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Best Puzzle Toys for Dogs 2024
Written by Emily Bayne
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 04/17/2024, edited: 04/17/2024
The Wag! team conducts independent research and consults pet experts to curate our recommendations. This content is supported by our affiliate pet partners and we may receive a commission on the links provided.
If your dog suffers from separation anxiety or gets destructive when boredom strikes, you might be looking for a way to keep them entertained while you're away. But squeaky toys and chews can only hold their attention for so long! For these pups, a more interactive and challenging toy may be in order.
Puzzle toys are great boredom busters for intelligent and food-motivated doggos who quickly lose interest in most toys. Plus, they can keep your fur-iend busy mentally and physically so they don't go searching for less optimal ways to stay busy (like chewing your shoes!)
We have found 5 of the best dog puzzle toys on the market to help you in your search for the paw-fect toy to entertain your baby while you're out. These toys were picked based on their durability and appeal, and we made sure to feature puzzles of every difficulty to suit beginners and puzzle whizzes. Let's dig in!
Overview
Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Brick Puzzle Game Dog Toy
Hands down, this is my dog's favorite puzzle, and even my kitties get in on the action! It's very simple in construction, featuring modules that you lift, slide, and pick up to reveal the treats. This puzzle has a three-step process where you lift the bones, open flaps, and slide modules to reveal the secret compartments.
This is an excellent intermediate-level puzzle that will challenge beginners and experts alike. Since it was my dog's first puzzle, the first few attempts took a lot of guidance, but now he can solve it in 2 minutes flat!
We love using this as a slow feeder because my dog is on a diet and tends to scarf his food so fast that he doesn't feel full right away. Puzzles like this give my dog time to feel his fullness cues and make him work for his food, too!
Nina Ottosson Brick Puzzle Dog Toy
Why Wag! loves this puzzle
- 3 different modules to challenge dogs
- Lightweight modules make it great for cats, too
- Sizable compartments that hold a variety of treats
- Available through Chewy, Petco, and a variety of other retailers
- Inexpensive yet durable
Considerations & concerns
- Intermediate difficulty, so it will require some hand-holding for beginners but might be too simple for more advanced doggos
What pet parents say about this puzzle
"My pointer mix loves this puzzle. It is the first puzzle toy I have ever given her and she did figure it out pretty quickly but she absolutely loves it and it still keeps her entertained for a while every time I give it to her. It is also very durable. My girl is very destructive and although she pops the lids off the little boxes when she plays with this they have not broken and I can just pop them back on."
"My pup never had a puzzle before but loves to play hide and seek with treats so I tried it. She loves it. Overall there are twenty spots to hit the goods! It entertaining to watch her get them all. If your pup is food driven at all, they'll probably love the challenge."
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy.
Frisco Vending Machine Snuffle Mat
Snuffle mats are a great starting point for dogs new to puzzles, and the Frisco Vending Machine Snuffle Mat is one of the best. This adorable vending machine-themed snuffle mat is paw-fect for dogs who like to root around in the carpet or blanket for snack crumbs.
We like it because it has a number of different fabric flaps, pockets, and loops for you to hide treats and keep your pooch busy. Plus, when you're done it rolls up for easy storage!
Frisco Vending Machine Dog Snuffle Mat
Why Wag! loves this puzzle
- A great beginner puzzle
- Stores compactly
- Anti-skid features helps it stays in one place while your pup searches
- Helps dogs enjoy natural rooting behaviors like foraging in grass and brush
Considerations & concerns
- Handwash only
- Not as durable as a plastic puzzle
What pet parents say about this puzzle
"This mat is large, varied, and well made. It keeps my dogs entertained for hours. It is big enough for two 50+ lb border Collie mixes to forage together. One of them is a known puzzle destroyer, but this has held up longer than any feeder/puzzle we have tried with her. It's half the price of most smaller options I've seen, and has so many different hiding spots that require different strategies to retrieve treats from. The suction cups are useless, but I usually use it on a rug or carpet anyway, and if not, my dogs figure out pretty quickly to hold it down with a paw."
"I honestly didn't pay attention to the dimensions when buying this and it was WAY bigger than I expected!!! The suction clips for it to hang work very well and the quality is excellent. Can't believe the price for what you get. It's great, has so many hiding spots!"
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy.
Brightkins Brain Teaser Treat Puzzle Dog Toy
Tetris fans, this one is for you! The Brightkins Brain Teaser Treat Puzzle requires your dog to move blocks around just like in tetris, but instead of getting a high score they are rewarded with dog treats!
This toy is great for those doggy Einsteins since its one of the most difficult puzzles on our list! Your pup will have a blast sliding the blocks to reveal the hidden treat compartments.
Nostalgic and practical? This puzzle gets two paws up from our pack!
Brightkins Brain Teaser Dog Toy
Why Wag! loves this puzzle
- Cute, colorful, and nostalgic design
- Challenging for those advanced doggos
- Made with BPA-free materials that are strong enough to withstand even the heaviest chewers
Considerations & concerns
- Due to the size of the compartments, it is unable to hold most kibble and larger treats
What pet parents say about this puzzle
"My dog loves this puzzle game. She gets excited when I take it out of the box. She's a heavy chewer and this has survived her. I definitely recommend this puzzle game. Yes, she figured it out fairly quickly but I still love watching her think how to move the pieces out of the way to get the kibble or treat."
"This puzzle is awesome. My dogs loved it! I wasn't sure if they could figure it out, but they got right in there and started moving the pieces with their nose and paws. I definitely will be doing this with each of them regularly. The puzzle is easy to rinse off to clean. The tiny holes allow the scent to escape and the puzzle pieces slide smoothly. I used Pet Botanic training reward treats which worked perfectly. I definitely recommend using this puzzle (with one dog at a time to avoid any potential food aggression)."
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy.
Brightkins DJ Doggo Puzzle Feeder Dog Toy
Your pup will love getting their snack on with this turn-table-themed dog puzzle and slow feeder.
This toy is comprised of several modules which center around a removable slow feeder bowl that acts as the spinning "record" in the puzzle.
This puzzle is one of the most intricate and challenging ones we've seen, with 11 different treat compartments that require your pet to pull, push, spin, slide, and rotate their way to snack time!
Plus, it has a nonskid feature to help keep the puzzle in place while your pooch is hard at work.
Brightkins DJ Doggo Puzzle Dog Toy
Why Wag! loves this puzzle
- The slow feeder bowl is easy to remove for cleaning
- Nonskid feet keeps the puzzle in one spot while Fido is playing
- 11 different compartments to keep your furbaby engaged for hours
Considerations & concerns
- Some pet parents were concerned with the quality of plastic, stating that they had to toss theirs after their pet cracked the compartments
What pet parents say about this puzzle
"This toy is a hit with the dogs AND the cats in our house! The dogs took some time to figure it out, and amusingly, one dog just dove in, wrecking things to get the treats. When I replenished some treats, my other dog took her time, sniffing carefully and pawing at the hiding spots, which are just hidden enough to make it challenging but not frustrating. The toy is solid and works best when on a carpet or mat to keep it from sliding around. THEN, the cats came over to see what was going on, and they got in on the fun as well by pushing the slider doors open to nose out the treats. It's funny to watch how cats use their paws compared to dogs! I put it away between uses and they are learning to get excited when they see me take it out. Overall, a great enrichment toy for them and it's holding up well to usage."
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy.
Frisco Two Tier Interactive Puzzle Dog Toy
If your pup is looking to dip their paws into the world of dog puzzles, the Frisco Two Tier Interactive Puzzle is a great starting point.
This toy is inexpensive yet durable and has two basic modules to introduce your pup to the concept of solving puzzles.Your pup will have a blast lifting the flaps and sliding the levers to get their paws on the treats inside.
The best part is this toy is free of BPA (a known carcinogen) and hormone-disrupting phthalates (which are unfortunately far too common in pet products!)
Frisco Two Tier Puzzle Dog Toy
Why Wag! loves this puzzle
- A level one puzzle that is great for beginners or seniors
- Made with food-grade materials and formulated without BPA or phthalates
- Large compartments can hold a variety of treats and kibble
- Two different modules in one puzzle
Considerations & concerns
- May not be challenging enough for some hyperintelligent breeds
- Chewy exclusive toy
- Made for adult dogs only
What pet parents say about this puzzle
"Our senior dog has been entertained and challenged with this puzzle toy. We fill it with a mix of treats and pieces of dog food. He seems to enjoy it. Very happy with this purchase."
"This is [my dog's] special rewards toy. I start out the day by putting a couple treats in it and give it to him and then in the evening before his final walk he gets it again with a couple more treats. He always finds them and he loves it so much."
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy.
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