the greater the challenge of keeping them interested. One creative way to keep your pup interested is to rotate toys every few days. Some dog owners need to do a trial-and-error process with new dogs before they know their taste in toys. If you have a puppy, do some research into what some of the best puppy toys are.

It’s important to remember that there is no such thing as an indestructible dog toy. When it comes to choosing a dog puzzle for interactive play, make sure your dog isn’t going to try and eat it. We want to challenge our dog’s mind, but also to keep our pets safe!

Which of these interactive toys for mental exercise do you think your dog will like best? All these and more are available on our website, Amazon, Chewy, Pet Supplies Plus, and more.