Food puzzles enrich your dog’s life and can be used as a food bowl. They slow down the mealtime of a dog entangled in his food and act as a thinking toy. In addition to choosing the correct puzzle level, which has difficulty level 1 to 4, Teaching your dog to use food puzzles will enrich both you and your dog!
How to choose the best dog food quiz
Consider what your dog loves to do: Roll a ball, pounce on something or just sniff.
Choose your food puzzle based on your dog’s preferences.
The interactive dog puzzle has a variety of ways to distribute the food you put in it. Some are ball-shaped and dispense food as they roll, while others require your dog to lift or slide the pieces with their paws or muzzle. Sniff dogs find hidden treasures of food in simple food puzzles called sniffing mats and even more simply, dogs licking food from mats.
3 tips to choose the best dog food puzzle
- Ask yourself: What are my dog’s natural thinking toys? After all, the use of jigsaw puzzles will delight the dog, not cause discomfort.
- For starters, choose the easiest level interactive puzzle. Set your dog up for success so he wants to keep using it.
- Choose the right size and shape for your dog. Got a big dog? Choose a bigger and more durable food puzzle. Conversely, if you have a toy-sized dog, the puzzle should be light enough for them to handle.
Dog food puzzle training tips
First: Don’t be too hasty. Rushing to frustrate your dog. Only after your child feels confident with the easier food puzzles, teach them to use harder levels and toys.
Teach your dog to use food puzzles in 7 steps
- Wait until your dog is hungry, so it has an incentive to find food inside the puzzle.
- Use attractive, high-value items, such as strong-smelling meats, fish, or cheeses. I recommend freeze-dried liver, fish or cheese in small pieces. Dry items work best for puzzles that distribute gifts like balls or have pieces that need to be maneuvered. For licking carpets and bowlUse moist or mixed feed.
- Start at the easy level (1 to 2) and put lots of rewards on the toy. Do not freeze a toy, even if it is frozen, such as Kong, Toplabyrinth discs or licking mats, as this increases the difficulty level.
- Let him sniff and interact with the puzzle.
- Praise and encourage your dog while they explore the toy.
- Give your child the time and space to manipulate the toy. Don’t rush him.
- End the session with a positive note after he gets some precious gifts from the puzzle.
If the toy seems too difficult or unsuitable for your dog, end the session on a good note by playing with them. Next time, try another jigsaw puzzle that’s better suited to your child’s level and interests.
This are 6 of our favorite dog food puzzle toys.
After you see which toys work best for your dog, add more challenging toys to their category.
Food puzzles alleviate boredom and enhance your dog’s quality of life. Choosing the best for your puppy will make the trip productive and enjoyable. The mental stimulation that toys provide will enrich the lives of you and your dog. And your dog will gain confidence in the process.
