15 Best Interactive Dog Puzzle Toys

The high-design accessory brand’s first foray into puzzle toys holds 1 1/2 cups of food, making this one ideal for fast eaters who need a side of stimulation — both mental and physical.

Barks N’ Rec is a one-stop shop for all your basic pet needs — and your not-so-basic ones. This small Chicago business rivals big-box stores in terms of selection, while also featuring more unique products that’ll keep your pup occupied. Slow feeders, such as this aesthetically pleasing slow feeder, will also help slow their roll while they feast upon their dinner.

If your pup has a habit of scarfing down their food and regurgitating it, you may be in need of a lick pad. The slower-eating process helps keep their dinnertime excitement from turning into a two-part affair.

Using 12 hidden compartments and three dog-bone covers, the latest from cult-favorite dog brand Outward Hound allows pet owners to adjust the toy’s difficulty to meet their pup’s needs. Just getting started? No problem. With this toy, it’s easy to work up to more advanced dog puzzles.

The return to office has inspired some less-than-favorable behaviors in our pups. Keeping them occupied and preventing destructive behavior is as easy as hiding your dog’s favorite treats in the folds of the snuffle mat and allowing them to use their scent detection skills to sniff them out.

This Wild One toy is ideal for the dog who has chewed more tennis balls than Rafa Nadal has seen in his life. It’ll help slow the destruction process by keeping the object of your pup’s affection just out of reach, offering a satisfying reward when they finally wriggle it free.

While this toy may seem small enough for a pup to conquer, its inner ridges keep pets from accessing their kibble without putting in the time and effort to unlock it. It’ll tucker your dog out and requires some serious concentration as they work to access their well-earned reward.

This REI favorite is ideal for larger pups who enjoy gnawing on everything from chair legs to couch cushions to — more appropriately but not great — tennis balls. Its irregular shape allows your pup to nose it around for hours and never tire of it.

Kongs are less about solving a puzzle than keeping a dog busy. Fill this toy with your pup’s favorite treats, and they can bat it around for a fun interactive experience that will help keep their separation anxiety at bay when you leave the house.

For dogs who benefit from a more complicated treat-dispensing, scent-releasing toy, this is it. It also works as an added layer of complication for games of fetch.

Nina Ottoson’s puzzle games for Outward Hound are the gold standard for dogs who need an intellectual challenge.

Let’s face it, half the toys we buy for our pets are because they’re just downright fun to look at — and this Petstages carrot toy is no exception. It’ll massage your pup’s gums and help remove plaque while keeping them entertained and out of trouble, which is a win-win if we’ve ever heard of one.

Squirrels and squeaks: two things that endlessly fascinate our dogs, together at last! You stuff the squeaky squirrels in the tree, and your dog’s job is to hunt all six of them down in a kind of hide and seek.

This subscription box is made for dogs who love to chew. Beyond meaty chews and full-size bags of treats, these come with two fluff-free, ultra-durable toys, such as a treat-dispensing acorn. Did we mention they’re themed?

The internal maze of these colorful globes slowly dispenses treats, preventing boredom, and slowing down digestion.