For dog owners everywhere, our main priority is keeping our furry friends happy, healthy and active. Although we all know that a good walk is one of the most important ways to tire them out both physically and mentally, there are also plenty of other ways to keep them engaged without having to spend hours outdoors.
As the proud owner of a pug, Penelope, who shares my hatred of being out in the rain, cold, wind, and basically any weather that isn’t a balmy summer day, I’ve started turning to puzzle toys to keep her from getting bored at home. I – or should that be she – has tried and tested quite a few over the years, but there are three in particular that have become firm favourites in our household – and they’re all under £15.
Zellar Treat Dispensing Dog Toy - £8.78 (was £10.99)
One of the easier and more straightforward dog puzzles around, this Zellar Treat Dispensing Toy is a great way to keep your dog busy and active with minimal effort. Simply fill the wobble toy with treats (I use some of Penelope’s kibble) and screw the top on tight.
You then use the slide adjuster at the bottom to alter how big or small you want the hole to be depending on how large your treats are or how difficult you want it to be for them. Then they simply push it around, tip it over and roll it about to release the treats inside. This is great for slow releasing of food for greedy dogs, and perfect for keeping them entertained for ages while they work out how to get the treats out.
Brain Training Dog Puzzle, Twist and Flip Interactive IQ Toy - £8.73 (was £9.99)
This Twist and Flip Toy is definitely a step up for your dog’s brain power, but it can also be modified to make it easier to start with, whilst increasing the difficulty once they get the hang of it. You fill each of the little compartments with treats, then close the lid and let them work out how to flip open each section to get their tasty treat.
This can take a while for some dogs to work out *cough* Penelope *cough* but once they have it down to a fine art, you can add the spinner to the top, which covers the compartments. This makes it impossible to flip open the boxes without moving the spinner, adding an extra layer of thinking to the activity.
Pets at Home Treat Tube Tower Dog Toy - £14
This is one that will leave them absolutely exhausted after playing with it. It took Penelope almost 45 minutes to get the hang of the Treat Tube Tower , after about 20 minutes of me manually pushing the tubes for her to show her what to do.
Each tube has a screw on lid with a variety of hole sizes, so you can put different snacks in each one, and they slot onto the pole to create a swinging system. Your pooch then just needs to spin the tube with their paw to release a shower of treats.
I can also attest it is very sturdy, as Penelope tried everything from fitting under the bars to climbing on top of it before she worked it out. However by the end she was panting away, and after a big drink slept for a solid four hours without budging – a winner in my eyes.