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Is your dog bored and restless? Unleash their inner genius with a high-quality dog puzzle toy!
These aren't just your average playthings. Puzzle toys, also known as enrichment toys, are designed to challenge your dog's mind, keep them learning new tricks, and – believe it or not – tire them out just as much as a good walk!
Ready to supercharge playtime? Add an interactive dog puzzle toy to your pup's collection and watch them become a master problem-solver!
At Smart Bark, we're always searching for new and interesting dog toys.
You can judge for yourself whether you like the look of the dog toy and we'll fill you in as best we can how difficult they are, how durable and how well they'll maintain your dog's interest.
For 40% OFF your first two boxes
Use discount code SMARTBARKCC40
UPDATED : NOVEMBER 2024 After a new round of testing, we've added the treat dispenser from Earth Rated to our top 10 Puzzle Toys for Dogs |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Our Picks of the Best Dog Puzzle Toys
Buying Advice for Dog Puzzle Toys
Puzzle toys are a whole new breed of playtime fun! Unlike squeaky friends or fetch flyers, these brainteasers are designed to challenge your dog's mind and keep them focused on the rewarding task of getting those yummy treats.
Finding the perfect puzzle is key.
A toy that's too easy gets solved in seconds, while a frustratingly difficult one can leave your pup feeling discouraged. Don't worry, we'll help you choose the ideal challenge level to keep your furry friend engaged and mentally stimulated.
The best puzzle toys have a degree of flexibility to make them harder or easier to suit your pup. Ultimately, puzzle toys do need a level of human input especially when your dog is being introduced to the toy.
Our review includes the best interactive dog puzzles sorted into three difficulty categories, to help you provide maximum enrichment for your dog, regardless of their problem solving skills.
You may well need to 'scaffold' the play to get your dog started, but always remember to give your dog plenty of time to attempt to work through problems on their own. This is where the enrichment element comes in. |
Our Picks of the Best Dog Puzzle Toys
If you're looking for something simple, to keep your dog or puppy occupied whilst engaging their brain and making them work harder for their food, here are 3 easy, entry level puzzles.
1. Best for Beginners
KONG Gyro
The Gyro dog toy is a simple but well designed treat dispensing toy from the internationally renowned canine company KONG.
This is a great introduction to dog puzzle toys as it doesn't involve a huge amount of strategy and the results are immediate.
The blue central sphere has a hole to release treats as your dog touches and spins it. The smaller the treats the easier it is to leave a tasty trail as your dog nudges it around the kitchen floor.
There is an opportunity to make the Gyro more of a challenge for your dog by adding chunkier treats. The dispensing hole is approx. 2cm diameter (slightly smaller than a £1 coin).
The red outer ring slows the dispenser, stopping it from spinning out of control and sliding under your cupboards. The inner blue ball is transparent so you can see when it's empty and simply unscrews for easy cleaning.
We can honestly recommend the KONG Gyro as we've tested it regularly over several months. It's simple, durable and we love it's flexibility, suiting all dogs from in-experienced puppies like Phoebe, our miniature Dachshund in the photo, to more experienced dogs. |
Our one reservation would be Power Chewers ! As it's made from plastic not rubber, we wouldn't recommend this for any serious chewers out there. You may be better with the Roolo or larger, heavier and more substantial Bob-A-Lot featured later in this review.
Like the Bob-a-Lot and Roolo featured later, the KONG Gyro could even be used as a slow feeder or to entice fussy eaters if your dog shows some anxiety eating from a more traditional dog bowl.
We've found that the sheer movement element of the GYRO grabs your dogs attention and appears to make the food more interesting. Available in two sizes.
Reasons to Buy
+ Simple puzzle
+ Dispenses treats
+ Two sizes available
+ Easy to clean
+ Great value enrichment toy
Reasons to Avoid
- Limited challenge
- Not suitable for power chewers
Buying Options
2. Best Compact Treat Dispenser
Earth Rated
It's difficult to find well-designed dog toys that look nice around your home as well as make your dog happy. The Earth Rated range is perfect.
The Earth Rated Treat Dispenser is a practical and compact toy that will keep your pup entertained for hours. Resembling a rubber vase, this treat dispenser wobbles and bounces, scattering treats as it goes.
It's fun and functional, the perfect blend of play and reward. Built to withstand even the toughest chewers, Earth Rated recommend sizing up to accommodate any super chewer tendencies and removing it once it has dispensed all the treats (no toy is completely indestructible)
It's worth mentioning that the treat opening measures 2cm in diameter which is ideal for smaller treats and most brands of kibble (here we're using Scrumbles 60% Chicken dry food).
You'll be glad to know it can be thrown in the dishwasher (top rack) after use and is freezer safe so could be used for frozen treats.
Although you could use it with soft treats like peanut butter, we think it would be quite tricky to clean so our advice - stick with kibble or crunchy treats.
Made from responsibly sourced rubber it's available in two sizes
REASONS TO BUY
+ Beautiful dog toy
+ Simple to use with dry food
+ Will stand up to some serious chewing
+ Dishwasher proof
+ Freezer safe
REASONS TO AVOID
- Trickier to clean if using with wet food
BUYING OPTIONS
3. Brilliant Boredom Buster
Roolo
Calling all canine hunters!
The new Roolo from Play9, a UK company, is designed to unleash your dog's inner predator and keep them entertained for hours.
This innovative toy features a unique, curved pyramid shape that rolls and wobbles unpredictably, mimicking the thrill of the hunt. As it moves, the Roolo can dispense treats or kibble, leaving a tempting trail for your dog to follow and rewarding them for their problem-solving skills.
Food-motivated pups? A treat-dispensing toy like the Roolo is the perfect way to satisfy their natural instincts and keep them mentally stimulated during playtime.
Plus it's blue, which dogs can see really well (did you know that dogs can't tell the difference between red and yellow!)
So what did we think in testing ?
We filled the Roolo with a handful of kibble and placed it on the floor. We were astonished, no introduction needed, Freddie instinctively knew to nudge it to release the treats inside.
The first major surprise was the movement ! It's completely erratic and with one nudge of the nose or a paw, it tumbles and spins across the floor. The Roolo certainly won't be ignored by your dog as well as the movement, they will hear the treats shuffling inside.
If you want to make it more difficult for your dog to release the treats, simply use larger treats. Interestingly even with larger pellets and treats, our tester didn't become frustrated which is important.
We felt that the 2cm diameter hole was ideally suited to standard kibble or small treats. We successfully tested a whole range of dry foods - Forthglade, Walker & Drake, Grub Club alongside treats - Incentive Pets, Soopa and Mini Gravy Bix from Parklife.
The only treats which wouldn't fit were the larger Pooch & Mutt or Forthglade biscuit style treats but you could always break them in half.
Made from TPR which is incredibly durable, the Roolo is suitable for a wide range of breeds. However as with all dog toys, nothing is totally indestructible, so we'd always recommend monitoring their play.
You could even consider using the Roolo as a fun slow feeder at meal times for greedy guzzlers, making them work harder for their food. Plus it would make mealtimes fun for picky pups that don't like to eat from a traditional bowl.
As the Roolo doesn't come apart for cleaning - only use with dry dog food and treats and nothing too soft and crumbly. You could of course fill it with water every now and again to flush out any crumbs.
Our Verdict - Roolo Report: Wags All Around! This well-designed and versatile toy is a winner for both pups and pet parents. We can't wait to see what Play9 launches next! |
Reasons to Buy
+ Simple treat dispenser
+ Well designed
+ Durable
+ Doubles as a slow feeder
+ Could make mealtimes fun
Reasons to Avoid
- Dispensing hole one size so not all treats will fit
(break treats in half if needed)
Buying Options
For 10% OFF enter coupon code: SMARTBARK10
You may also enjoy reading our new article exploring some Kong alternatives in the Best Enrichment Toys for 2024 |
Ready to challenge your pup's problem-solving skills?
An intermediate dog puzzle is the perfect next step! These brainteasers offer a variety of difficulty levels, so you can adjust them as your furry Einstein learns and conquers each challenge.
The best part? Many intermediate puzzles can be modified for increased difficulty, keeping your clever canine engaged for longer.
4. Best for Dry Treat Rewards
Bob-A-Lot
Starmark has been the world leader in pet education for over a decade, with award-winning training and behaviour tools developed by experts.
We bought and tested the Starmark Bob-A-Lot interactive dog puzzle toy to see what all the fuss was about.
The Bob-A-Lot was surprisingly heavy and sturdy. It wobbles around the floor on it's weighted base and as your dog nudges with their nose and paws, it releases treats
Firstly you simply fill the top with your dog’s favourite treat, or if they have a kibble diet, you could put their whole meal inside.
Adjust the two openings to alter the difficulty to release the food and you're all set.
We loved that you have some flexibility to make your dog work harder an after some trial and error we were able to open the slots just enough to keep Freddie interested but make it challenging.
In testing we found by altering the slots, it made it far more tricky than the Roolo.
Great for 'chewers', it's a substantial toy and super durable.
Our one reservation when testing, is that (like the Roolo featured above) it doesn't come apart for cleaning so we would recommend using hard, crunchy style treats that won't leave crumbs inside the toy.
It's worth noting that it's a great option for greedy guzzlers as it works as a slow feeder by increasing the time it takes your dog to consume their food.
Just be aware that it would only work with a kibble diet.
It's easy-to-fill and available in two sizes to suit puppies to large breed dogs.
Reasons to Buy
+ Durable and not easy to chew
+ Flexible difficulty level
+ Could act as a slow feeder
Reasons to Avoid
- Moves around floor
- Doesn't come apart for cleaning
Buying Options
You might also be interested in ..... |
If you're looking for some healthy training treats to use with these puzzle toys, take a look at our Best Dog Treats article. The Pooch & Mutt Meaty Treats we feature are the perfect size for the Kong Gyro and Bob-A-Lot. |
5. Best No-Treat Dog Puzzle
Outward Hound
Dogs love to chase a squirrel although I'm not sure they'd know what to do if they managed to catch one! Here's a soft toy version of your dog's favourite pastime.
Simply stuff the squeaky squirrels in the tree trunk tube, and watch as your dog pull them out one by one.
It’s challenging as your dog needs to learn to nuzzle into each hole and pull their prized stuffed squirrel out.
It's difficult to find well-designed dog toys that look nice around your home as well as make your dog happy.
The Hide-a-Squirrel toy from Outward Hound is perfect, plus it offers a great alternative to a treat based puzzle.
Available in four different sizes to suit a range of dogs, we tested the medium size toy which measures approx. 17 x 15 cm and includes 3 squirrels.
Whilst we admit our cockapoo isn't a big chewer, the hide-a-squirrel dog toy has lasted extremely well with the log base and all three squirrels still in tact after a year.
We found with some added human interaction the Hide-a-Squirrel toy provides just the right engagement without losing your dog's interest.
Reasons to Buy
+ Different sizes available
+ Well designed
+ Not treat dispensing
Reasons to Avoid
- Squirrels squeak!
Buying Options
6. Best Flexible Puzzle
K9 Connectables
K9 Connectables offer an innovative range of enrichment dog toys designed to encourage your dog to explore and use their natural instincts.
These brightly coloured, award-winning puzzle toys offer some unique play opportunities to enjoy with your dog.
Each element can slot and stack together offering different combinations to suit your dog and more importantly keep the toy new and interesting.
They offer two ranges to choose from - the original Gentle and newer Pro range which is designed for enthusiastic chewers. It's worth noting that both ranges are interchangeable.
The perfect boredom buster to keep your dog entertained whilst you're busy, they can have a really positive effect on some of their more challenging canine behaviour seen in younger dogs and puppies.
Along with custom bone-shaped dog treats, you can stuff the elements with dog-friendly peanut butter or even yoghurt to extend play as you would a KONG.
We love these puzzles because they offer you so much flexibility on just how difficult you want to make them.
This means they are suitable for a wide range of dogs and abilities from puppies to experienced older dogs. Ultimately it's this flexibility which will keep the puzzle stimulating and enriching.
If you would like more information, read our deep-dive test and review of K9 Connectables.
Reasons to Buy
+ Well designed
+ Lots of flexibility
+ Extensive range
+ Tough options for chewers
Reasons to Avoid
- Pricier than some
Buying Options
Smart Bark can offer readers 10% OFF K9 Connectables.
Simply use discount code SMARTBARK at checkout
7. Best for On-the-Go Fun
Nava & Me
A NEW addition to our review is this fabric dog puzzle from Nava & Me - ideal for using on-the-go.
All the other dog puzzle toys featured in this article are ideal for using around your home, but what if you are looking for something to keep your dog occupied elsewhere ?
We were really impressed by this gorgeous looking fabric puzzle from small UK company - Nava & Me.
The Squares + Crosses Enrichment Toy, is essentially a fabric pouch which unzips to reveal a series of fabric treat holders.
Nicely designed and well built, we tested the larger of the two sizes, measuring 22 x 18cm and found it was light and small enough to fold into a large pocket or slot in your bag before leaving the house.
With 18 treat slots available on 6 different strips, you simply pop a treat or piece of kibble in each hole. Push the strips back inside and you're ready to go.
We loved that you can hide treats in it before you leave the house and once you reach your destination whether that's the office, cafe or down the local, you simply grab it from your bag and lay it on the ground.
Working a bit like a snuffle mat, your dog needs to sniff out the treats and nose them out of the various holes.
In testing we found it kept Freddie interested for nearly 15 minutes. As your dog gets more confident with the concept, you could choose smaller treats to make them work harder.
Better still, the Squares + Crosses enrichment toy comes with two strong attachment loops so you could slip one under a chair leg. Ideal to use in small spaces, this puzzle won't slide around the floor.
Uniquely designed, it's an eco-friendly option, as the fabric is made from recycled plastic bottles. If it needs freshening up, simply machine wash on cold.
Our Verdict - This ingenious dog food puzzle is a portable brainteaser that keeps your pup mentally stimulated, no matter where your adventures take you.
Reasons to Buy
+ For On-the-Go enrichment
+ Well designed
+ Available in two sizes
+ Easy to clean
+ Supports a small UK company
Reasons to Avoid
- Can only use with dry treats
Buying Options
👀 Our Top Tip: For any travel toy you choose, keep it special by reserving it just for outings. This way, it maintains its "new toy" excitement and becomes an extra treat for your pup during car rides or adventures.
Gearing Up for Geniuses! Is your dog a master problem-solver? These next puzzles will put their skills to the test.
8. Best for Canine Einsteins
Nina Ottosson
The first of two trickier dog puzzles from the Nina Ottosson collection.
This particular design, the Dog Casino, is a level 3 game so is recommended for more challenging play, although we found it can easily be adapted to suit your dog.
The idea behind the Dog Casino is for your dog to slide the drawers open to access the treats hidden inside.
If your dog is good at solving puzzles, you can further challenge them by simply twisting the bone shaped white handles to lock the drawers in place.
We introduced the puzzle with a couple of drawers slightly ajar to entice Freddie. Once he was able to pull the drawers open to reveal the treats inside, we shut the drawers completely.
Lastly, we began to turn the bones to lock the handles in place and with some guidance Freddie was able to start unlocking them - this stage is very tricky!
Made from tough plastic so not only can you use it for wet or even frozen treats, its dishwasher proof too.
We recommend the Dog Casino Puzzle as a really flexible dog puzzle. Ultimately it's a difficult puzzle but you can adjust the sequence to make it easier for your dog to reach those tasty treats. |
Reasons to Buy
+ Well designed
+ Provides a challenge
+ Flexible
+ Easy to Clean
+ No Loose pieces
Reasons to Avoid
- Difficult to master completely
- More challenging starting level
Buying Options
9. Best Dog Feeder Toy
Loobani
This dog puzzle from Loobani is ideal for dogs on a kibble or dry food diet. It will require some patience on your part as it was deceptively difficult to train to use, but can keep your dog occupied for a long time.
Initially, all the dogs which tested this puzzle tried to get to the treats by attempting to remove the canister lids with their teeth.
To start with you may need to spin the three canisters to help your dog understand how to release the kibble or treats from the 3 holes in the top.
Your dog will slowly learn to paw the canisters to spin and release the treats.
Made from bamboo, it's sturdy and the H-shaped base held it in place whilst the canisters spun.
We found that once filled this feeder can hold your dogs attention for a really long time so great for distraction purposes and perfect if you have a greedy guzzler as it will slow their eating down.
The canisters can be fixed at one of 3 different heights so it's suitable for all sizes of dog. All you need is 5 minutes and a screwdriver to put it together.
There are four non-slip pads which fit under the base so it won't scratch wooden floors and should stay in one place. Cleverly there are three different sized holes on each lid to release a range of the treats or kibble.
The only flaw we could find is that to spin the canisters easily, they need to be fairly full. In testing, we found that the less they weigh, the harder they are to spin.
We'd suggest when you introduce this toy to your four-legged friend for the first time, fill it up for maximum reward v minimum effort. As your dog gets confident with the concept, you could half fill the canisters to make them work harder.
Also, bear in mind that whilst the canisters are dishwasher safe, you would first need to unscrew the rod holding them in place to remove them (which is a bit of a faff).
We found other, spinning dog feeders on the market, but they were all constructed from plastic, so they won't be as durable as the Loobani bamboo puzzle feeder.
Reasons to Buy
+ Well designed
+ Doesn't slide on the floor
+ Easy to fill
+ Ideal slow feeder
+ Hours of entertainment
Reasons to Avoid
- Will need initial training
- Not suitable for wet or raw food
- Pricier option
- Not easy to clean
Buying Options
10. Best Challenging Puzzle
Nina Ottosson
Many of Nina Ottosson's puzzles can be can be set to differing levels of complexity to satisfy all ages and several dog ability levels.
This 'Worker' dog puzzle has sliding mechanisms and requires your dog to work through a series of sequential steps to release the hidden treats.
Clearly this is a level 3 (difficult) puzzle, so you may need to initially break it down into smaller steps.
We love this puzzle because it offers you a degree of flexibility on just how difficult you want to make it.
Ultimately it's this flexibility which will keep the puzzle stimulating as your dog improves.
Better still, as all the working components slide, they stay attached to the puzzle so there are no parts to misplace.
We loved that the new updated Dog Worker puzzle is made to look like real wood, but it's actually a composite material with all the benefits of both wood and plastic. So it’s more durable than wood, easy to clean and will not splinter or snap.
Reasons to Buy
+ Well designed
+ Lots of flexibility
+ No loose pieces
Reasons to Avoid
- Could frustrate beginners
Buying Options
Our Verdict
If you're looking for a basic entry level puzzle toy then take a look at the KONG Gyro or the Play9 Roolo Whilst they look simple, they are both well designed treat dispensers which will definitely relieve boredom and enrich your dog's day.
For something a bit more testing, we'd recommend K9Connectables. Their innovative range of brightly coloured enrichment toys offers some unique play opportunities and is incredibly flexible. It really is this flexibility that we love, as the toys can become more difficult as your dog's puzzle solving skills improve.
Lastly, if you are searching for a difficult puzzle for more challenging play, then take a look at the best-selling range of Level 3 Nina Ottosson puzzles. We found the Dog Casino and the Worker puzzles are definitely at the harder end of the dog puzzle spectrum.
Not sure if a puzzle toy fits the bill ?
We explore a whole collection of dog toys from chew toys to keep them occupied, to interactive toys to help you strengthen your bond - Best Dog Toys for 2024
Tips for using Puzzle Toys with Dogs
There's such a range of difficulty levels available, try to choose a puzzle that you think your dog will be able to master with some initial help. Ultimately, if your dog becomes frustrated they will lose interest.
No matter which puzzle you decide to try, your presence will make them a fun and rewarding experience for your dog and hopefully you.
And remember, to get the most out of these toys, rotate them with your other toys to retain your dog's interest.
You might be interested in ... |
None of the toys featured here are particularly suitable for aggressive chewers unless you monitor their play. Take a look at our Indestructible dog toys article, if your dog can chew through these toys, they probably deserve some sort of prize! |
🧩 Thanks for dropping by and we hope you've found the perfect puzzle toy for your dog in our review of the Best Puzzle Toys for Dogs 🧩
