It doesn’t take a genius to know that dogs are intelligent animals.
They’re probably not as intelligent as humans – but they can be a lot more ingenious than we give them credit for.
And they like to play a lot…
That’s why the best dog puzzle toys exist.
They’re the perfect combination to get the most out of your dog’s playfulness and smartness. Even the laziest dog will love one of these.
What’s better – you’ll find an excuse to spend some time with your dog. Wouldn’t it be fun to see your pet developing puzzle-solving skills?
DON’T HESITATE THEN!
Check our article below and find the perfect puzzle toy for your puppy!
- My Intelligent Pets Interactive Pyramid Puzzle Game Toy for Dogs
- Outward Hound Nina Ottosson Interactive Puzzle Game for Dog
- LOOBANI Dogs Food Puzzle Feeder
- SNiFFiz SmellyUFO Mind Stimulating Dog Toy
- HoundGames Hide’n’Treat Dog Puzzle Toys for Boredom
- Dogit Mind Games 3-in-1 Interactive Smart Toy for Dogs
- SPOT Seek-a-Treat Flip’ N Slide Treat Dispenser for Dogs
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
 | Our Top Pick! My Intelligent Pets Interactive Pyramid Puzzle Game Toy for Dogs
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Outward Hound Nina Ottosson Interactive Puzzle Game for Dog
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | LOOBANI Dogs Food Puzzle Feeder
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | SNiFFiz SmellyUFO Mind Stimulating Dog Toy
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | HoundGames Hide’n’Treat Dog Puzzle Toys for Boredom
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Dogit Mind Games 3-in-1 Interactive Smart Toy for Dogs
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | SPOT Seek-a-Treat Flip’ N Slide Treat Dispenser for Dogs
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
7 Best Dog Puzzle Toys Reviews 2022
#1. My Intelligent Pets Interactive Pyramid Puzzle Game Toy for Dogs
This will be a challenging game even for humans – but a HELL OF A LOT OF FUN AS WELL!
Want to keep your dog figuring out the puzzle for hours? This is the best one you’ll find.
It is not the hardest of toys, but it’s certainly a challenge. You can configure its difficulty level by adjusting it for 1 paw up to 4 paws. That is, how much your dog needs to figure out before treats are released…
OH YEAH! That’s right; this is a solve-the-puzzle-to-get-a-treat toy. Your dog will be COMPLETELY MOTIVATED to solve the puzzle for a simple reason: FOOD.
But your dog is getting a lot more than that. At first, you get the chance to stimulate their mind.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if your dog becomes the next Einstein? (Unlikely, but who knows?)
And then, you also stimulate the dog’s body. Imagine your dog being lazy all day and just waking up to eat from his plate. This toy changes that. MAKE HIM WORK FOR THE TREATS!
Last but not least, it keeps your dog busy. Your dog won’t have to get bored, anxious, or feel alone ever again.
BY THE WAY: You can hide over 30 small treats in the toy that includes 21 barrels and 6 rollers, so your dog will have tons of ways to figure out how to solve it (and tons of treats to enjoy).
What We Liked
- Extra-difficult game for extra mind boosts
- Stimulates the body and mind at once
- Keeps dog entertained for a long time
- Entirely safe and easy-to-use toy
What We Didn’t Like
- Wooden construction wears out over time
#2. Outward Hound Nina Ottosson Interactive Puzzle Game for Dog
We treat this as a standalone toy – but Outward Hound has an entire high-end collection of puzzle games for dogs that you shouldn’t dismiss.
It’s called the Nina Ottosson – and it’s AMAZING!
This is an advanced puzzle, for example. It is a level 3 (of 4 levels) that promotes decently high mind work. That means putting your dog under brain strain, so he trains its problem-solving skills.
The challenge slider works in simple ways: your dog has to put its paws over the sliders and discover WHERE the treats are located.
As your dog moves the sliders, new spaces are being discovered. Some of them have nothing. But your dog will have to keep learning to find where the treat lies.
If you want to test your dog’s mental abilities even further, don’t hesitate to try the Level 4 Multipuzzle. It comes with even more challenging games that will put ANY DOG to work.
What stands out the most about the Nina Ottosson puzzle games? They’re all beautiful and durable. High-quality plastic construction is safe for your dog but also attractive enough to keep your pet hooked.
EXTRAS TO CONSIDER: Nothing is removable, so you can rest assured your dog won’t ever choke or eat something he mustn’t.
What We Liked
- Lets you pick from a collection of games
- Different difficulty levels for any dog
- Surprisingly attractive games
- High-quality build that lasts
What We Didn’t Like
- Big dogs can quickly turn the game over and win
#3. LOOBANI Dogs Food Puzzle Feeder
What better to push your dog to put his mind to work than with some food?
That’s where this puzzle feeder enters into action…
It is the simplest toy on the whole list – but for a reason. It is way more than just a toy.
You can keep your dog occupied and doing some mild exercise with this toy.
How does it work? EASILY! Your dog has to turn the bottles upside down for the treats to fall. He can eat it from the floor afterward.
This promotes various things. For one, it helps lazy and old dogs put some work for their food. It also helps as a mild exercise to keep their bodies in check. And more importantly, IT FORCES THEM TO PUT IN MENTAL WORK!
People don’t know this, but mind games also help dogs enormously, especially if they suffer from anxiety or other behavioral issues. As a result, your dog will become a bit smarter but also calmer in the long run.
What sets this toy apart? It’s entirely made of bamboo wood and safe plastic, so there’s the chance for your dog to choke or get sick by using it.
Did we mention you can adjust the height to your dog’s size? THAT’S AWESOME!
LAST BUT NOT LEAST: It is surprisingly cute. In contrast with other plastic-only toys, this one will actually add a tiny bit of charm to your living room.
What We Liked
- Attractive wooden appearance
- Easy-to-play but stimulating nonetheless
- Increases physical work
- It doesn’t require any effort to prepare
What We Didn’t Like
- The wooden build may not last with destructive dogs
#4. SNiFFiz SmellyUFO Mind Stimulating Dog Toy
Your dog probably has no idea what aliens are… But he will smell this UFO toy until he finds them!
The SmellyUFO from SNiFFiz is one of the most FUN toys you can get for your dog. Both for you as an owner as you’ll be looking at your dog sniffing away the UFO toy LIKE CRAZY!
How does it work?
It’s straightforward. The toy has a few holes on the sides where you can pour treats. These holes also work as the exits for the goodies.
What your dog needs to do is roll and turn over the UFO until these treats go out.
Why would your dog do that? Because he loves treats, right? But also because the treats will be easy to smell from outside so your dog won’t hesitate to play with them.
The danger people talk about is a dog breaking the toy and eating it instead of the treats. THERE ARE NO WORRIES WITH THIS ONE!
It comes with a bite-proof design and builds that keep your dog from causing damage. The toy withstands heavy use as well.
Apart from that, the treats don’t fall that easily from the UFO… Dogs will have to solve a maze inside (maybe by pure brute force) but still making them run and play with it.
ALSO, the openings are adjustable, so you can make it harder for your dog if you want.
The result? Your dog will have tons of time to enjoy pushing the UFO toy around. Plus, he’ll enjoy a few treats from time to time.
WHAT ELSE? The game lasts as much as 1 hour with the proper settings. You can easily make your dog a lot less lazy, less anxious, and less bored – as this game offers tons of entertainment and rewards.
What We Liked
- Ensures endless hours of play
- The pretty simple yet fun game method
- Sturdy build lasts a long time
- Easy-to-prepare and clean
What We Didn’t Like
- The UFO may get stuck in low furniture
#5. HoundGames Hide’n’Treat Dog Puzzle Toys for Boredom
A two-in-one toy – the Hide’n’Treat is one of the most fun, entertaining, and mentally improving toys, you can get.
It is a puzzle in the sense that pushes dogs to figure out how to get their treats. The pieces click with each other, so dogs have to take them apart to discover the food.
Where does the difficulty lie? Can’t a dog just bite through the piece?
Well, no. The hard part about the puzzle is that dogs need to DISCONNECT the pieces. You will find 5 different ways (increasingly complex each) to help train your dog.
And sure enough, your dog won’t be able to bite through so easily as each piece is made of non-toxic rubber. Even the most adept chewer will have a hard time chewing through them.
This combination of a puzzle with a chewing toy plus the hidden treats makes it a fantastic choice. It cures boredom, helps with laziness, and puts your dog into a mind-boosting state.
AND YOU CAN PLAY WITH YOUR DOG TOO! It’s not a dog-only toy like many others – this one actually requires your input so the dog can enjoy it.
WHAT TO CONSIDER: This is a toy for medium or large breeds. The chewing pieces may not be ideal for small breeds like Chihuahuas.
What We Liked
- Super-durable chewable material
- Ensures bonding with your dog
- Totally safe and easy-to-wash
- It works perfectly for large breeds
What We Didn’t Like
- Large toys may not work for small breeds
#6. Dogit Mind Games 3-in-1 Interactive Smart Toy for Dogs
A dog puzzle toy for the whole family – the Dogit Mind Games is the ideal interactive toy to have!
At first, you’ll find the Hide-and-Seek game to be intuitive and tons of fun. Your dog has to take apart the top to find the treats.
Second, there is the Spin-a-Whirl, where the dog needs to spin whirls to reveal the treats. Also extra-fun.
And if there’s still a need for a different game, the sliding puzzle works like a charm. Sliding tops to uncover the rewards makes it surprisingly fun as well.
THE WHOLE PACKAGE!
Your dog will have a complete set of abilities to develop for this game to be sufficiently fun and rewarding. This means your dog will obviously become smarter – while reducing anxiety, hyperactivity, and other behavioral issues.
What’s the best thing about it? IT REQUIRES YOUR INPUT!
You will have to play with your dog and engage in the activity, making it easier to bond and enjoy your pet.
Did we mention it’s all made of plastic and bite-proof materials? As long as your dog is small or medium-sized, there shouldn’t be any problem with this game.
LASTLY: You get three of the most exciting games for your dogs… FOR CHEAP! There’s no reason to go anywhere else for quality puzzle toys as this one has EVERYTHING!
What We Liked
- Different types of games in one
- Resilient plastic withstands any use
- Sufficiently exciting for most dogs
- Cheap despite its quality
What We Didn’t Like
#7. Dogs may eat away the plastic cups
SPOT Seek-a-Treat Flip’ N Slide Treat Dispenser for Dogs
Bonding with your dog has never been so easy!
The Seek-a-Treat puzzle from SPOT Comes with two games in one, so your dog will have tons of fun.
For example, the Seek-a-Treat is simple. Your dog has to smell the treats and find them on the table, improving the animal’s decision skills.
Then you have the Flip-n-Slide, where your dog has to also put their motor skills to work. This adds up to the effectiveness of the games at curing boredom and laziness.
And sure enough, it is an indestructible toy. Apart from making it easy to bond and push your dog’s mind to the limits – this is also a super-durable piece to enjoy.
Apart from that, the colors are SUPER-ENTICING! A combination of yellow, red, and blue will make it easy for your dog to spot the toy. It would be impossible for your dog not to feel attracted to the game as soon as you prepare it.
And what about dog size? Does it work with any dog? TOTALLY! You’ll have little to no problems regardless of how big your dog is.
EVEN BETTER: It helps keep your dog intelligent and bold, preventing the typical lazy dog that only eats and rests.
What We Liked
- Extra-enticing colors for most dogs
- It puts mind and motor skills to work
- Ideal for most dog sizes
- Keeps dogs smart and bold
What We Didn’t Like
- Light construction is easy to lift up
Are Dog Puzzle Toys Worth It?
YES! If your dog loves playing with toys – then a puzzle is the next obvious acquisition.
The reasons to get one of these abound. We’re going to give you a brief explanation of why these toys are more than worth it:
- No More Boredom
Dogs also get bored. They may not seem like it when they’re sleeping in their beds or crates – but they do!
You can keep them from getting bored by putting their mind and bodies to work.
- No More Anxiety
Dogs tend to spend several hours alone, which causes a bit of anxiety. This anxiety is often channeled with toys and treats – but they may also want to eat like crazy or destroy your stuff (SHOES AND FURNITURE EATEN AWAY!)
You can avoid that with a puzzle dog toy. Some of them are even feeders, so they keep your dog’s stomach filled.
- No More Laziness
And if you want to keep your dog occupied – what better than putting his mind to work?
Dogs act by instinct almost every day. But that doesn’t mean you can’t push some mind work from time to time.
Here’s where puzzles may also help – as they will have to “think” if they want to solve the puzzles (and get a few treats as a reward).
So, think dog puzzle toys aren’t worth a try? Then think twice BECAUSE THEY ARE!
What to Look for When Buying a Dog Puzzle Toy
Several factors become hugely important when you’re looking for dog puzzle toys.
You can go for a toy that matches your dog, that’s practical, and that your dog will use. Plus, you can also decide whether it’s safe.
Here are the factors to consider:
- Construction Quality
When picking a puzzle toy, the first thing that comes to our minds is: WILL IT RESIST MY DOG’S BITE?
Whether it is purely a puzzle, your dog won’t have to get his mouth anywhere close; it’s still worth getting a durable piece.
That’s why we recommend chewable materials only. Other materials like wood may also work as your dog will be less likely to bite it… BUT STAY AWAY FROM ANYTHING THAT COULD BREAK!
- Dangers and Health
How safe is the toy for your dog? Does it contain tiny pieces your dog could swallow or choke with?
This is an ESSENTIAL part of getting one of these puzzle toys. You don’t want your pet to become dangerously ill by mistake.
Apart from that, you’ll want every piece to be super-safe for your dog to chew. There shouldn’t be any PVC, phthalates, or BPAs.
- Puzzle Difficulty
Naturally, some puzzles will be a lot harder than others.
Some of them are as simple as flipping a bottle. Others will require your dog to slip and slide pieces. And the hardest one will make your dog solve mazes.
What does your dog need? We recommend getting toys of different levels so you can gauge how intelligent your dog is and then let him play accordingly.
By the way – dogs are smart enough to figure out most games eventually. Getting the hardest one is always a better idea if you want to keep your dog hooked for longer.
- Dog Size and Fit
How well does the puzzle toy match with your dog’s breed? Some puzzle games are better for tiny dogs, while others will work perfectly for large breeds.
It’s all up to you to know how it works.
In the general sense, chewing dogs that require more physical strain are typically better for big ones. But if the piece boasts several pieces to move around, it’s probably better for small or medium-sized breeds.
Having said that, it all depends. But you still don’t want to use a toy for small dogs with your large one – dangers are MANY!
Do Puzzle Toys Make Dogs Smarter?
While it feels counterintuitive, given dogs are already surprisingly smart – it actually works!
These puzzles may seem like the simplest of games where your dog will learn nothing. But they do.
Dogs have limited mental capacity compared to humans, so even the tiniest of mind-straining activities will put them to work.
Anything that seeks to keep your dog thinking hard will be an excellent way to make your dog smarter.
Believe it or not, most of these games help stimulate decision-making skills and pattern recognition. Your dog won’t necessarily become an Einstein, but he will probably learn a thing or two.
Can You Build Your Own DIY Puzzle Dog Toy?
YES! You can build your own puzzle toy if you’re willing to put in the effort and time.
It won’t be easy, though – so you need to prepare for the job.
Here are some homemade puzzle dog toys to consider:
- Sniffing Game
Your dog’s capacity to smell things from afar is exceptional. But you can still train them to get even better.
A puzzle game where they have to find things by smell is always useful for that. One of the best games is called the Shoe Box or Container game.
It’s about hiding smelly treats inside shoe boxes and containers and making your dog guess WHERE the treat is in.
This is so simple that you’ll find it almost useless. But you will still be keeping your dog entertained and working for those treats.
Once again, be careful with your dog and this game. You don’t want him eating away shoe boxes or containers.
- Ball and Treats Pit
While a bit expensive – it’s still worth a try!
It’s all about keeping your dog guessing where the treats are. You should just place the treats inside a pit. Hide them well below. Then pour a bunch of plastic balls on top.
Your dog will have to swim through the balls to find the treats. And as he does that, he’ll be putting some mind and physical work – making him smarter and fit at the same time.
If need be, you can boost the difficulty by adding more balls or more treats. If you can play a game like this on a pool or really big pit – that would be even better!
Conclusion
Once you give the best dog puzzle toys a try, you won’t be able to go back…
These games are not only deeply attractive for most dogs but also increasingly helpful in many ways.
Dogs that struggle with laziness, boredom, anxiety, and other behavioral issues will find these games to be increasingly helpful.
So, why don’t you try them? Your dog may get a lot from them – so don’t waste this chance!
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Hi, I’m Walter,
I live in Oklahoma City, USA, and have extensive dog caring and grooming expertise. In addition, I provide dog training tips and tricks through my blogs in Canine Weekly. I have a Dog Behavior and Training diploma and have previously worked as a Dog Trainer at ROC Animal Training and Behavior and Tip Top K9 of OKC Dog Training.
Apart from writing on Canine Weekly, I share my views on Twitter and Linkedin.