The best toy to keep dogs busy is SNiFFiz Smellymatty Snuffle Mat For Dogs.
The #1 cause for destructive behavior in dogs? Boredom.
When dogs get bored, they tend to look for ways to keep themselves entertained. This can lead to excessive chewing on furniture, digging of holes in your garden etc.
Thankfully, there’s an easy (& cheap!) solution for your dog’s boredom.
What your dog needs is a variety of boredom buster toys that can pique their interest and keep them entertained.
Below is our selection of the best toys to keep your dogs busy.
#1 SNiFFiz Smellymatty Snuffle Mat For Dogs
- Indoor Enrichment Activity Dog Toys - Make canines sniff as much as they need with tricky entertainment. SmellyMatty's...
- Longest Feeding Time EVER! - Slow feed your dog with 'Foraging Snuffle Mat + Challenging Treat Dispensing Maze Puzzles'....
- Mental Stimulation from Small Puppy to Smart Dogs - You can adjust difficulty level of 5 difficult puzzle toys no matter...
According to some experts, two of the most essential mental activities for your pup are sniffing and nose work. When it comes to this, the SNiFFiz SmellyMatty Dog Snuffle Mat is what you need. This dog toy will not only keep your dog entertained but will also help to hone its senses and skillset.
This dog toy comes in the form of a mat that consists of five toys that dispense treats made from Oxford fabric. The toys are durable enough to withstand the rigorous tugging of your furry friend.
Simply arrange the toys in the different mat pockets and your pooch will work harder to look for its rewards. Each toy will have different challenges for your canine buddy, giving it no reason to be bored.
This interactive toy from SNiFFiz works well for large and small dogs and that it features different challenges that will surely keep your furry friend from getting bored. Although it says that the toy can be machine-washed, we would recommend gentle washing for the toys to ensure its longevity.
Pros
- Equipped with difficulty control.
- Encourages mental stimulation and boosts your dog’s IQ level.
- Keeps your pooch exhausted in a more peaceful way.
- Trains your dogs through hide-and-seek repetition.
Cons
This toy emerges as our top pick for the most interactive game that stimulates a dog’s desire to hunt for dog treats, keeping them entertained and mentally active; plus, it is also ideal for any type of dog breed and mouth size.
#2 Outward Hound Interactive Puzzle Toy
- HIDE & SQUEAK FUN: The Hide A Squirrel dog puzzle is an easy way to get your furry friends engaged for hours of fun!...
- 2-IN-1 INTERACTIVE PLAY: Toss the squirrel-filled trunk, place it on the ground, or take the squeaky plush toys out and...
- CHALLENGING & IRRESISTIBLE: Keep boredom at bay and your curious canine mentally-stimulated while feeding their natural...
Dog owners who are budget conscious will surely love the Outward Hound Interactive Puzzle Toy for their dog. This interactive toy features interactive squirrels hidden inside a plush tree trunk, something that your pooch will surely enjoy playing with.
Your dog will enjoy playing a game of hide-and-seek with the fuzzy squirrels and will love to bite, squish, and throw the soft toys around.
This toy from Outward Hound is a great option that will pique the interest of your furry friend, and your dog will be busy going after the squirrels as they find their way out of the holes. This boredom buster toy is perfect for active dogs and will encourage cognitive stimulation among them since it’s also a form of a puzzle game.
You’ll have four different sizes to choose from for this interactive dog toy, from the junior size to the large ones. All sizes are capable of providing the level of playfulness for your furry friend.
The biggest size comes with five different hiding spots for the squirrels and will keep your pooch entertained for several hours. However, some dog owners complained that the toys tend to get damaged easily so you may want to keep your dogs from chewing the toy.
We like this soft squeaky toy from Outward Hound because it can stimulate your dog’s mental ability through a fun and entertaining hide-and-seek game. It’s a great toy for toss and fetch games, both indoors and outdoors.
Pros
- Comes in four different fun sizes.
- Ideal for training your canine buddy with a toss and fetch.
- Refillable.
- Soft and squeaky toy.
Cons
#3 Nina Ottosson Dog Smart Beginner Dog Puzzle Toy
- BEGINNER DOG PUZZLE: The Dog Smart by Nina Ottosson is a level 1 interactive dog puzzle toy that will prepare your pup...
- ENGAGING & MENTALLY STIMULATING: This interactive dog puzzle features 9 hidden compartments that are covered by 9...
- REDUCES BOREDOM & DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR: The Dog Smart interactive dog treat puzzle provides your pup with a fun and...
This dog puzzle toy from Nina Ottosson is guaranteed to keep your active dog entertained. Your canine companion will have a great time looking for treats by moving the different blocks in different circles.
It’s an easy game for your pooch to play with but it’s challenging enough to keep them entertained. The toy is a perfect training tool to teach your furry friends how to open doors or grab your morning paper.
What’s great about this dog puzzle toy is that you can adjust the level of difficulty by simply locking some blocks using bone pegs. Your dog will be challenged to unplug the blocks by lifting the pegs and moving the blocks that contain some treats.
The Nina Ottosson puzzle toy helps to further develop your relationship with your dog by playing together this fun and interactive game. This interactive toy is considered a Level One game, which is ideal for preparing your puppy for a more challenging puzzle game.
Pros
- Beginner puzzle game for dogs.
- Easy to clean.
- Encourages mental stimulation for your dogs.
- Interactive fun and training.
Cons
#4 Lickimat Classic Dog Slow Feeder
- REDUCES ANXIETY, BOREDOM AND DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR – LickiMat helps calm and soothe your pet by helping release...
- RECOMMENDED BY VETS AND TRAINERS - redirect all licking habits and perfect aid to reduce crate training time. Works with...
- DENTAL HEALTH - LickiMat's Lick Mat textured surfaces promote pleasurable licking action, which generates saliva helping...
This Lickimat classic dog slow feeder mat is a great toy to keep your pooch busy and active. Simply spread out some tasty treats on this mat. Available in two styles, the Lickimat Soother is designed for runny foods, while the Lickimat Buddy is designed for chunky spreadable treats.
Both styles serve the same purpose, which is to keep your furry friends from getting bored in a calmer and relaxing way. Your dogs will no doubt have a great time licking their favorite treat off this feeder mat.
There are different spreadable treats that you can use for this mat. You can opt for wet food, peanut butter, or come up with your mixture. Regardless of the spread that you’ll use, you can be sure that your dogs will love the challenge of licking everything out of the mat. You can also keep the mat in the freezer after spreading the snack, which keeps the treats fresh for longer.
The Lickimat classic dog slow feeder mat is great at keeping your furry friend entertained in a calmly manner. The mat features a maze-like pattern, which also helps to pique the interest of your pooch as it licks every bit of treats that you have spread on it.
Pros
- Easy to clean but not dishwasher friendly.
- Ideal for both dogs and cats.
- Minimizes boredom among your pet and discourages destructive behavior.
Cons
#5 PetSafe Busy Buddy Twist ‘n Treat
- RUGGED: Tough waterproof anti slip sole provides stability and traction, protection from sharp thorns, hot pavement and...
- QUALITY: Our shoes have a rugged sole and high quality fabrics that are then sewn together (not glued like cheaper dog...
- SIZING: Use the size chart located in the pictures to determine the right size shoe for your dog's paws. We are also...
Every dog owner is probably aware that dogs love tugging a lot. When it comes to this, the perfect treat dispensing dog toy to keep them from getting bored would be the Buddy Twist’ n Treat. This dog toy helps to develop the multisensory function of your dog, thanks to its tugging mechanism, which brings about more interactiveness.
With the PetSafe Busy Buddy, your puppy will learn how to smell, hear, and identify foods. So aside from playing, this toy also allows it to indulge in its favorite treats. The toy is made from non-toxic material that helps to ensure maximum safety for your dogs.
Furthermore, the materials used are of premium quality so durability is not an issue with this dog toy. It’s perfect for all kinds of dogs, including those that weigh more than 40 lbs.
What pet owners love about this treat dispensing dog toy is that it’s straightforward to set up. All you need to do is unscrew the container, place the treats, and then put it back on. The device works according to your dog’s tugging motion on the rope. As your dog tugs, the treats will be slowly dispensed.
This PetSafe Busy Buddy toy is fairly easy to set up and convenient to use. What’s more, you can clean and wash it with no fuzz. Simply leave it at the top rack portion of the dishwasher.
Pros
- Challenge level is adjustable.
- Dishwasher safe.
- Easy to set up
Cons
#6 West Paw Zogoflex Dispensing Dog Puzzle Treat Toy
- DURABLE DOG CHEW TOYS FOR AGGRESSIVE CHEWERS: Keep your friendly Fido busy and entertained with this dog toy puzzle that...
- INTERACTIVE CHEW TOYS FOR DOGS: If you have an aggressive chewer at home, safeguard your furniture by giving him this...
- MENTALLY STIMULATING DOG TOYS: Prolong play with this mentally stimulating dog toy puzzle that extends the life of...
For very aggressive dogs and a bit tough to disciple and train, the West Paw Zogoflex might be the perfect toy to keep them entertained and prevent them from getting bored. It works like a treat dispenser and puzzle in one.
This dog toy is made in the United States and made from sturdy and durable materials that could withstand your ferocious chewer.
The West Paw Zogoflex puzzle treat dispensing dog toy is ideal for dogs of any size. You have the option of choosing from three different colors – Aqua Blue, Tangerine, and Granny Smith.
It’s capable of holding treats securely inside the toy and challenges your furry friend during playtime while allowing it to indulge in some treats as well. The best thing about this toy is that it floats, which is why it’s also an ideal dog toy to use in the water.
This puzzle treat toy from West Paw Zogoflex allows the pet owners to be creative with the treats that they are going to place inside the dispenser.
Pros
- 100% guaranteed by the manufacturer against dog damage, suitable for aggressive chewers.
- Extremely durable and safe.
- Made in the United States.
- Recyclable and dishwasher safe.
Cons
#7 Pet Zone IQ Treat Ball
- MENTALLY STIMULATE YOUR DOG: This food-dispensing dog toy keeps dogs mentally and physically active while they play....
- CUSTOMIZABLE IQ TREAT BALL: Your furry friend gets smarter as they play with this interactive dog toy dog ball, learning...
- EASY TO USE AND CLEAN: Our interactive treat dispensing dog toys conveniently uses your dog's favorite dry dog treats or...
You can have your pet work and play at the same time with this Pet Zone IQ Treat Ball toy. This treat dispensing dog toy is one of the most exciting ways to feed your pooch with its favorite treats. It’s easy and convenient to use. Simply fill the ball and choose the level of difficulty and leave your dog to do the work!
Your furry friend will surely have a great time playing with the ball while figuring out how to get access to the tasty treats inside. With different adjustable levels, this treat dispensing dog toy is truly a fun way to challenge and train your dog. This game will not only reward your canine buddy with treats but will also help to develop its mental and physical activities.
The Pet Zone IQ Ball treat dispensing dog toy because it keeps your pooch entertained in a more challenging way, which prevents it from getting bored.
Pros
- Helps to keep dogs physically and mentally active.
- The level of learning and difficulty is adjustable.
- Can accommodate all kinds of kibbles and small treats.
- Made from hard plastic material that can be easily disassembled for cleaning
Cons
#8 KONG Stuff-A-Ball Dog Toy
- Durability: The natural KONG Classic red rubber formula is created to be durable and long lasting for average chewing...
- Great For Stuffing: The KONG Stuff-A-Ball is even more enticing when the center and patented Denta-Ridges are stuffed...
- Teeth Cleaning: The strategically designed Denta-Ridges help to clean teeth and gums for improved dental hygiene
A better version of the KONG Classic, this chew toy is not only a boredom buster toy for your dog but also works as a dental cleaning device. It’s designed to contain some of your pooch’s favorite treats, and it dispenses the treat when your furry friend starts to roll, chew, or play with the ball.
Your dog will have a great time extracting the content by playing with the ball. It will keep your pooch happy and busy for a longer time and prevent it from getting bored. In fact, this is an excellent chew toy for dogs that have behavior issues.
This KONG toy offers the best of all worlds – it works as a treat dispenser, dental cleaning device, and a bouncing rubber ball.
Pros
- Available in different sizes.
- Can help in cleaning your pet’s teeth and soothe swelling gums.
- Made in the United States.
- Safe and reliable.
Cons
Toys To Keep Your Dog Busy Buyer’s Guide
Just like our kids, our beloved dogs need our care and attention. But because of our busy lifestyles, we sometimes neglect spending quality time with our furry friends.
So to keep your four-legged companion from getting bored, you should give it the best boredom buster toys that will keep it entertained.
How To Keep Your Dog Busy?
Aside from giving your pooch some toys, there are several other ways on how you can keep your dog busy.
Here are some of them.
Let It Peek Through The Window
Allow your dog to enjoy the outside views by opening your window blinds and curtains. This also allows it to enjoy the fresh air and this will surely improve its wellbeing.
If your pooch can’t reach the window, help them out by installing a set of pet stairs.
Spread Peanut Butter On Dog Toys
Treat your dog to tasty peanut butter by spreading some into its toys. Your dog will surely have a great time licking the toy, which is guaranteed to bust its boredom. But be sure to make sure that the peanut butter doesn’t contain xylitol. It’s a type of artificial sweetener that is harmful to dogs.
Let Your Dog Watch Animal Planet
Tune into the Animal Planet channel and let your dog watch the episodes on the couch. It may not understand anything, but the sounds and sights of their fellow dogs will keep it entertained!
Get Your Dog A Brother Or Sister
If you only have one dog, then there’s a good chance that it will get bored quickly. So, look for another dog that you can adopt, and your furry friend will have a brother or sister that it can play with.
Let Your Dog Play A Block Of Ice
Dogs love to play a block of ice so freeze some of its favorite treats and let your dog play with it. Place some kibbles or any dog treats in an ice cream container, add water and store in the freezer. Once frozen, give it to your dog to play with!
Organize A Scavenger Hunt
Dogs love to rummage through things, so let your dog play scavenger hunt to keep it from getting bored. You can hide some kibbles on its toys and let your pet pooch hunt these treats.
If you are planning to organize the scavenger hunt in your backyard, make sure that your pooch doesn’t jet off suddenly. Canine accessories such as a wireless dog fence or a dog GPS tracker will come in very handy.
Let Your Dog Play A Puzzle
A puzzle game is one way to keep your dog occupied for long hours. There are lots of puzzle games for dogs out there. We have complied a list of 17 interactive dog toys in this article.
Why Your Dog Needs Toys?
Aside from the obvious reason of preventing your dogs from getting bored, there are many other reasons why your dog needs toys:
Mind Stimulation
As mentioned, dogs can get bored as well. And if your dog is bored, you cannot prevent it from digging or chewing on some of your household items. This is why you should give your dog a boredom buster toy to keep it active and entertained while encouraging mental stimulation.
Bonding
Although there are many ways that you can play and bond with your pet pooch without the use of toys, having toys will make your bonding even more exciting and fun.
The toys also help to develop a great relationship with your canine companion. Above all, it also helps in improving your dog’s social skills.
Exercise
Like humans, dogs need exercise too. Sure, you may take them for a walk or a run from time to time, but that is not enough. You need to let your dog play with some toys that will develop its physical strength and ability. Remember that exercising your dog is one way to keep it healthy and prevent it from getting obese.
Dental Health
There are certain types of dog toys that are not only designed to keep your dog entertained but also help to clean and improve their dental health. With these toys, your pooch’s teeth will be healthy and strong. Your dog do not have to see the pet dentist that often, which will save you some money.
The toys that are good for your dog’s dental health are those that encourage chewing and stimulate their saliva, helping to prevent and diminish plaque. Dental chews work the same way too, so it’s recommended to feed your pooch these chews too.
Final Thoughts
Of all the dog boredom buster toys in this list, the top pick is our favorite. We love this toy since it’s guaranteed to keep your canine companion entertained for a long time while honing its skills and encouraging mental stimulation.
Furthermore, it’s made from high-quality materials that can withstand rigorous use. So even if your furry friend will play with this toy daily, you won’t have to worry about it getting worn out.
