The 10 Best Puzzle Feeders for Dogs (Recommended by a Vet)
Join Dr Joanna Woodnutt MRCVS as she discusses what to look for in a puzzle feeder toy and reveals her thoughts on the best puzzle feeders for dogs large, small, short-snouted and overweight!
As a vet, I regularly recommend puzzle feeders to pet parents. They are great to improve mental stimulation, slow down eating, and encourage weight loss. But which puzzle feeders are best for dogs? Well, that depends on the dog!
In this article, I’ll link out to some of the best dog puzzle feeders (in my opinion) including recommendations of puzzle feeders for dogs on dry food, wet food, brachycephalic dogs and more! If you’re interested in how I chose these pieces, head straight for the buyer’s guide at the end so you can see what to look for in a puzzle feeder for dogs.
P.S You’ll notice I’ve linked out to several places – that’s because it’s more important that your dog gets the right toy than I receive a commission. That said, if you do decide to buy one of these toys, some of these links may earn me a small commission, at no cost to you. Please use them as a way of saying thank you! Read more about why we suggest products here.
What is a puzzle feeder?
Puzzle feeders (also called slow feeders and interactive feeders) dispense food when dogs figure out the ‘puzzle’. ‘Puzzle feeders’ can be everything from a treat ball that dispenses treats as it rolls through to a complicated 3-step ‘puzzle’ that encourages dogs to flip, slide, and remove pieces to get to their dinner.
Table of Contents
- The 10 Best Puzzle Feeders for Dogs (Recommended by a Vet)
- The most adaptable puzzle feeder for variety and challenge
- The best puzzle feeder for dogs on dry food
- The best puzzle feeder for dogs on wet food
- The best stationary puzzle feeder for dogs in recovery
- The best moving puzzle feeder for keeping dogs active
- The best puzzle feeder for brachycephalic dogs
- Puzzle toy buyer’s guide: What to look for in a dog puzzle feeder
- Conclusion: Every dog is different, but there’s a puzzle feeder for them all!
The most adaptable puzzle feeder for variety and challenge
One of the problems with lots of puzzle feeders is that once your dog has ‘learned’ to do them, they can get bored. Having several puzzle feeders and rotating them for variety can help. But if you’ve only got the budget for one toy, which one should you get?
Winner: K9 Connectables
We couldn’t just pick a single toy from this incredible brand, for good reason. Each of their brilliantly-designed toys is designed to connect together in lots of different ways, so you can build a new puzzle feeder every day!
You can buy all the K9 Connectables toys separately, but we’d recommend the Ultimate Bundle – it’s got everything you need to get started and try all the different types of toy. Oh, and if you want 10% off, the kind team gave me a coupon code – use PETLEARNIA10 to get the best dog food puzzle at a discount!
The best puzzle feeder for dogs on dry food
There are soooo many puzzle feeders in this category it’s very hard to choose a best puzzle feeder for dry food. It’s going to depend so much on your dog’s individual play style. That said, I’ve given you two of my favourite dog food toys here – and you can check the other categories to see if anything matches your dog’s needs better.
Winner: Trixie Dog Activity Carpet
Snuffle mats are great, but this dog activity carpet is next-level awesome! It combines the usual snuffle mat with pockets and other places to hide food, making a great game for your dog to sniff out all the food you’ve hidden.
Runner up: Trixie Dog Activity Turn Around Strategy Game
This strategy game for dogs gets consistently good reviews and isn’t going to break the bank. Your dog needs to nudge the spinning ‘test tube’ like pieces to flip them and drop treats. Sounds too easy? There are two sets of lids with different holes in top to increase the difficulty.
The best puzzle feeder for dogs on wet food
There are fewer dog food puzzles suitable for wet food, but they do exist! Wet food puzzle toys need to be easy to clean and not rely on dogs knocking their food out of small holes.
Winner: The Nina Ottoson Dog Tornado
Any dog owner knows that Nina Ottoson dog toys are fab. This one gets consistently good reviews and it’s not hard to see why. The rotating layers allow your dog to spin the food toy to reveal the 12 compartments. And, since it’s made out of durable, high-quality plastic, it’s suitable for wet food and easy to keep clean. I really liked how solid it felt – it’s going to last a long time!
Runner Up: The Lickimat Wobble
LickiMat stormed the stage with their simple rubber mats a few years ago. But while the normal mat is just that – a slow feeder – the LickiMat Wobble is a next-level dog puzzle feeder suitable for wet food. Its sturdy design allows dogs to wobble and knock it across the floor while they work hard to get the meal out from inside. The little rubber ‘prongs’ hold the food in place. I also love the fact it’s freezer-safe, as dog ice lollies are a great way to keep your dog cool in summer.
The best stationary puzzle feeder for dogs in recovery
If you’ve got a dog recovering from an operation or injury, they might be on restricted exercise or even crate rest. That’s all very well, but without exercise, they can go a bit doolally. Luckily, exercising their mind is a great way to keep them from getting too crazy at being stuck indoors. These stationary puzzle feeders are great for dogs who can’t move too much.
Winner: Kong Classic
When you’ve got a dog in recovery, you can’t beat a stuffed Kong. They’re durable, fillable, and made for lying and chewing for long periods. The rubber Kong comes in several rubber strengths – Puppy, Classic, Tough and Senior – for different chewing strengths. It also comes in six sizes, from extra small to giant so it makes a good puzzle toy for small dogs who can struggle with some of our other options. Keep an eye out for our Kong recipes we’ll be sharing soon!
Runner Up: Nina Ottoson Spin ‘n’ Eat
What I really like about this dog puzzle feeder is that as you spin the bottle, the treats fall out. But, unlike lots of similar food toys, the Spin ‘n’ Eat catches the dropped kibble into a grooved slow-feeder bowl, meaning they don’t scatter and make a mess. This is really good for those dogs who are resting and shouldn’t be chasing scattering kibble around!
The best moving puzzle feeder for keeping dogs active
If weight loss is your main goal, then keeping your dog active while they’re eating is important. These moving puzzle feeder toys are great options for getting your dogs to exercise while they’re eating.
Winner: Kong Wobbler
The Kong Wobbler is one of Pixie’s favourites, and it’s really stood the test of time. It doesn’t move as far or as fast as a treat ball, but it does get her moving, and because of the way it bobs about it doesn’t get boring for her. The Wobbler comes in two sizes (for pets under and over 12kg) but if your dog is above 10 or tends to wreck their toys, you could opt for the larger toy (it’s harder for them to pick it up and shake it – Pixie has the small one but her labrador friend likes to pick up the whole thing which is why it’s got so scratched!).
Runner up: KONG Rewards Treat Ball for Dogs
The Kong Rewards treat ball is a classic slow-releasing treat ball. What I really like about it is that the shape of the ball means it doesn’t roll in an expected way, meaning your dog will have to think and react quickly and keep moving it around to get all the treats out. As with all Kong products, this ball is made of durable rubber – it’s heavier than I expected for the size too!
The best puzzle feeder for brachycephalic dogs
Brachycephalic (short-snouted) breeds can struggle with some activities because they can’t get their noses into gaps like other dogs can. They are also prone to eye injuries due to their bulbous eyes being less protected. These puzzle feeder toys are vet-recommended for short-snouted dogs:
Winner: Trixie Sniffling Carpet
Snuffle mats allow dogs to sniff and find hidden food. They’re perfect food toys for brachycephalic dogs as they are soft and won’t hurt their eyes, plus they’re not too long/deep so they can get their food out more easily. I’ve linked you to a snuffle mat from Zooplus, but they’re all fairly similar (mine is handmade from a market!) as long as you can wash it easily!
Puzzle toy buyer’s guide: What to look for in a dog puzzle feeder
For the curious amongst you, we wanted to highlight what to look for in the best dog puzzle feeder. Choosing a good dog food puzzle toy is about more than just looks, so here’s what you should be watching for when you head to buy.
1. Whether it moves or not
There’s no right or wrong answer here! Dog puzzle feeders tend to fall into two categories – those that are designed to move around the room, and those that are stationary. Which one you need depends on your dog’s health and also your needs. Treat balls can be fun for active dogs, but they can pose a trip hazard and scatter food around the floor. There’s a chance some bits of food will end up where your dog can’t reach them or get missed, so they can be a little messy.
Stationary puzzles don’t move so aren’t as much of a trip hazard, but they aren’t going to help with activity levels and weight loss quite so much. They’re great for dogs in recovery from surgery or injury though, who need to be on crate rest.
2. What type of food it takes
Some food puzzles for dogs take wet food, but most take dry food. Some can take both. Some only really work with specially-designed treats or some sort of paste/spray option. You should choose a type of puzzle feeder toy that can take most of your dog’s normal ration. Avoid ones that only take treats if you can, as they’re more likely to lead to over-feeding.
3. Whether it suits your dog’s play style
This one isn’t essential, but in my opinion it’s worth considering when you’re picking the best food puzzle toy for your faithful family member. Some dogs like chasing (we’re looking at you, Collies!) while others like sniffing (Terriers, that’s you!). Some dogs are highly intelligent and enjoy the thinking part of a food puzzle (Collies again) while others are thinking more about the reward (Labradors haha!). If your dog has a particular play style, consider this when choosing the best food puzzle for them.
4. Whether it suits your dog’s breed
Mostly this is covered above, but brachycephalic (short-snouted) breeds like Pugs, French Bulldogs, Boxers, and Boston Terriers can have problems with food puzzles caused by their short snouts. When looking for a puzzle toy for dogs with less snout, look at how they get the food – deeply pocketed activity mats might be hard work for them. You should also be aware of any pokey-out bits near their eyes when they’re using the toy, as these breeds are prone to eye damage. Puzzle toys that are flatter are usually better for them, or moving toys are usually rounded and have no sharp bits they can catch their face on.
5. Whether it’s easy to clean
You might think I’ve harped on about cleanability enough, but it’s for a good reason. Build up of old, stale food encourages mites (which can worsen skin allergies in dogs) as well as bacteria. Mouldy food can be toxic if your dog gets hold of it too! And, as someone who has found maggots in a snuffle mat, believe me – you want it to be cleanable, whether that’s in the dishwasher or the washing machine!
Conclusion: Every dog is different, but there’s a puzzle feeder for them all!
Choosing the best puzzle feeder for dogs can seem like a bit of a nightmare because of all the options. The truth is, nobody can decide what your dog’s favourite food puzzle toy will be except your dog! My advice is to buy a few easy ones (or some DIY options) and give it a go. Your dog will thank you!
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