Best Dog Puzzle Toys

You simply cannot beat this classic toy. However, you shouldn’t choose the classic style, as KONG Extreme lasts much longer! If it becomes dirty or slimy, just throw it in the dishwasher for fast and easy cleaning. You won’t find a dog that doesn’t “get” this one.

Feature Highlights:

• Constructed using durable rubber material.
• Easy to fill with soft materials, safe to freeze.
• Dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

I find that many clients use this product incorrectly. The best way to use a KONG isn’t to stuff dog food or dry treats in it, but to fill it with soft, mushy things. My favorite use is filling the KONG with a mixture of plain canned pumpkin and peanut butter, then freezing it.

For best results, you can glob a little extra on the opening, or add some fresh peanut butter at the opening to entice dogs who find themselves bored easily. The best part is, you can leave your dog with this one, and if they give up on it they’ll go back later to finish it off. Recommended for: German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Pitbulls, Pugs, and more.

This toy is a great choice for beginners because you can “graduate” your dog to higher difficulties as they become more adept at removing the treats. You can remove the puzzle inside so your dog can easily roll the ball and remove the treats, and add it back in later to increase the difficulty.

Feature Highlights:

• Comes in two different sizes for different breeds.
• You can adjust the difficulty level.
• Easy to open and add treats.

This toy is a great choice for most pets, but I would not recommend it to power chewers. Make sure you choose the larger size for larger dogs, so they cannot chew the hard plastic. You should also monitor your pet during use to ensure they do not bite or gnaw on the ball.

For most pets, this treat ball provides a great puzzle toy for beginners and allows you to increase the difficulty as your dog improves. Recommended for: Labrador Retrievers, Pitbulls, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Doodles, and more.

I cannot say enough about puzzle toys you can easily use on a daily basis. My favorite use for this toy is feeding your dog’s daily meal(s) with it. It slows your dog’s eating and increases their mental stimulation with barely any effort on your part.

Feature Highlights:

• Dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.
• Easy to fill using the screw on top.
• Size small fits 1/2 cup of food and size Large fits 1 cup.

This puzzle toy is absolutely genius. The premise is incredibly simple, it works like a giant weeble-wobble that your dog must knock over to get food out of. My favorite aspect is that you can simply fill it with your dog’s food on a daily basis. It’s easy to remember, your dog won’t fill up on treats, and you make sure they get their mental stimulation in.

Even if your dog has a little difficulty, it doesn’t take much to help them learn. You can simply show them, or dab a little peanut butter on the opening. Even dogs who don’t care for their kibble tend to love this. Recommended for: Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Beagles, German Shepherds, and more.

This one might not have a ton of reviews, but I have personally used it and it works wonders for your pet. Many owners must leave their dog alone for long periods of time. If this is the case, a timer-release puzzle toy can be a godsend.

Feature Highlights:

• Six chambers for hours of treat-dispensing fun.
• Choose between four different timer intervals.
• Keeps your dog entertained throughout the entire day.

The premise of this toy is absolutely genius. The main pitfall of most puzzle toys is that dogs finish them within a relatively short period of time. This is all fine and dandy when you can refill the toy or give them another option, but not practical when you leave for long periods.

With this puzzle toy, you set a timer and each chamber opens and chimes a bell after a set period of time. So, for example, you can set the chamber to open every 60 minutes, and your dog gets entertainment throughout a six-hour period. Recommended for: Golden Retrievers, Beagles, Shetland Sheepdogs, Border Collies, and more.

This puzzle provides a great challenge because it is two puzzles in one. Your dog must roll the chamber on top, and then remove the treat or dog food from the puzzle below as well. It provides a great challenge for intelligent pets.

Feature Highlights:

• Made with high-quality, non-toxic materials that are safe for your pet.
• Provides hours of fun and mental stimulation.
• Helps slow your dog down while eating.

This puzzle has a simple premise, but challenging execution. If your dog burns through their puzzle toys and you need a challenge, this toy is the pick for you. Add treats to the chamber on top, and your dog must turn the chamber to knock the treats out.

Even after your dog removes the treats, they must also get the food out of the puzzle feeder below. This dual-action helps increase mental stimulation. However, some pets might simply toss the toy around rather than leave it upright as intended. Recommended for: Border Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs, German Shepherds, Spaniels, and more.