The Best Interactive Dog Feeders and Puzzles
Preventive Vet's certified dog trainer and behavior consultant, Cathy Madson, shares her top picks for stuffable dog feeders, rollerballs, puzzles, slow feeder bowls, and more!
Increase your dog's enrichment, prevent boredom, and make mealtime fun.
Learn more about how to choose and introduce the best work-to-eat toys to your dog here.
Safety Note: As with all chews and toys, inspect before each use, supervise your dog to ensure their safety, and wash regularly. Feeders, toys, and puzzles should be sized appropriately for your dog so they cannot be choked on or swallowed. Throw the item away when it becomes damaged.
Stuffable Dog Feeders
West Paw Toppl Interactive Feeder
My favorite stuffable toy because of its large opening is the Toppl. It comes in 3 different sizes and can fit most dogs' entire meals.
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Pupsicle Starter Kit
The Pupsicle is quickly growing in popularity. You can easily pop in premade "pops" or use the freezing tray to make your own.
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Sodapup Honey Pot
Simple and easy to stuff (and clean), this toy is a favorite of many pups.
West Paw Tux Interactive Dog Toy
This is usually the best stuffable option for short-nosed breeds like Pugs or Frenchies because of the shallow treat-holding cavities. This also holds up well to chewing after the treats are gone.
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Trixie Snack Snake
One of the more difficult stuffable options, the Snack Snake is a great option for dogs who have mastered the easier versions. I love how long it keeps dogs engaged.
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Starmark Pickle Pocket Toy
This Pickle Pocket works well with dry food or using a squeeze tube to fill.
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KONG Classic
Classic for a reason, this Kong is ideal for moderate chewers and those with some experience de-stuffing easier feeders.
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KONG Extreme Interactive Dog Toy
If you have a big chewer, the Kong Extreme can withstand strong jaws much longer than the Classic.
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KONG Puppy Chew Toy
With a specific material for tender puppy teeth and gums, the Kong Puppy is a good introduction for many puppies to stuffable feeders.
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KONG Senior Dog Chew Toy
Senior teeth can be sensitive, so this Kong Senior has more pliable material for them to chew on while they also lick out the stuffing.
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Snuffle Mats & Toys
Difflife Snuffle Mat
This Snuffle Mat is great because it has various types of hiding spots for your dog to sniff out the treats.
PAW5 Wooly Snuffle Mat
With longer and thinner fabric "fingers" than other snuffle mats, this PAW5 option hides dry food or treats well and keeps a dog sniffing longer.
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TOTARK Octopus Snuffle Dog Toy
I love this toy because it involves problem-solving and sniffing. Your dog has to figure out how to unroll each octopus leg to get to their food.
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Licking Mats & Bowls
Hyper Pet IQ Treat Lick Mat
This licking mat has two different styles and four quadrants, making it easy to smear different textures and food treats, from Greek yogurt to peanut butter to plain applesauce.
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LickiMat UFO
This lick mat has a raised lip, which means you can fit more of a whole meal and keep drool and food from leaking onto your floor. It also has suction cups on the back, which I've used to stick to the sliding door while I trim my dog's nails or on the side of the bathtub during bathing.
LickiMat Wobble Bowl
The Wobble bowl adds movement as it tips while your dog licks.
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Rollerballs and Tipper Dog Feeders
KONG Wobbler
A favorite of many dogs, this holds quite a bit of dry food and holds up to lots of pawing and tossing. Just be aware that it's quite hefty, so it can cause quite a racket during use.
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West Paw Rumbl Interactive Toy
This West Paw Rumbl is one of their newer offerings. It is a great softer material option for your dog to push (or throw) around. My dogs also like gently chewing on it after meals, but it won't stand up to heavy chewers.
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Pet Zone IQ Treat Ball
I have used this roller ball many times and love the ability to adjust the difficulty level. When done, just twist it apart and pop it in the dishwasher. However, it's a loud one on wood or tile floors, so I suggest giving it to your dog on carpet.
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Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Mazee
This is another softer material roller treatball, and I love this one because my dogs can grab it with their teeth and carry it around. But it does not stand up to any chewing, so many sure to put it away after use.
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Dog Puzzles
Trixie Flip Bone Puzzle Level 1
For dogs new to puzzles, it's best to start with a level one, like this one. Be ready to help them the first couple of times as well, to ensure they have a good time.
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Outward Hound by Nina Ottosson Dog Smart Puzzle Level 1
This Outward Hound puzzle is another option for level one dogs to learn how to do puzzles. They can use their paws or their mouths
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Loobani Interactive Dog Food Puzzle
For dogs who love to bat at things with their paws, these types of puzzles are fantastic.
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Trixie Turn Around Puzzle Level 2
This spin-around puzzle has smaller tubes and different lids that can make the puzzle harder to work through for experienced dogs.
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Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Dog Tornado Puzzle Level 2
This spinning puzzle layers on different problem-solving puzzles for your pup to figure out.
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Slow Feeder Bowls
Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl
This slow feeder bowl is a classic and a good introduction for dogs who haven't used a slow feeder bowl before.
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Trixie Slide & Feed Strategy Game Dog Bowl
This slow feeder incorporates some problem solving along with just slowing down eating. Great for dogs who like solving puzzles but need to slow down.
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Our Pets Spiral Slow Feeder Insert
This insert allows you to make any metal bowl a slow feeder!
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Northmate Green Feeder
With varying heights of "grass," this feeder is great for scattering food in and upping the difficulty.
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