The 3 Best Enrichment Toys for Dogs!
Focus on canine enrichment has exploded over the past few years resulting in a hundreds of new enrichment toys on the market. In this blog post I am going to share the three best enrichment toys for dogs and why I love them so much. In this blog you will learn about what enrichment is, why it is important, what enrichment toys you should buy, and a few enrichment recipes to get you started!
What is Enrichment for Dogs?
Enrichment for dogs refers to activities that allow for dogs to participate in natural behaviors including: sniffing, chasing, playing, chewing, shredding, digging, and searching.
Providing your dog with ample enrichment opportunities allows them to emulate behaviors that are natural and innate to them that they may not be able to participate in without thoughtful intervention.
Why is Enrichment Beneficial for Dogs?
Dogs are highly intelligent animals that require mental stimulation to keep them fulfilled. Many dogs do not receive adequate enrichment and as a result may exhibit unwanted behaviors. Enrichment can alleviate boredom, provide mental stimulation, and promote calmness.
With my own dogs, I notice that they are much more likely to relax in the house after they have had enrichment opportunities. On a daily basis I try to provide at least three categories of fulfillment: exercise, an opportunity to search (such as hunting for a treat or toy), and an opportunity to chew or destroy. Not all enrichment focuses on food, but today we will cover my favorite food based enrichment toys for dogs.
One way to provide enrichment for your dog is by using toys that are designed to challenge their minds and stimulate their senses. There are many different types of enrichment toys available on the market, but in this blog post, we will focus on my three favorite: 1. The Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Snoop; 2. West Paw Zogoflex Toppl; 3. LickiMat Classic.
The Best Enrichment Toys for Dogs:
- The Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Snoop Treat Dispensing Tough Dog Chew Toy is made to be filled with your dog’s favorite treats or food. I like to use treats that vary in size to give a range in difficulty for getting the treats out. Once filled with treats or food, your dog may nudge, throw, or nose the toy to release the treats. I love this toy because I can fit up to a half cup of food and it keeps my dogs busy for nearly an hour. They use lots of different approaches and problem solving techniques to release the treats and it can be used time and time again. The Snoop is easy to fill and doesn’t need to be prepped ahead of time.
Buy now from Amazon ($11.99) or Chewy ($11.99)
- The West Paw Zogoflex Toppl Tough Treat Dispensing Dog Chew Toy is my all time favorite enrichment toy because it can hold an entire cup of food and is easy to clean and prep. I prefer the Toppl to products like the Kong because the opening is large making it much easier to fill and clean. I throw mine in the freezer and it takes over an hour for my dogs to completely finish their Toppl. The zogoflex material is super sturdy and has held up extremely well over multiple years of usage.
Buy now from Amazon ($24.95) or Chewy (on sale for $19.96)
- LickiMat Classic Buddy Slow Feeder Dog Lick Mat promotes licking, a natural behavior for dogs that has been shown to release endorphins in dogs. The LickiMat also is perfect for slowing down dogs that may eat too fast. To use the LickiMat, spread your dog’s favorite treat or food on the surface and let them lick. We like using yogurt, peanut butter, wet food, yogurt, and fruit on ours. Some versions even have a suction cup on the back making them great for bath time or nail trims. The LickiMat Classic Buddy Slow Feeder Dog Lick Mat is easy to clean and is top rack dish washer safe!
Buy now from Amazon ($9.99) or Chewy ($8.99)
Enrichment Toy Recipes:
Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Snoop:
For the Snoop, I have found dry treats and food work best. I also like to fill mine with treats and food of various sizes. Larger sized treats will be harder for your dog to get out and provide more of a challenge while smaller sized treats will be easier and encourage your dog to get started. Here are some ideas for filling your Snoop:
- Kibble
- Freeze Dried Beef Lung
- Jerky Treats cut to various sizes
- Dog Cookies such as the Bocce’s Bakery
West Paw Zogoflex Toppl:
About 90% of the time I fill my toppls I use a base of soaked kibble (either warm bone broth and kibble or warm water with kibble steeped for 5-10 minutes) with several add ins and then stick some treats in the top to get my dogs interested and started. Here are a few of my favorite combinations:
- Peanut Butter Pumpkin: to my soaked kibble I add about 1 tablespoon of xylitol free natural peanut butter and 1/4 cup of pumpkin. To the top I usually add a few biscuit style treats and a fruit such as strawberry or blueberry (favorites in my house!)
- Banana Yogurt: to my soaked kibble I add about 1/4 cup of plain yogurt and 1/4 of a ripe banana. I like to top this with a few extra slices of banana and dollops of yogurt.
- Salmon Sweet Potato: to my soaked kibble I add a few tablespoons of fresh or canned salmon (make sure it is canned in water and has low sodium if using canned) and a 1/4 cup of cooked sweet potato. Add a few minnow treats or apple slices on top.
I usually like to freeze my Toppls for at least 6 hours but usually bulk prep them and freeze them for a week at a time.
LickiMat Classic:
One of the things I love most about the LickiMat is that the possibilities are endless in terms of topping with what your dog likes! Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Pumpkin Puree
- Xylitol Free Peanut Butter
- Sugar Free Apple Sauce
- Wet Food
- Plain Yogurt
- Cream Cheese
- Cottage Cheese
LickiMats freeze a lot more quickly than Toppls and should be frozen about 3 hours before fully set.
In summary, my favorite enrichment toys for dogs are the Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Snoop, the West Paw Zogoflex Toppl and the LickiMat Classic Buddy Slow Feeder Dog Lick Mat. Each toy offers a unique way to challenge your dog’s brain and provide them with mental stimulation. By providing enrichment for your dog, you can help to prevent boredom and destructive behavior while promoting their overall health and well-being.