Interactive toys, enrichment toys, stimulation toys… whatever you want to call them, dog stimulating toys are a must for any pooch. They’re kind of the perfect all-rounders. They stimulate your doggo’s mind, body, and senses – and give them a few tasty treats – in a single and often very fun toy. But with so many dog stimulating toys to choose from, where do you even begin?
Here are our picks of some of the best dog stimulation toys you can buy, plus several reasons to add these awesome toys to your dog’s collection.
What are dog stimulating toys?
Put simply, these kinds of toys are designed to stimulate your dog’s brain. Unlike simple dog toys like chew toys, balls, and tug-of-war ropes, stimulation toys are a lot more interactive.
And because we know dogs are incredibly food-motivated, these toys often involve treats. They then require your furbaby to use their mind and senses to work out how to retrieve said treats. Some interactive toys use squeakers instead, a sound that your doggo is actually hard-wired to crave.
Some of the most common dog stimulation toys include:
- Interactive chew toys, where your dog can satisfy their need to chew and try and retrieve treats
- Puzzles, many of which allow you to place treats inside
- Treat-dispenser toys, which drive your dog to work for their supper
- Slow feeders, which, true to their name, slowly dole out food to make mealtime more interactive and fun
- Hide-and-seek toys, which allow your dog to forage for treats or other treasures
Why is it important to stimulate your pooch?
There are loads of benefits to dog stimulating toys – here are some of the top ones.
They engage your dog’s mind
As much as dogs need physical stimulation through walks and playtime, they also need mental stimulation. Interactive dog toys are excellent because they allow your dog to use their smarts.
By engaging with an interactive toy, your dog builds their problem-solving skills and strengthens their mental abilities. This kind of stimulation offers lots of upsides, including warding off boredom, stress, and anxiety.
They satisfy their natural behaviours
While we’ve raised dogs in domestic environments for thousands of years, they still retain a number of their natural instincts. Some dogs love to forage, while others are born sniffers. Others still have an in-built need to hunt. Many interactive toys satisfy these natural urges by forcing your doggo to rely on their senses.
They keep your dog busy
Need to hang the washing on the line, cook dinner, or even head to work for the day? Interactive dog toys are great for keeping your pupper occupied for longer periods.
And what does a busy, engaged dog mean? A pooch who’s much less likely to go nuts on your couch cushions or a roll of toilet paper. If they’ve got plenty of stimulating toys at their disposal, dogs generally aren’t as inclined to engage in inappropriate behaviours, like chewing.
They can help manage your dog’s weight
If your dog is prone to eating too quickly, treat-dispensers, puzzles, and slow feeders can help slow them right down. This is because they effectively drip-feed treats and kibble rather than simply handing them to your dog on a platter. This is especially useful if your dog needs to shed a bit of weight.
What are some of the best dog stimulating toys on the market?
Now that we’ve gotten the basics of dog-stimulating toys out of the way, let’s find out some of our favourite buys. Here’s our pick of the best dog toys that combine fun, learning, and often, treats!
The top interactive chew toys: Classic KONGs
In our opinion, nothing beats a KONG. These toys are adored by Dog Owners the world over – and for good reason. KONGs are made with tough natural rubber and offer the ability to stuff treats or peanut butter inside. This means they satisfy your dog’s desire to chew as well as their need for mental stimulation. Plus, KONGs are available in a range of sizes to suit different breeds and life stages.
Our preferred puzzle toy: The KONG Ballistic Hide “n Treat
The KONG Ballistic Hide ‘n Treat may not look like a puzzle at first glance. But, it’s absolutely one of the best puzzle toys for dogs.
The Hide ‘n Treat lets you hide treats inside its heavy-duty pockets, which your doggo then has to find. Leave the pockets open for an easier challenge, or close them up to really put your dog’s senses to the test. Bonus: you can also use this one as a fetch toy.
The best treat-dispensing toy: The KONG Wobbler
Can KONG do anything wrong? Another of our favourites from the KONG family, the Wobbler wobbles, spins, and rolls on the spot as your dog nudges it in an effort to get treats out.
Aside from being lots of fun for your pooch, the KONG Wobbler is great for puppers on the heavier side. This is because it slowly dispenses treats and kibble, and keeps your dog moving as they work for their food.
Our number-one slow feeder: The Happy Bowl – Pineapple
Does your furbaby eat too quickly? A pineapple might just be the answer. Nope, not the actual fruit, but the Happy Bowl – Pineapple.
This nifty slow feeder has raised edges, which means your dog will eat up to 10 times slower. Not only can this help maintain your dog’s weight, but it can also prevent them from choking on their food or suffering from a nasty case of belching or bloating.
The funnest hide-and-seek toy: The Zippy Burrow – Honey Pot
The Zippy Burrow – Honey Pot might just be the cutest interactive toy we’ve ever seen. But don’t let its cuteness fool you; this is one seriously excellent toy. All you need to do is hide the squeaky bees inside the honeypot. Then, watch as your dog tries to retrieve them. It’s a great one for pooches who particularly love foraging!
