Best Puzzle Toys For Dogs

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One of the best ways to keep your dog entertained while you are figuring out life with a baby is puzzle toys for dogs. These toys have a variety of functions and there are different toys depending on your dog’s size and personality. Read below to learn how to pick out the perfect puzzle toys for your dogs and some of my (and my dogs') personal favorites! Plus, here is a reel that shows how I prepare puzzle toys for dogs with my kids.

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How to Choose Puzzle Toys For Dogs

There are some things you should keep in mind when choosing puzzle toys for dogs:

1. Choose a toy based on your dog’s personality and size. Many toys come in multiple sizes so you can choose the right one for your pet.
2. Start out by making it easy for your dog to get the food from the toy. Use loosely-packed food so it falls out easily.
3. Once they are used to the toy, make it more difficult. For example, you could freeze the toy, add extra layers, or pack in more food.
4. If your baby is mobile, it’s best to give puzzle toys to dogs when your baby isn’t around. If your baby is immobile, keeping the two separated (and supervised!) should be just fine.
5. Clean up any excess food or toy pieces before the baby is in the room.
6. No matter how tough the toy is, no toy is indestructible. Keep this in mind and be on the lookout for small pieces that could be choking hazards!
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Our Favorite Puzzle Toys For Dogs

We’ve tried out many different puzzle toys for dogs, but here are some of our favorites:

Toppl

The Toppl is a great, durable choice and one that you can easily make more difficult for your dog. This is a great one to freeze! It comes in three sizes and can hold treats, kibble, and mixes.

Snuffle Mat

A snuffle mat is perfect for dogs who spend a lot of time on walks sniffing everything. They usually have some sort of ruffled strands or pieces of fabric mimicking grass. Fancier models may also include pockets or compartments. Most are machine washable. If your dog is all about sniffing, it’s worth checking it out. 

I have the AWOOF snuffle mat (perfect for traveling!) and a more dense and thick handmade snuffle mat from Think Smart Pets* (my personal favorite) with a heavy-duty rubber mat. A silicone snuffle mat is easy to clean and can be used for both wet and dry food. It was perfect for my senior dog, Lola.

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*Use SNUFFLEBABY to get 10% off Think Smart Pets snuffle mats

Slow Feeder Bowl

A Slow Feeder Bowl is a serving dish and puzzle toy all-in-one. If you have a dog that inhales food, a slow feeder bowl is a lifesaver. It slows your dog down, helping prevent bloat or regurgitation. It is a great alternative to a regular bowl.

Wobbling Toy

If you need something your dog won’t destroy right away, try the Bob-A-Lot Food Dispensing Toy*. The large size holds up to 3 cups of kibble and has an adjustable opening to make it more or less difficult.

Kong Wobbler* is another durable puzzle toy, great for beginners. The opening is relatively big and the kibble or treats fall out easily. This food dispensing toy is easy to fill, available in 2 sizes, and the large 

The large sizes of both toys hold about 3 cups of kibble.

Lick Mat

These puzzle toys are perfect for bathing or grooming sessions. They are great to spread some peanut butter or wet dog food on. Pop it in the freezer for a few hours and serve it to your dog to keep them entertained for a while!

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WOOF Pupsicle

The WOOF Pupsicle has a cool feature! You can use their pre-made Pupsicle Pops, grab one of their treat mixes, or get creative and make your own with the DIY Treat Tray.

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Durable, easy to clean, great for dogs new to puzzle toys and advanced dogs, it quickly became one of my go-to toys. Our trick is to add a little bit of water to the ingredients we are using to create a perfect pupsicle. A perfect snack that takes dogs 5-30 mins to work on.

For a bigger selection of products, check out the WOOF website and use code DOGMEETSBABY10 for 10% off.

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Pickle Pocket

A Pickle Pocket could be the toy for your dog if they really like chewing. This is one of Lola’s favorites! Hide small bits of cheese or smelly treats and watch your dog play with it for hours.

Tricky Treat Ball

If you have a herding breed dog or one that likes to play with toys, a puzzle toy like the Tricky Treat Ball would be perfect. You can fill it with dog food or treats and watch your dog nudge, nose, nibble, paw and pounce it to get the food. As the ball gets rolled it dispenses the food.

Ruffwear Gnawt-a-Cone

A great puzzle toy for vigorous chewers, very durable, and designed to bounce around erratically for more fun. Also a great fetch toy.

Casino Toys

Interactive Casino Puzzly Toys provide great mental stimulation.  Dogs need to figure out how to combine multiple steps to retrieve a hidden treat. There is a toy for every dog, from beginners to advanced problem solvers.

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SODAPUP

SodaPup specializes in innovative, American-made dog toys for power chewers. Their products are built to last! They have a wide range of options, including chew toys, treat dispensers, lick mats, slow feeder bowls, and more. What I love about SodaPup is that they don’t forget about brachycephalic (flat-faced) dogs. Our favorites are the honey pot and the lick mat.

Use DOGMEETSBABY to get 10% off at sodapup.com

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It goes without saying that we love the #1 puzzle toy - Kongs! We have all the sizes and use them often. Check out this reel to see how we fill our Kongs and other puzzle toys for our dogs.

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There are so many different puzzle toys for dogs that it is easy to find one your dog will love! If your baby isn’t quite here yet, you’ll definitely want to add a few of these to your baby registry. Check out our Baby Registry for expecting dog parents for more ideas!

Like this blog? Have questions? Looking to connect? Awesome, me too! Follow me on Instagram and let me know your thoughts! I am always here to answer questions you may have.

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only. Please contact your veterinarian, a certified dog trainer, or a veterinary behaviorist, if your dog's wellbeing is at risk or your dog's behavior poses a threat to you or other people.

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