![]() ![]() But food puzzles aren’t a “set it and forget it” option: “Always monitor your dog so they do not ingest the pieces of the puzzle that they remove,” Faughn said. Our experts raved about the Nina Ottosson line of toys, and said these were best for highly intelligent breeds, like border collies, who enjoy exercising their problem-solving skills. The Outward Hound’s Nina Ottosson Dog Brick is great for dogs who’ve grown bored with treat-dispensing balls and need a tougher mental challenge. The workhorse of dog enrichment: Kong Wobbler If you don’t have the budget for our recommendations, the ASPCA has some great do-it-yourself examples using upcycled materials. The Outward Hound Hide A Squirrel features squeakable rodents hiding in a log to keep your dog interested. (As you would with any toy, don’t forget to rotate its use throughout the year so your dog doesn’t lose interest.)įor dogs who aren’t food-motivated, the experts we spoke with said to consider a good stuffable plush toy that’s more engaging than traditional plushes. Or set aside some of their daily food allotment for a dog puzzle or treat dispenser, to keep them engaged while you’re working. Hartstein of Fun Paw Care cautioned against overfeeding Fido with too much food, saying you can keep your dog both trim and mentally stimulated by using mealtimes as extended obedience training sessions. When you’ve learned your dog’s preferred enrichment toys, our experts suggested filling them up during mealtimes. “Always start easy, and work your way up so that your dog does not get too frustrated and gives up,” Leong said. When adding any of these recommendations to your dog’s toy chest, watch out for signs of agitation (like excessively chewing or pawing at the toy), which could mean your dog doesn’t like it or it’s too advanced for them. All three of the toys below are interactive feeders that entice dogs with scent and then challenge them mentally. Since not all dogs like to play tug or chew a bone, multiple experts said a food puzzle filled with smelly treats is often a crowd-pleaser. ![]() Dogs with a high prey drive might like toys that provide a good game of fetch, some love to lick on something delicious for long periods of time, and others prefer challenging puzzles, noted Leong. Our experts recommended experimenting with different types of toys, and observing which ones your dog likes best. The best toy is a match for your dog’s age, size, and temperament. “The goal of providing in-home enrichment is that they will have an interesting, complex, and stimulating environment that encourages them to problem-solve, to think, and to engage,” Faughn said. To combat unwanted behaviors in your pup, look for toys that’ll keep them happy and engaged. And a bored dog acts out by barking or destroying furniture. How to pick the right toyĭogs, like people, are intelligent and need to keep their minds active so they don’t get bored. They all agreed that not every dog will love the same toy, but there are some universal shopping tips to help you find the right one for your dog, and we’ve gathered three popular toys to get you started. In my search for the best enrichment toys for dogs, I spoke with Denver-based pet professional Erin Askeland of Camp Bow Wow Carley Faughn, who works in behavioral rehabilitation at Best Friends Animal Society Russell Hartstein, a certified pet behaviorist and the founder of Fun Paw Care in Los Angeles and Shelley Leong, an accredited professional dog trainer with Bright Lights Dog Training in San Francisco. You can’t exactly drop everything to placate your dog, but with the right toy, they’ll keep themselves entertained until it’s break time. It happens at the worst time: You’re videoconferencing with your boss and your dog won’t stop scratching at the office door or barking at the squirrel in the window.
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