Do Dogs Benefit from Puzzle Toys?

We know that looking after our mind is one important aspect of our overall wellbeing. The same applies to our pets. Keeping their cognitive function sharp by stimulating it with positive activity  plays an important role in their wellbeing and can contribute to them living longer! While we may choose to work on a cryptic crossword puzzle, we can provide our dogs with a similar puzzle that will enhance their natural behaviours. We recommend focusing on the seeking & play (searching, investigating and making sense of the environment)  behaviours that Temple Grandin identifies as one aspect to providing a healthy life for dogs. In her book, Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals, she stresses, 'All animals and people have the same core emotion systems in the brain'. She believes that by understanding these emotions we are able to address our dogs behaviours.  We hope you can activate this emotion in your dog with the following puzzle toys that we believe are a good fit!

The Kong Classic Toy

We recommend this one for dogs new to using a puzzle toy. It is easy to use, you can stuff it with treats or smear the inside with a mix of wet and dry dog food, freeze it with bone broth inside for a hot day- the possibilities are endless. Your dog will enjoy the challenge of licking and moving the toy about to get every last ounce of food out. The Kong classic is made from hard, natural rubber and is able to withstand a myriad of chewing and play. When not in use as a toy that needs some problem solving, it bounces in the most unpredictable directions and will become a fun toy for games of fetch as well. 

 

The Home Alone Toy

The Home Alone range of toys are created for dogs that can play hard! Tough &

well designed to keep your dog occupied both mentally & physically when you are not there.

The Home Alone Bungy Kit (HA2) will keep your dog entertained while you are away. The unique design stimulates your best friends 5 natural senses of taste, smell, sound, sight and touch.

The yellow ball features an internal rattle that will hang securely from a tree or under a verandah from the secure bungy rope. This stimulation assists in reducing barking, boredom, destructive behaviour and separation anxiety.

All hardware is included & this Home Alone Bordom Toy is easy to install.

Dimensions: 20 x 15 x 15 cm
The Junior (small) Home Alone is for dogs that are between 5-10kg. Also available in medium and large sizes.

Nina Ottosson's Dog Brick Puzzle Toy

Outward Hound's Dog Brick level 2 puzzle dog game is specially designed with the goal of enriching your dogs day as they use their natural hunting skills to seek out the hidden treats!
This puzzle toy comes with 3 easy-to-fill compartments to hide your dog's favorite treats and snacks in. Flip lip compartments open up to reveal the first compartment and can also slides to reveal a hidden second compartment underneath. White, hollow brick-style bones hide the third compartment and can be easily lifted out to place yummy treats! This puzzle is ideal for pups who have already mastered level 1 of the Nina Ottosson created puzzle line and are ready to take it up a notch! Made from tough removable plastic parts and food safe materials that are BPA, PVC, and phthalate-free.
Hand wash with soap and water to clean.

Wobble Bowl by Nina Ottosson

Designed to assist with mental and physical stimulation for your four legged

friend. This Nina Ottosson wobble bowl is a level 1 (beginners) puzzle for dogs
Ideal as a slow feed bowl to help with digestion and prevent bloat in larger breeds. This bowl holds up to 1 cup of dry dog food, and has a non-slip base to prevent it from moving or scratching floors. The perfect bowl that turns meal times into a fun seeking game!
Removable lid for hand wash with soapy water.

Interactive Snuffle Mat: Garden - by Nina Ottosson

 

A relatively new puzzle toy for the clever dogs tool box. A snuffle mat is a large mat that features pockets, folds and nooks for you to hide dog kibble or treats through. Nina Ottosson's Garden Mat has 3 main area's for hiding food and is easy to clean. It can be rolled up when not in use or to take away with you. Snuffle mats engage your dog's seeking behaviour as they forage and search for the food. As the dog finds the food oxytocin, (a happy hormone or neuropeptide synthesized by the hypothalamus in mammals) signals are released in their brain. Oxytocin is the hormone  responsible for promoting positive social behaviors in dogs toward us!

 

Size 35.5cm H x 54.5cm L

The Kong Wobbler

The KONG-shaped Wobbler is dual action treat and food dispensing toy. It sits

upright until pushed by a dog’s paw or nose and then periodically dispenses tasty rewards as it wobbles, spins and rolls.
The unpredictable movement keeps the toy challenging, even for seasoned Wobbler users due to the heavy base. The Wobbler can also be used as an alternative to a dog bowl to help slow and extend mealtime while providing exercise for your dog. Unscrews for easy filling and cleaning.

 Size: Approx. 35.5cm (height) x 54.5cm (length)

What can you put in a puzzle toy?

The possibilities are endless! We have a range of recipes for lickimats here. Some food ideas are very easy to prepare for your dogs puzzle toy and they will soon let you know which one is their favourite.

Wet dog food, Greek yogurt (without sugar) mashed boiled pumpkin and peanut butter are the most popular foods to add. 

To prevent increasing your dogs calorie intake, we suggest you part feed your dog from their food dispensing puzzle toy as well as their regular food bowl.

Always clean the food dispensing puzzle toys according to manufacturers instructions after use.

 

For further information, call in & see us in the store, or email us: admin@weknowpets.com.au

4/72-76 Station St Bowral NSW 2576
PH: 024862 1175
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