Dog Food Puzzles

Is your dog eating out of a food bowl still? Try using food puzzles instead. This extends meal times to 15-20 minutes while providing mental stimulation. What does this all mean? A tired dog! 🙂 Give food puzzles for dogs a try. You’ll thank me.

What is a Food Puzzle?

Food puzzles for dogs have become all the rage lately, but why? Food puzzles not only feed and reward dogs, but they also make dogs think, which exercises their brains. We all know how mentally tired we are after solving a complex issue. Well same goes for dogs. Plus, the “use it or lose it”saying applies to dogs’ brains too even for senior dogs.

Every morning, dogs wake up with a full tank of energy. We need to find ways to burn their excessive energy or they will find their own way. Food puzzles work perfectly. Feed morning meals in the bathroom while you’re getting ready for work. Feed evening meals while you’re cooking or eating dinner. Most dogs need a nap afterwards.

Choosing a Food Puzzle

Food puzzles range from plastic to wooden, and both have their pros and cons. Plastic is super easy to clean; wooden food puzzle toys work best for dogs with sensitivities to plastic.

As a general rule, choose an easy food puzzle for novice puzzle solvers. If it’s too hard, most dogs will give up. My favorites are Kyjen Dog Feeder and Green Interactive Feeder by Northmate. Again, as with anything, each has its pros and cons. Kyjen works great if your dog eats a raw diet. It’s easy to clean with less nooks and crannies for bacteria to grow. Also, this toy works really great for impatient eaters, as dogs are less likely to tip over the toy. Green Interactive Feeders work great for dogs with medium to long muzzles, are super easy to sprinkle kibble between the grass blades and are easy to clean.

For food puzzle wizards, give Nina Ottosson’s puzzle games a try. They vary in difficulty depending on your dog’s experience. Some of her food puzzles can hold a dog’s entire meal while others need to be refilled as needed. Either way, your dog will have a blast!

Does your dog inhale his food? Try food puzzles!

WATCH: Feeding Your Dog With Food Puzzles

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