Toy Trends: How to Select and Rotate Food Puzzles for Your Dog

The bright colors and fun styles of dog food puzzles appeal to the owners before their dogs. Dogs would be glad to dig in the dirt or rip up cardboard boxes, but since we don’t always want our dogs doing those things, food puzzles provide another outlet. 

Before the late 2000s, you wouldn’t find such a variety of food enrichment toys available. Today, there are so many to choose from that you might even search the internet for a buyer’s guide as you attempt to choose the right food enrichment toy for your dog.

There are different styles of food enrichment toys available. Different styles of food enrichment toys are available, such as toys that you can fill with food, puzzle toys for problem solvers, lick mats, and slow feeders. Before you scroll reviews to choose the best toy, remember that every dog is different. Is your dog a chewer or a shredder? Will your dog likely pick up the puzzle and throw it upside down to get the food out?

The expectation of food enrichment toys is all too often that these toys will keep dogs occupied and enriched for a while. I have suggested food enrichment toys over the years for many reasons. One thing that clients will often bring up is that their dog is too clever, and completes the puzzle right away, then finds something else to do.

If you are using food enrichment toys to keep your dog busy for hours, you will be in for a surprise when your dog decides five minutes is long enough. It is normal for a dog to bounce between activities. One beautifully made food toy is not enough. 

Another thing to be aware of is the enrichment value of these toys. Once your dog has figured out how to complete a puzzle, its enrichment value goes down. Each time your dog completes the puzzle, it becomes easier, reducing the need for problem-solving that it is intended for. 

Before you get discouraged, I also want to point out the many positive things about food puzzle toys. Although you should not use these toys as your dog’s only source of enrichment, and it is unrealistic to think you can keep your dog occupied all day with a puzzle, they still provide a challenging and healthy problem-solving activity for your dog. Swapping out the food bowl for a puzzle or slow feeder now and then is one way to use a food enrichment toy. 

One game that I often suggest is setting up a few different enrichment toys around the yard or home and encouraging your dog to find the toys. This gives your dog the opportunity to search besides work at the food toys. 

Another way to make food toys more valuable is by swapping them out regularly. The toys lose value after a few times, except for food stuff toys that the dog licks at. You can swap out puzzle toys regularly so your dog always has a new challenge. 

One last tip for food enrichment toys is to ensure that you also meet your dog’s exercise needs every day. If your dog is full of energy, a food puzzle toy won’t be enough. Food toys should complement your dog’s daily routine rather than account for a sizeable portion of what you offer to your dog. 

My dogs’ food toys routines:

I typically provide a food-stuffed toy every other day, but this schedule changes. These are the toys you can fill with food and freeze. One variety I like is the Yoggie Pot. As far as puzzle toys, I also use these, but not as frequently. My dogs have busy training schedules, and they all do scent work. I don’t always feel like I need the extra puzzles, but sometimes I offer them just for fun. The food stuffed lick toys; I feel offer something important for dogs, and I know they enjoy them. Therefore, I always offer these often.

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