Top 5 Best Toys to Mentally Stimulate Your Dog

Most will be familiar with the classic KONG toy, but the larger Wobbler offers a slightly different slant on things - literally. As well as being able to store treats inside - challenging your dog to push it around to knock them out - the Wobbler rocks, rolls and self-rights, producing unpredictable movements that your dog will have to keep up with. This is a great pick for those whose dogs are fast eaters, as it forces the dog to feed slowly and work for their treat or meal.

If you’ve got a dog that’s always got their nose to the ground, like a hound perhaps, then this Snuffle Mat will ensure that their noses are always kept busy. Some dogs are naturally hunters, and this mat mimics the same type of mental workout. You simply scatter food on it and let it fall to the bottom. The dog will then have to sniff it out and maneuver their way through the material to find it. This mat takes seconds to set up for your dog, and is machine-washable for added convenience.

Some dogs prefer soft toys when it comes to playtime - and this Outward Hound toy incorporates soft squeaky squirrels into a game of hide-and-seek. This toy makes use of a soft, tube-like tower, which the plush squirrels are loaded into. The dog then has to stick their head in and get them out. Available in different sizes for your small or large dog, you can buy replacement plush toys for this, in case they get destroyed by your furry friend.

Fetch is the staple of many a dog’s workout routine. Unfortunately for us humans, finding the time to keep throwing balls back and forth can be tough. Thankfully, iFetch has this product. Able to be used indoors or outdoors - thanks to its adjustable pitching range - this iFetch ball launcher will keep your dog busy for hours, and even allows them to load the balls themselves after fetching them. Depending on the needs of your dog, you can buy the small or large model. The range of the small iFetch launcher reaches from 10 to 30 feet, whereas the large launcher ranges from 10 to 40 feet.

Before we reveal our final pick, here are a few other great products that you might want to consider:

This one will really put your dog’s problem-solving skills to the test. This Brick Puzzle Game features three different types of treat-hiding compartments that will require your dog to flip, lift and slide obstacles out of the way. Overall, this discreet-looking game has 20 different treat compartments, which means there’s plenty of scope to mix up the game each time you play it with them.

So which dog toy should you choose? Well, obviously, different dogs and different breeds require different amounts of mental stimulation, so try not to buy something your dog is going to get bored of quickly, or conversely, have no idea how to use. If you ask us, something like the Snuffle Mat is a solid pick for all breeds of dogs, big and small.

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