An occupied dog is a happy dog, and there is nothing we want more for our furry friends, whether it’s during a holiday meal or just any time they get bored or anxious. One great solution is to be prepared with project toys (sometimes called puzzle toys or interactive toys) for your dog.
Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa or another winter holiday, project toys are great ways to keep your dog busy and happy during the festivities. We recommend that you stuff your project toy with yogurt, peanut butter, dog treats, pieces of carrots or whatever your dog likes that will keep your dog motivated to keep working at the challenge. You can also freeze the filled project toy to create a longer, more challenging experience for your pooch.
Here are 10 project toys we suggest you might want to check out before your holiday feast. These toys can generally be found on Amazon or at your favorite local or online pet store.
Disclaimer: This is not an endorsement for any product, nor is Canine Campus an affiliate for any of these products. Please use caution when choosing the best toys for your dog to ensure the safety of the product for your pet.
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Kong Treat Dispensing Toys – Varies
Kong toys are classic project toys, designed to provide your dog with hours of interactive play. There are lots of different types of Kong interactive toys to try. Of course, there is the iconic, classic Kong toy as well as Pawzzles, Widgets, Marathons, Bounzers, Genius toys and Quest toys, to name a few. Look on the KongCompany.com site, Amazon.com or at your local pet store for these tried-and-true project toys.
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PetSafe Busy Buddy Squirrel Dude – $3.95 – $9.92
We love the durability of the Busy Buddy Squirrel Dude toy. These toys are especially good for the toughest chewers. The Squirrel Dude has inner rubber prongs that allow the toy to be stuffed with kibble or treats. Comes in small, medium or large so you can get the size that’s perfect for your dog.
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OurPets IQ TreatBall – $9.99 – $11.68
The IQ Treatball is a ball-shaped toy (always a winner in a dog’s mind) that your dog has to push around to free the treats from the hidden compartment in the center of the ball, and then from the outer part of the ball. The small openings make this a real challenge, and is guaranteed to keep your dog (or puppy) occupied for hours at a time. It’s easy to manipulate, even for puppies, but is of average difficulty to keep your dog busy for a while. It’s also easy to take apart and clean, always a helpful feature.
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JW Pet Company Treat Pod – $4.29 – $6.89
At only $$4.99 on Amazon, this toy is the perfect interactive toy for pet parents on a budget. It’s made with 3 multi-colored pods you can separate so you can insert treats. Your dog has to manipulate the pods in a certain way to get the treats out, making it challenging for the bright-minded dog.
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BUSTER Activity Mat – $42 – $45
This interactive toy comes with 35 button snaps placed 4 inches apart, allowing you to create a fun, challenging experience for your dog. You can purchase countless puzzles that snap onto the mat at different difficulty levels. This toy packs up for tidy clean-up or travel.
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Starmark Bob-a-Lot – $10.64 – $14.40
A nice feature of this toy is that you can adjust the treat openings to make the challenge easier or harder. This toy can hold an entire meal, so it’s a good choice for dogs that inhale their food and need a way to extend the eating experience.
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Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Snoop Toy – $20.95
Another ball-shaped toy your dog will love! You can stuff this one with treats or a smaller ball. Your dog has to push, roll and drop the toy to get the treat out, providing hours of fun and interest.
This toy does double-duty. It’s a fun, interactive toy that also “brushes” your dog’s teeth while they work to get the treat out. While this toy doesn’t replace a good brushing with a toothbrush and toothpaste, it certainly can’t hurt! Good for cats too.
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Hide-and-Slide Puzzle – $19.99
This wooden puzzle requires your dog to manipulate different levers to get the treats. It’s a great mentally-challenging toy that will keep your dog engaged for hours on end.
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DogTwister – $18.99
This game features a wheel with different compartments that contain the hidden treats. Your dog has to move one block after another to get to the treats. After your dog figures out how the game works, you can make it harder by locking some of the blocks with a peg.
Does your dog have a favorite project toy you would recommend to other Canine Campus dog owners? Please share it below in the comments. We’d love to hear from you!
And if your pooch is not food or toy motivated, you can always let them enjoy the holidays at Canine Campus with us. We will entertain your four-legged family member with top-notch supervised social interaction, companionship and cuddles all day long. We book up fast for the holidays, so call today at 719-448-9600 to get your dog scheduled for boarding over the holidays.
Getting rid of the food bowl is the most important thing you can do for your pet! Scatter feeding, feeding in food dispensing toys, using food for training or even hand feeding are fantastic alternatives. This little change allows for dinner time to go from a few minute to up to 20 minutes.