Your dog’s toys are not just for fun and for alleviating their boredom: they’re also used to prevent some problematic behaviours and help reduce canine stress levels and anxiety.
The team at share the best types of toys to keep your pup happy and entertained and explained why mental stimulation is so important. for some advice on how and how often you should clean your dog’s toys.
Behaviourist Carolyn Menteith said, “It’s widely known that our pets require lots of physical exercises to stay happy and healthy. But some dog owners often forget that channelling your dog’s mind is just as important. Not only does mental stimulation promote good dog behaviour, but it gives an appropriate outlet for our dog’s natural need to gnaw and chew – which is a great canine stress-reliever.
“Like humans, stress can cause health problems for dogs. Dogs who aren’t provided with enough mental stimulation, problem-solving opportunities and an outlet for their natural behaviours are likely to experience heightened levels of stress, which can lead to anxiety, depression, and behaviour issues.”
Best Enrichment Dog Games and Toys for Mental Stimulation
Dog puzzles
Enrichment toys are designed to keep your canine companion occupied and make a meal or treat times more interesting with problem-solving challenges for dogs, which entice them to flip, push or roll them around in order to access a treat. These types of toys are not designed for chewing, fetching or chasing around, they are aimed for learning and concentration.
They are often not that robust, and so they should always be used when you are there to supervise – and you can turn this into a great interactive game by encouraging your dog to work out the puzzle.
Your pup might not understand these puzzle toys straight away, so by working with them you can show them how they can get a treat and make it easy until they have figured it out.
You don’t have to spend a fortune on fancy toys either, you can hide treats in small boxes, plastic bottles, and encourage your dog to find them but be extra cautious with homemade toys and ensure they are safe to chew and don’t pose a choking hazard.
Food dispensing toys
We all know that keeping a dog busy and mentally stimulated can be challenging, especially when they are young and full of energy. Food-dispensing toys can help manage boredom while building mental skills and increased dexterity. These products encourage dogs to chew, lick, nudge, toss the toys to find and obtain the food.
Food dispensers are also great if your pet eats too quickly, as the toy dispenses a couple of biscuits at a time, reducing how quickly they eat their lunch.
Some food dispensing toys are made out of robust rubber that can be stuffed with food and can provide a distraction if you have to leave your dog on their own but do remember that no toy is 100% safe and so if you have a ‘power-chewer’, you might be better using something like a cardboard tube or box that can be safely ripped and torn.
Lickimats
Lickimats are a simple, and affordable way to keep your dog entertained and stimulated. By spreading your dog’s favourite soft treat over the surface, for example, peanut butter or banana, you create a fun and tasty game. Lickimats are either silicone or rubber sheets, with a raised texture or pattern on them. This pattern traps the food so that it takes the dog longer to eat it all making dinner time or treat time last longer.
Interactive hide and seek
Hide and seek can be played anywhere in the house or garden, and all it requires is a curious pup and some tasty treats. Simply hide treats around the home and let your dog use their nose to sniff them out. Alternatively, add treats to a blanket and roll it up. Your pet will use their paws and nose to push the blanket around and retrieve the treats.
Snuffle mats are a great way to keep your dog entertained and mentally stimulated. The toy encourages your pet to sniff and search out the special treats hidden in the mat strands. The best part is, you can make it yourself with some felt and a rubber mat with holes.