Top tail puzzle toys for dogs

Dog puzzle toys are great! Not only do most dog puzzle toys help to prevent destructive behavior and enhance behavior management strategies, but a dog puzzle toy can also keep a dog's mind alert with mental stimulation. Also, our pup pals love them!

Investing in a dog puzzle can help in a variety of ways like changing up playtime, helping older dogs stay active, assisting with your dog's eating habits, as well as using them as a treat dispensing toy. We'll be looking at a wide range of dog puzzle toys to keep their tails wagging and their brains barking. A puzzle toy can come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colors but one thing they all have in common is their boredom-busting qualities, made with making canine Einsteins in mind (or thereabouts).

Your four-legged friend has a whole host of instincts - from digging and hunting, to chewing, fidgeting and play fighting. Providing your pooch with the mental stimulation they need through puzzles and toys will help you avoid destructive behaviours, separation anxiety, and even aggression.

As much as plush toys and squeaky toys are great for fun and bonding with your fluffy buddy, it's important to challenge your pup's noggin with a varying difficulty level. If it's rainy out or you fancy playing in the warmth of home, puzzle games for dogs are a sure way to channel positive behavior, and toys to keep dogs busy are great for keeping them occupied while you are.

So for a problem-solving-themed break between munchies and to slow down meal time, check out these puzzles for the canine gamer in your life. Let's look through some of the best dog puzzle toys on the market today!

Best puzzle toys for dogs

• KONG classic dog toy
• Snuffle mat
• Bob-A-Lot treat dispenser
• IQ treat ball
• BULLTUG's trash n' seek
• OurPets sushi dispenser
• Frisco hide-and-seek guacamole plush dog toy
• Outward Hound dog tornado
• Pet Zone IQ treat ball
• Outward Hound toys by Nina Ottoson
• Trixie mad scientist game
• Ethical Pets flip 'n' slide treat dispenser
• Trixie poker box strategy game
• Trixie gambling tower
• Tuff link puzzle
• Trixie windmill activity
• Busy Buddy tug-a-jug treat dispenser 
• West Paw Zogoflex dog toy
• Outward Hound Hide a Squirrel Dog puzzle
• Hanamya Slow Treat Dispensing lick mats

KONG classic dog toy

Possibly the most recognized brand by pet parents, the KONG classic dog toy has become a well-loved dog puzzle across the pet-crazy world. Also known as the KONG wobbler, this simple toy is super versatile whilst also being made of phthalate-free plastic (a type of plastic known to cause health issues in some dogs). You can store all kinds of hidden treats and wet food in these whilst being a fun chew toy for your furry friend. To make things even better, they are dishwasher safe and many dogs will find these to be indestructible. As pet parents, you know nothing is completely chew-proof when it comes to your dog's teeth!

Snuffle mat

Does your pooch love to dig, sniff, or forage? Well, that was a silly question! Hide treats amongst a snuffle mat - a fab interactive dog toy that's dishwasher safe - to keep your dog's brain sharp and free from boredom. Complete with colors, shapes, textures and layers, you can choose how far you want to take this canine challenge.

Bob-A-Lot treat dispenser

Can you guess what the Bob-A-Lot interactive dog toy does? Treat dispensers never seem to get old in the dog world - we can see why food puzzle toys for dogs are so popular! And if you get hold of one of these for your pooch, you'll see why too. Have them sniffing, scratching, and successfully munching their way through playtime!

IQ treat ball

Ever pondered over the size of your canine buddy's brain? Well, while this so-called ‘IQ' treat ball won't quite tell you that, it's a low-fuss way to get those noggins ticking. Fill this interactive dog toy with treats or even a whole meal of (dry!) biscuits, and make playtime delicious for your pooch. The catch? To eat the food, your dog figures out how to chomp to release the treats. You can also smear these in wet food for those speedy eaters.

BULLTUG's trash n' seek

One of the less cute behaviours of our canine friends has to be when their gnawing habits turn from toys to the new sofa, your favourite pair of running trainers, or, heaven forbid, their new fluffy bed. To keep those urges at bay, BULLTUG have developed ‘trash n' seek' - would you look at those racoons?! If it's not their cheeky facial expressions or squishable bodies, the crinkly texture is a sure way to keep your pooch focussed on the task at hand. Hide those little blighters in the casing and challenge your pooch to hunt them out. 

OurPets sushi dispenser

Ever wished your fluffy pal could share your love for sushi? We get it. While raw fish, rice and nori aren't recommended, OurPets may have just found the solution you're after with their food puzzle toy for dogs. Easy to clean and ideal for dogs as well as cats, this sushi-themed treat dispenser will boost your pooch's cognitive abilities AND stop them from wolfing down dinner so quickly.

Frisco hide-and-seek guacamole plush dog toy

Holy guacamole - this plush dog toy is a cutie. If you're into guac more than squirrels, this hide-and-seek interactive dog toy could be right up your street. Hide a lime, a chip and a charming avocado amongst a bowl of guacamole (the toy, that is - we wouldn't advise getting these toys amongst any *real* fruits) and stimulate your pooch's senses in more ways than one. 

Outward Hound Dog tornado

A dog tornado - now we bet that's a phrase you didn't expect to hear today. In each tier, hide treats and challenge your pooch to solve this food puzzle toy for dogs - the perfect puzzle toy for destructive dogs that boosts cognitive abilities and busts boredom. It's easy to clean (dishwasher safe), so don't worry if you've got a drooler!

Pet Zone IQ treat ball

Yes, IQ ball but we had to include both of them! The Pet Zone IQ treat ball is more about the nose than the doggy tongue. This dog puzzle toy releases treats as your dog pushes the IQ ball around from various shapes and holes on the toy. As food puzzles go, this is a great dog brain teaser and one that should keep your dog's interest for quite some time!

Outward Hound Nina Ottoson puzzle toys

The Outward Hound puzzle toy collection from Nina Ottoson offers many different dog food puzzles at different difficulty levels, depending on the age and breed of your furry friend. Unlike other puzzle toys, the Outward hound collection is recommended by dog behaviorists as an alternative to slow-feeder bowls. Like lick mats, the can be a great puzzle-solving toy with the reward of yummy treats. They also come in a variety of cute colors and designs, as well as being dishwasher safe.

Trixie Mad Scientist game

Trixie's dog activity puzzles come in all shapes and sizes, but did you ever think your pooch would turn their hand to science? While they won't quite be discovering any new elements with this puzzle, they'll be challenged to crack open each beaker to find the treat. Ideal for boosting their problem-solving skills, you can choose the game's difficulty level to perfectly match your pooch, wherever they might be in their development. 

Ethical Pets Flip 'n' Slide Treat Disp

A food puzzle toy for dogs, this flip ‘n' slide treat dispenser is fab for mental stimulation and challenge. Hide treats amongst each pocket and witness your pooch rise to the challenge.

Trixie poker box strategy game

Develop patience in your pooch and boost their concentration skills with Trixie's poker box strategy game. Challenge your fluffy buddy with this puzzle's lids, ropes, drawers and more that hold the (metaphorical) key to their biscuity reward. With the anti-slip rubber feet, it's ideal for keeping your pooch in one place while they play. Simply pop it in the dishwasher after each use to keep it squeaky clean.

Trixie gambling tower

Just to be clear - we aren't encouraging you to get your pooch into gambling. This puzzle challenges pups to decide which ropes to pull to reap the paw-licking rewards you hide in the towers and cones. For tips and tricks to get your pooch thinking, check out the handy training booklet that it comes with.

Tuff link puzzle

If you'd like a puzzle that you can alter over time to suit your buddy's abilities, this Tuff Link puzzle could be ideal. Form the tubes into different shapes and challenge your pooch to retrieve the treats they can see and smell.

Trixie windmill activity

Trixie's strategy games are ideal for testing your pooch's thinking and problem-solving skills, and this windmill activity is no exception. Each beaker dispenses treats as they spin, which is perfect if you'd like to slow down dinner time and stimulate your pooch at the same time.

Busy Buddy tug-a-jug treat dispenser

If your furry friend is a sucker for tug of war, Busy Buddy's treat dispenser will take things up a notch - a fab puzzle toy for destructive dogs. Your pooch will be able to see, hear and smell the treats you hide before they can taste them - ideal for motivating them to play, think, and problem-solve.

West Paw Zogoflex dog toys

West Paw has some rather unusual-looking dog toys that are slightly different from your average puzzle toy. The name too - West Paw Zogoflex - contrasts well with the space-themed images that are conjured. You might not be able to squeeze an entire meal for your pup into one, but their paw-fect treat covers that a super for your dog's teeth. Oh, and they're dishwasher-safe!

Outward Hound Hide a Squirrel dog puzzle

We're not being lazy, but this dog puzzle is probably exactly what you think it is. You take a bunch of plush squirrels and you, well, hide them in plush toys or in their squirrel toy home to (you guessed it) play hide and seek with! These are paw-some for encouraging positive play and behaviors whilst you allow them to sink their canines into a plush squirrel toy.

This is also ideal for aggressive chewers, what with it being a cuddly toy and all. When you go to hide a squirrel, this unlocks your pup's natural searching instinct which will keep them occupied for hours. And, yes, these are adorable squeaky squirrels, so if you're looking for a silent hide and seek toy, you may need to remove the squeaker.

Hanamya Slow Treat Dispensing lick mats

Sometimes the best dog puzzle toy can be found right under your nose. Lick mats and snuffle pads are an excellent slow feeder toy, as well as a different way to serve up treats like peanut butter. Although they may not offer dogs something to chew on or search for (like with hide a squirrel), if you're dog is food focused and a quick eater this can be fun training tool.

Want more ways to promote positive pup behaviour?

Behaviour management isn't always easy whether you've got a new pup, an old pup, or you're a new or well-seasoned pet parent. And while regular training is always recommended, stimulation through play is one sure (and fun!) way to keep your pup happy and the destructive behaviours at bay.

One thing many pups love is routine - consistency is key in the canine world, and here's why.