It is essential to ensure that our pets receive adequate entertainment and mental stimulation, particularly when we cannot engage with them.
The reason why treat dispensing toys are considered a fantastic invention is due to how they provide dogs with a delicious treat while keeping them entertained and content. Nevertheless, with numerous alternatives available for purchase, deciding on the ideal toy for your furry friend can be a daunting task.
By reading this article, we aim to simplify your life. Our objective is to evaluate the most popular toys that dispense treats for dogs. This way, you’ll be able to make a well-informed decision and ensure that your furry friend stays content and joyful.
Top 10 Treat Dispensing Dog Toys in the UK
1. KONG Classic Dog Toy
The Kong Classic can be categorized as a versatile dog toy, as it’s durable, ideal for relieving teething discomfort, and doubles as an enjoyable reward dispenser.
At only £19, the Kong Classic stands out as the top canine toy for dispensing treats in the UK. Its design allows for the gradual release of spreadable treats as the dog licks them out with its tongue. The farther into the toy’s opening the treats go, the longer it will take for the dog to retrieve them all.
Getting the treat out of the Kong classic could be a time-consuming task for dogs, which can help mentally stimulate them while they figure out the most effective method to retrieve the treats from the toy. Any edible item can serve as a treat, including our top-rated dog treat options, plain nuggets, or spreadable substances like peanut butter or Kong stuff. However, we suggest using the latter option as it is more economical and beneficial for their health.
2. Starmark Bob-a-Lot Treat Dispensing Dog Toys
One of the most amusing, rewarding, and engaging dog toys in the UK market is the Starmark bob-a-lot. The holes at the base of the toy are where regular small or nugget snacks can be placed.
The bob-a-lot is intended to be shaky and unsteady, which poses a challenge when attempting to obtain the toy and trigger the release of treats. This aspect is advantageous as it allows for a gradual reward system for your pet, while also providing them with ample mental and physical stimulation.
3. Busy Buddy Chuckle Interactive Toy
The dumbbell-shaped dog toy is well-liked and has the ability to distribute nuggets and spreadable treats through the different openings in the dumbbell and the middle rod.
The dumbbell is perfect for dog owners who wish for a multipurpose toy as it is suitable for dogs that enjoy carrying their playthings and curling up in bed.
One of the most noteworthy aspects is that the device includes a convenient switch which enables owners to restrict the quantity of treats dispensed, making it ideal for either excessively enthusiastic dogs or small dogs predisposed to gluttony. Additionally, the material used in manufacturing this product is natural and free from toxic substances.
Explore Further: Uncover the Advantages (& Disadvantages) of a Raw Diet for Your Canine’s Well-being.
4. Trixie Dog Toy Interactive
This toy is unique compared to the others!
Offering treats as rewards, this mentally stimulating puzzle is designed specifically for dogs. Despite its appearance as a peculiar invention from a mad scientist’s lab, the mechanism behind it is quite clever. Each capsule features a small opening, enabling the dogs to retrieve the snack, however, this requires an adept sense of smell and a fundamental knowledge of physics.
Your dog will find their own solution and spend a great deal of time doing so, exercising their brain and receiving a reward each time they triumph. It’s the ideal reward dispenser.
If you prefer, there is a beginner detective dog level 1 puzzle available, while this one is classified as level 2.
5. Busy Buddy Squirrel Dude
This model resembles the KONG Classic but has a distinct shape and lower price. Its unique feature is the addition of lumps and bumps on the toy’s side, providing more texture to chew on.
This toy offers a unique twist on a fantastic dispensing recipe and that sums up its features.
6. Pet-Fun Large Mango Treat Dispensing Toy
An unbeatable dog toy, the Large Mango can release treats from its bottom hole or distribute them across its ridges. Constructed from durable, safe rubber, this toy is built to handle rough play, offering exceptional quality for the price.
The unique pattern and vibrant hues of this product make it a standout addition to your living space, and your furry friend is sure to gravitate towards it right away. Despite its steep price tag, its durability justifies the investment, making it a great purchase. Strongly recommended.
7. Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel Puzzle Toy
If your furry friend is a playful type, then this toy is perfect for them. The toy features a soft, plush tree trunk that showcases several small holes where you can keep squeaky squirrels. Your dog will have an exhilarating time trying to remove the squirrels from the tree trunk. Furthermore, the toy includes three squeaky squirrels in the set; therefore, you don’t have to worry.
8. PetSafe Busy Buddy Twist ‘n Treat
The Twist ‘n Treat serves as an amusing dispensing device suitable for dogs of any size. It is constructed of a resilient rubber ball that contains a number of small openings where you can put snacks. By rotating the ball, you can alter the diameter of the holes, intensifying the difficulty level for your dog to retrieve the treats.
9. West Paw Zogoflex Tux
The West Paw Zogoflex Tux is an ideal chew and teething toy for canines due to its durability and flexibility as a treat dispenser.
The hollow rubber toy is equipped with a tiny slot to insert treats. It is constructed to endure forceful chewers and can be utilized for a variety of activities like playing fetch or chewing.
10. Nina Ottosson Dog Tornado Puzzle Toy
The Dog Tornado, comprising four revolving layers with concealed compartments for treats, is a delightful puzzle toy suitable for young detectives.
To uncover the treats, your furry friend must rotate the discs of the Nina Ottosson Dog Tornado Puzzle Toy. Constructed from robust and easy-to-clean materials, this toy is durable and simple to maintain, ensuring that it lasts longer.
How to Choose the Best Interactive Dog Feeder
Various interactive dog feeders are available, and each dog is distinct with varying preferences. It is recommended to experiment with a few feeders to determine the ones that are best suited for your dog’s liking. You can choose to give away any surplus feeders to a nearby dog shelter or rescue. To ensure your dog is engaged, providing them with a range of different feeders and puzzles is beneficial, hence it’s wise to have more than one type on hand.
Stuffable Feeders
These feeders are designed to stuff your dog’s food and treats, promoting licking as a means of emptying them. Licking is an effective decompression activity for dogs that are hyper or anxious. The most suitable meals for stuffable feeders are dry food soaked in water, wet dog food, or a combination of both. Our office dog’s meal combination in their Toppl is shown in the picture, which is ideal for reducing their eating pace.
Tips for Shopping:
- Easy to clean – Look for dishwasher-safe stuffable dog toys for maximum disinfecting potential.
- Choose the correct size for your dog. It should be too large for them to fit completely in their mouth or swallow.
Although dry food may be sufficient when beginning, it does not fully utilize the potential of a stuffable toy. Well-known options for stuffing dog toys are the KONG Classic and West Paw Toppl.
Rollerballs & Tipper Feeders
Canine companions use their nose or paws to jostle and prod these items in order to access the dry food. These dispensers exclusively function with small treats and dry food. Among the most well-liked dispensers is the KONG Wobbler, which boasts durability, sturdiness, and effortless cleaning.
Tips for Shopping:
- Easy to clean – Choose a rollerball or tipper toy that comes apart easily and is dishwasher-safe.
- Make sure that the rollerball is too large for your dog to fit completely in their mouth, so it doesn’t become a choking hazard.
- Do you have hardwood floors or tile? Some rollerballs and tippers are made from hard plastic that is loud or can damage the flooring if your dog gets extra “pawsy” with it.
An additional suggestion is that by combining a small and a large West Paw Toppls, you can create a roller instead of using it as a stuffable.
Snuffle Mats
The purpose of snuffle mats is to engage your dog’s sense of smell for mental stimulation. Typically constructed with fleece or cotton, these mats are filled with either dry food or a small number of treats, prompting the dog to utilize their nose for scavenging each piece.
Tips for Shopping:
- You’ll want a snuffle mat that’s easy to throw in the laundry but sturdy enough that it doesn’t come apart after only a few washes.
The DiffLife Snuffle Mat is great for dogs who eat too quickly, as demonstrated by my dog Sookie in this video.
Licking Mats
If your dog mostly eats wet food or if you want a simple treat for them (or a way to divert their attention while you trim their nails), licking mats are an excellent solution for wiping off wet food stains.
Tips for Shopping:
- Choose a licking mat that’s easy to pop in the dishwasher for maximum disinfecting potential. Make sure to handwash any deep ridges or grooves machine washing.
Puzzle Feeders
A range of dog puzzles are available in various difficulty levels, primarily designed for dry food or treats only. These interactive feeders entail requiring the dog to solve puzzle parts, such as spinning a tower, moving a cup out of the way, or extracting a little drawer after unlocking it beforehand. Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound and TRIXIE have a selection of well-crafted puzzles designed for dogs.
Tips for Shopping:
- Pick a dog puzzle that’s dishwasher-safe and be aware of certain materials that are handwash only (like some of the wood puzzles.
- Think about whether your dog will try to chew and swallow the smaller removable pieces of puzzles. If they are an “inhaler,” choose a puzzle that doesn’t come apart or smaller detachable pieces.
Slow-Feeder Dog Bowls
Although these bowls have various designs to encourage slower eating, they don’t provide as much engagement as the aforementioned options. The primary purpose is to prevent dogs from taking in large amounts of food in one gulp by requiring them to extract the kibble from the bowl’s narrow grooves gradually, one or two at a time, with their tongue.
Tips for Shopping:
- Choose a material that’s easy to clean and dishwasher-safe.
Why You Should Use Interactive Dog Feeders and Puzzles
- Provides Enrichment: They provide sensory enrichment for a dog’s sense of taste, smell, and texture, and behavioral enrichment by working their brain. Click to get more ideas for increasing your dog’s enrichment beyond puzzles at mealtime.
- Slows Down Dogs Who Eat Too Fast: If your dog eats too quickly, they are at higher risk of choking or bloat – which can be deadly. Some breeds are predisposed to higher bloat risk, and the condition can be fatal. Slow feeder bowls, puzzles, and interactive feeders mean your dog can only take one bite (or lick) at a time
- Helps Dogs Who Are Picky Eaters: Some dogs just need to have that work-to-eat aspect of their meals to get them interested. You can mix in some high-value treats to entice them to eat the regular food as they get closer to the extra yummy stuff.
- Soothes Puppy Teething: Teething is not a fun process and puppies need to chew to relieve the discomfort they feel in their mouths. Giving them a chilled stuffable can soothe their gums and distract them from nipping and biting at you.
- Helps with Crate Training: We want a dog to love being in their crate! One of the easiest ways to do this is by pairing crate time with food time. Puzzle feeders take longer to finish, which means more continuous reinforcement for hanging out in the crate. And often a dog will be ready for a nice nap in the crate once they finish.
- Perfect Crate Rest Activity: If your dog is on crate rest after a surgery or injury, providing work-to-eat toys and puzzles gives them a way to burn excess energy, keeps them occupied, and prevents boredom. Pair meal enrichment and puzzles with simple, low-energy training cues, like teaching them a chin rest or touch cue while they recover.
- Calms Hyper or Anxious Dogs: Licking, chewing, and sniffing are very calming activities for dogs. The repetitive nature of working on a work-to-eat toy lowers heart rate and burns excess energy. Find more tips on how to calm down a hyper or anxious dog here .
