Jen Phillips AprilChoosing the Best Interactive Dog Toys for Mental Stimulation
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
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
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.
Dog Brick Interactive Treat Puzzle Dog Toy, Blue
The Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Dog Brick level 2 puzzle dog game will keep your dog entertained for hours as they use their natural hunting skills to seek out the hidden treats! This toy comes with 3 easy-to-fill compartments to hide your dog’s favorite treats and snacks in. Flip lid compartments open up to reveal the first compartment and can also slides to reveal a hidden second compartment…
Chewy
Amazon2. Outward Hound Hide-a-Squirrel
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.
Hide A Toy Plush Puzzle Toy
Outward Hound’s Hide A line of hide and seek plush dog puzzles was designed specifically to eliminate boredom, encourage positive play, and feed your dog’s natural hunting instincts. 2-in-1 interactive play means double the fun with options to play fetch or hide and seek to keep your dog mentally-stimulated. For dogs who can’t get enough of these plushy animals, check out our replacement 3-packs! Bound to…
3. Carrot Stuffer by Petstages
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.
Carrot Stuffer Treat-Dispensing Interactive Dog Toy, Orange
The Petstages Carrot Stuffer is a treat-dispensing interactive dog toy that’s designed to make snack time more exciting. Brightly colored and shaped for an unpredictable bounce to make each playtime and snack experience a blast! With three separate treat-stuffer openings, you can reward your pup’s hunting skills with multiple tasty treats such as kibble, peanut butter, and bully sticks. The durable natural…
4. Dogwood Chew by Petstages
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!
Dogwood Wood Alternative Dog Chew Toy, Original
A safe and long lasting alternative to chewing real wood sticks, Petstages Dogwood product line has all the taste and texture of a natural tree branch, but will last much longer and won’t splinter and cause potential harm to your beloved pup. Made in the U.S.A. to ensure quality and care, Dogwood combines real wood with lead-free and phthalate-free synthetic strength, making it a chew toy favorite…
5. Snoop by Planet Dog Treat Dispensing Dog Toy
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.
Orbee-Tuff Snoop Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Toy, White
Planet Dog’s multiple award-winning Orbee-Tuff Snoop challenges the brain in fun and stimulating ways! This interactive dog puzzle toy is great for bored pups that need a rewarding brain teaser or to encourage slower eating habits in fast eaters. The Snoop is translucent and squishy with a deep crevice that conceals the treats. Just pop open, fill with treats, and pop back in before playing with your…
How to Keep Your Dog From Being Bored When Home Alone: Final Thoughts
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.
