Keep Your Dog Busy During the Winter Months with These Fun Puzzles

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As dog parents know, an important part of raising your pup is making sure they're physically and mentally healthy. In addition to keeping up with vet visits, outfitting them with the best collar, following a healthy diet, and ensuring they get the right amount of exercise, you'll also want to think about ways to provide mental stimulation.

One tool pet owners use are dog puzzles. These affordable toys are a great way to give your furry friend a little bit of a challenge and keep their mind engaged. We've rounded up the best dog puzzles—from easy new puppy options to more challenging choices for older pals. Pro tip: Most versions allow you to hide rewards within the toy, as extra motivation to peak your pup's interest. And as you'll see from reviews, these toys can also be used to help slow down your dog's eating, like slow feeder dog bowls.

Many customers also say these puzzles have been useful in keeping their dogs from becoming destructive or anxious when they're bored. Some of the most intelligent dog breeds need a lot of mental stimulation, and these help provide it.

Keep scrolling to see our picks for the best dog puzzles to shop in 2024.

Dog Food Puzzle Feeder

This feeder puzzle gets plenty of love from pet parents who appreciate that it keeps their pups occupied. "This thing makes my corgi go nuts," said one reviewer. "Just the entertainment value of watching him play with it to get the treat is worth every penny. It's fairly durable and has provided hours of entertainment."

Key features:

• Made with lightweight plastic

• Suitable for puppies, small dogs, or cats

• Can be filled with food or treats, depending on size

Smart Puzzle Game

A great choice for your puppy or as a first puzzle, this toy is very simple, just requiring your pooch to get underneath the bone-shaped lids, which are made of durable plastic, to retrieve his or her favorite treats

Key features:

• Made with tough, food-safe plastic

• Can be cleaned with warm water and soap

• Phthalate-free
  

Hide A Squirrel Squeaky Puzzle

We love this woodland-inspired toy that lets your fur baby dig into the log to pull out all the squeaky squirrels. Some reviewers say they also hide treats in the toy along with the squirrels for an extra reward.

Key features:

• Comes in sizes ranging from "junior" to "ginormous"

• Made from polyester and synthetic fabric

• Additional squirrels can be purchased

Wobbler Interactive Dog Toy

This is a favorite among dog owners. It's a chew toy, but can also be a puzzle that provides stimulation if you stuff it full of treats or food. It comes in both small and large versions for breeds of all sizes.

Key features:

• Unscrews for easy filling and cleaning

• Durable

• Dishwasher-safe

Outward Hound Hide N Slide Dog Toy

Opt for this puzzle if you have a dog who's ready for something a little more challenging. The pieces slide back and forth to reveal his or her favorite treats.

Key features:

• A non-slip base keeps it in place

• Can be cleaned with warm water and soap

• Holds a quarter-cup of dog food

Dog Treat Puzzle

This durable puzzle gets tons of rave reviews from owners who say it gives smart, high-energy pups something to focus on. You can hide treats or food in the various compartments and watch your dog figure out how to slide the pieces around. It's fun for everyone!

Key features:

• Easy to clean

• Has 23 compartments

• Comes in several colors and patterns

Pet Zone IQ Dog Treat Ball

Your dog won't need to slide pieces around with this one, just roll the ball so that treats fall out. Easy-peasy! As your pooch gets more familiar with the puzzle, you can adjust the difficulty level using the interior disc.

Key features:

• Comes with interchangeable puzzle discs that can be swapped out

• Available in 3- or 4-inch sizes

• Easy to clean with warm soapy water

Cupcake Party! Puzzle Treat

Try this simple one for dogs who might get frustrated with some of the more complex sliders and puzzle toys out there. Not only is it adorable, but it also makes it easy—but not too easy—for them to get their reward.

Key features:

• Comes with a user guide written by a dog trainer, plus a QR code for additional online content

• Made from BPA-free thermoplastic rubber

• Easy to clean
  

Tug-A-Jug Meal-Dispensing Dog Toy

If you've got a dog that's just too smart for his or her own good, give this puzzle a try. "I have searched high and low for a toy that is actually challenging for my two very clever Border Collies," shared one reviewer. "This toy is fun for the dogs, isn't noisy and doesn't really take any planning on my part at all."

Key features:

• Appropriate for small- to medium-sized dogs

• Dishwasher-safe

• Made with rubber and plastic

Lickin' Layers Interactive Dog Puzzle

There's not much to figure out with this puzzle, but reviewers say it's still a great toy to keep their dog busy and entertained. Load up the layers with their food or treats. For an added challenge, fill the toy with water, peanut butter, or yogurt and put it in the freezer for a few hours. They'll be licking away at this all afternoon!

Key features:

• Made with durable, food-safe plastic

• More than 100 compartments

• Reviewers say it's easy to clean

Roller Dog Treat Dispenser Puzzle Ball

We love that there are so many possible uses for this toy. Of course, you can use it to play fetch, but it's also a puzzle. Pop a few of their favorite treats in there and watch your pup figure out how to shake them out. Other reviewers have put crumbled paper or other safe items inside for their dogs to pull out.

Key features:

• Comes in sizes ranging from mini to large

• Durable, even for aggressive chewers

• Made of rubber

Dog Snuffle Mat

For an easy puzzle, get your furry friend one of these soft mats. Drop some dry food or treats on the mat and let your dog go on the hunt for it. It's a great way to slow down their eating and provide an activity that's fun but won't get them riled up.

Key features:

• Doubles as a dog bed

• Machine-washable

• Comes in three colors

Treat Dispensing Puzzle

If your fur baby needs to get some energy out, try this barbell-shaped toy that scatters treats as it rolls around. "My dog loves this interactive puzzle," wrote one reviewer. "It takes him about 20 minutes to finish the food. I use it once or twice a week for his evening food portion. He loves it."

Key features:

• Designed for small dogs

• Made with ABS and TPE plastics

• Easy to fill
  

Dog Chew Toys

When your pup has torn apart every toy you've ever tried, you'll want to add this to your cart. These extra-durable puzzles will stand up to aggressive chewers, and you can put treats inside for an added challenge. "My husky destroys every toy we give him, until these," shared one reviewer. "He LOVES them, plays with them everyday and he hasn't been able to damage them at all. Love that we can hide treats inside too that he has to work for."

Key features:

• Textured exteriors can help scrub your dog's teeth and gums

• Made with durable rubber

• Suitable for medium or large dogs

Treat Maze

It's a flying saucer! But there are no extra-terrestrials here, just treats, which we (and your pup) think is way better. The intermediate-level puzzle requires your dog to spin and flip it to get the treats out.

Key features:

• Holds one cup of food or treats

• Reviewers say it's durable

• Easy to clean and refill

Dog Puzzle Toy

Your pet can use this toy in two different ways. The first is to simply hide food or treats in the compartments and watch them learn to slide or flip the lids. Once they've mastered that, they can learn to press the top of the main compartment to distribute the food into the other sections.

Key features:

• Weighted base and four non-slip rubber mats keep it in place

• Made with durable, food-safe materials

• Best for medium-sized dogs

Activity Flip Board

This toy might remind you of the activity boards parents buy for babies or toddlers to help their development. This one does the same thing but for your pup!

Key features:

• Has sliders, lever-lift tops, and removable cones to keep things interesting for your dog

• Dishwasher-safe

• Comes with booklet for suggestions on how to use this in training

Brick Puzzle Dog Toy

With this multi-faceted toy, your pooch nudges off the white pieces and then slides the remaining red pieces to uncover their treats. "We have an older doxie and he gets a bit lazy and set in his ways," shared one reviewer. "So I decided to try this puzzle game. He really likes the challenge and our excitement cheering him on. He gets better all the time."

Key features:

• Made with polypropylene and plastic

• Enriching for both puppies and older dogs

• Can be arranged in different ways to change the difficulty level

How to choose the best puzzle toy for your dog

Think about your pet's personality. Like people, each dog has their own personality and quirks. If you've got a smart, quizzical pup who needs a challenge to stay entertained, consider a more advanced puzzle. If your dog is younger and gets easily bored or frustrated when they can't figure out a toy, start with a simpler puzzle.

Watch how they play with their existing toys. If your dog loves chasing a ball around, pulling a squeaky toy from a hiding spot, or playing tug-of-war, look for a puzzle that involves similar activities.

Think about what you want to accomplish with the puzzle. If your goal is to keep your pooch entertained and mentally stimulated, almost any puzzle will do. But if you're hoping to slow down their eating by putting dinner in a puzzle, you'll want to make sure you get one big enough to hold a serving of their food. If you want to keep them distracted while you groom them or trim their nails, look for a stationary puzzle they won't have to chase around.

Look for durability. If you've got a dog who tends to be an aggressive chewer or otherwise hard on their toys, look for a puzzle that can withstand some wear and tear.

Make sure you get the correct size. Some dog puzzles come in multiple sizes for small, medium, and large breeds. Make sure you look at the size of a toy before you add it to your cart.

FAQs

Are dog puzzles worth it? Many pet owners think so! It's an easy way to provide mental stimulation for your dog, even on days when you don't have as much time to entertain them. They also tend to be affordable, with many under $15.

Are puzzles good for dogs? Yes. According to a blog post from Rover, puzzle toys can alleviate boredom, which in turn prevents your dog from exhibiting destructive behavior. They also provide mental (and sometimes physical) stimulation to tire your pet out, and they can even help your pup self-soothe if they're anxious.

What is the best interactive toy for dogs? It all depends on your pooch. You can read through reviews to see what other pet owners think of a puzzle to see if it might be the best fit for your pup's needs, or ask your veterinarian for recommendations.

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