Keep your pooch entertained and engaged with the best dog puzzle toys. While dogs love all kinds of toys and games, puzzles are a fantastic way to keep them mentally stimulated, keeping their mind sharp and stopping them from getting bored.
The best dog puzzle toys are especially important for the smartest dog breeds, as these clever paws require a lot of mental stimulation, as well as physical exercise, as part of their daily routines. Without these challenges, your dog may end up diverting that excess energy into less desirable behaviors, such as chewing the furniture or eating your shoes. If your dog won’t stop barking, chances are that they’re just bored.
But regardless of your dog’s breed or age, there are puzzle toys to suit them. They come in various levels of complexity, sizes, and styles. Most dog puzzle toys come with compartments to store the best dog treats inside, providing a tasty reward for your puppy and giving them an incentive to solve the puzzle. Puzzles are a great accompaniment to your canine’s existing array of the best dog toys – check out our list below to see our favorite picks.
The best dog puzzle toys 2024
Best overall dog puzzle toy
To give your dog a happy life balance, he needs mental stimulation just as much as he needs physical exercise, and this Puppy Hide’ n’ Slide dog puzzle toy is designed to give all dogs a fun intermediate challenge. As your dog interacts with the toy, it will stimulate its senses, energize and enhance its natural behaviors, and relieve everyday boredom.
To do this, there are two types of hiding spots for your dog’s favorite snack, with a total of 14 different compartments to make the challenge more engrossing and exciting. You can hide kibble – or if you’re feeling generous, a piece of freshly cooked chicken – under the swivelling flippers or inside the hollow sliding blocks.
Reasons to buy: You’re looking for an easy-to-clean intermediate level puzzle.
Reasons to avoid: Suitable for small treats only.
Best budget dog puzzle toy
If you want to combine exercise and mental stimulation with the added bonus of keeping your dog’s teeth clean then this two-piece dog puzzle toy set is just the ticket. Made of extra-tough rubber, these balls are bite-resistant, non-toxic and non-abrasive.
The blue ball is aimed at smaller dogs, uses a saw-tooth surface design, and has a light mint scent. This is great for helping your dog clean their teeth without damaging their gums, giving them a hint of minty fresh breath. But the design also allows you to give your dog a challenge. Simply slip small dog treats between the teeth and see how quickly your dog can figure out how to get them out and enjoy them. Try throwing or rolling the ball to give them more of a challenge and a little exercise at the same time.
Reasons to buy: Fresh minty fragrance and cleans the teeth while they’re at it.
Reasons to avoid: Might be too simple for smarter dogs.
Best plush dog puzzle toy
Keep boredom at bay and save your shoes, furniture, and clothing from getting the chew treatment with the help of this furry plush toy. The more you can engage your pet pooch in non-destructive activities, the better it is for your home and your dog’s mental well-being, making it particularly impressive in the field of dog puzzle toys.
This Hide A Squirrel dog puzzle toy is great for getting your curious canine stimulated, engaged, and entertained. Six squeaky squirrels sit in the 13-inch tall (XL) soft toy tree trunk waiting to be called into action. Toss the squirrel-filled trunk into the air, and watch as your pet pooch takes up the challenge of getting all the squirrels out of the tree.
Reason to buy: Sizes for all breeds.
Reason to avoid: Not long lasting, but toy replacements are available.
Best strategy dog puzzle toy
Fun and challenging, this intermediate dog puzzle toy will give your pup's brain a great mental workout with nine hidden compartments your canine companion will have to figure out how to open in order to get their treats.
Suitable for all breeds, sizes and ages, it's difficult enough to really slow down your dog's eating speed, so it's a brilliant choice if you have a fur friend who tends to inhale their food. You can also adjust the puzzle to make it easier if your pup finds the advanced level a bit too tricky.
Made from heavy-duty plastic and embedded with non-slip pads, it's incredibly sturdy, durable and stable, and while it's not dishwasher safe, it's easy to clean with soap and warm water.
Reasons to buy: Adjustable difficulty level.
Reasons to avoid: You will have to clean it manually.
Best multi-option dog puzzle toy
With 20 hidden treat compartments, the search for those tasty treats isn’t going to be easy for your pet pooch. A premium boredom buster the Dog Brick is no one-trick pony. A level 2-rated dog puzzle toy, there are a whole host of game combinations that you can try to stimulate your dog, encourage positive play habits and help get rid of less acceptable destructive behavior, making it one of the more educational dog puzzle toys here.
There are eight sliding treat covers set in four rows. This allows you to move each cover to create a whole set of different combinations to keep your pet pooch entertained and amused. You can try two covers together in one row while having them separated in the next row, and try something different again in the next row. Then move them around again for more fun and stimulation for your dog.
Reasons to buy: Many puzzle combinations and a non-slip base.
Reasons to avoid: Easy to lose brick bones.
Best for beginners
Of all the dog puzzle toys here, this one is all about exercising your dog’s brain rather than its body. Made from safe and durable ABS material, this colorful toy features 14 food compartments, which are accompanied by eight non-detachable plastic sliders that allow you to fill and cover with tasty treats. It also means that your pet pooch will avoid swallowing the sliders.
If your dog is new to dog puzzle toys then this is a great starting point for them to learn. Start on the outer ring, and you can fill two compartments with tasty treats and cover one. This will entice your dog to take the easy treats, but at the same time encourage them to move the slider to get their paws on the hidden snacks. To keep up the challenge for your pet pooch and keep the game interesting, you can choose to leave some compartments completely empty.
Reason to buy: Large treat compartment with adjustable sliders.
Reason to avoid: Adjustable screws can break sliders.
How to choose the best dog puzzle toy
Dogs need mental stimulation as much as they need physical exercise. Keeping your pet pooch from getting bored will stop them destroying property, improve their mental health, and keep them entertained.
When on the lookout for a dog puzzle toy, you need to think about what level your dog is at. If you have never tried your dog with a puzzle toy before it’s best to start off with a level 1 game, such as the HIPPIH Interactive Dog Ball. These are tough durable rubber balls that make it relatively easy to get a tasty treat. The Hide-A-Squirrel Squeaky Puzzle Plush Dog Toy keeps the challenge low, but is high on entertainment value, and is a definite boredom-buster for a dog who loves a game of fetch.
For dogs who have already dabbled with puzzle toys, level 2 toys are a better choice. The Outward Hound Puppy Hide n’ Slide comes with 14 compartments to help stimulate your dog, and is the ideal option for your first foray into intermediate games. For a different challenge, the Outward Hound Dog Brick, Treat Dispenser for Dogs Training Funny Feeding, and Trixie Dog Activity Flip Board will give your fur friend plenty of stimulation and a reason to use both their nose, paws, and jaw to get their favorite tasty treat.
Are puzzle toys good for dogs?
Dog toys are great for giving your furry friend a physical workout, but they also need to exercise their brains too, and that’s where dog puzzles come in. As veterinary surgeon Rebecca MacMillan puts it, “Puzzle toys can be more engaging than a straightforward chew or rope toy, helping to exercise their brain differently. We often focus heavily on physical pursuits in dogs, and while this is important, so are other kinds of stimulation.”
Every type of dog can benefit from puzzles too, not just the traditionally more intelligent breeds. MacMilan says they’re especially great for “dogs that are resting after surgery or are on a restricted exercise regime, suffer from anxiety or boredom, and dogs that are very active or high energy.”
Do puzzle toys make dogs smarter?
While it’s great to keep their minds sharp, don’t go expecting them to turn into puppy Einstein after a few puzzles. “There is no hard evidence that puzzle toys will improve your dog’s IQ, but we do know that they can help with their mental well-being overall and may reduce destructive behaviors”, explains MacMillan.
Likewise, don’t start them off with anything too taxing. “Start with simple ones, to begin with, and work your way up. This allows you to gauge your dog’s level and stops them from becoming overly frustrated by the toy if they can’t work it out.” says MacMillan. Also don’t be alarmed if your dog prefers simpler toys – every pooch is different and some just prefer chasing a ball around the garden.
Rebecca is a veterinary surgeon who graduated in 2009 from the Royal Veterinary College in London. She has a wealth of experience in first opinion small animal practice, having done a mixture of day-to-day routine work, on-call emergency duties and managerial roles over the years. She enjoys medicine in particular and she is proud to have recently achieved a BSAVA postgraduate certificate in small animal medicine (with commendation).
