What are Dog Food Puzzles?

Dog food puzzles are one of our great passions in life! Food puzzles are toys that dogs manipulate in some way to get their meals out. Your dog uses their brain in a fun way that they might not normally get to, and you don’t have to do any more work than you already do to feed them. We think that virtually every dog should eat all of their meals from food puzzles, not plain bowls. In terms of getting the most benefit for your dog out of your money and time invested, food puzzles are THE best way to give your dog a more enriched life.

This post is a quick overview of the basics of puzzle feeding to help you get started. It’s a companion to our food puzzle reviews series where we rate and review food puzzles. Once you finish this video and realize how awesome food puzzles are, the reviews will help you decide which to get!

If you are more of a video person, we have a video version of this content, too!

 

What are Food Puzzles?

Food puzzle is a broad term to refer to any dog toy that dispenses treats or food. They come in all different shapes and sizes and work in a bunch of different ways. In this post, we are focusing on the ones that can feed your dog a full meal, because we think these are the easiest to incorporate into your day-to-day life.

The main types of food puzzles are:

Slow bowls

These are often marketed to stop dogs from eating too fast and getting bloat. The more intricate ones also make great puzzle feeders. They are the best puzzles for dogs who have supplements, water, or wet food with their meals.

Moving puzzles

The dog rolls or moves the toy around to get kibble to fall out. Most are ball or egg shaped, but they all have their own unique twist.

Stationary puzzles

Your dog is supposed to manipulate certain pieces of the toy as it stays in place. Most dogs just flip them over unless you stand there holding them still, so we aren’t big fans of these.

Stuffable toys

You may be familiar with the Kong, which is the classic stuffable toy. You wedge, smear, or freeze stuff in and your dog has to lick, chew, and bonk the toy around.

Why Feed from Food Puzzles?

More fun for dog, no more work for you.

For just a pinch more work than feeding them a meal in a boring bowl, you give them an extra 10-60 minutes of fun every day. For owners like you who want to give their dog a good life, it’s an easy win!

Dogs gets to use his brain.

Dogs are scavengers, so they are wired to enjoy problem solving to get food. Even if it seems frustrating for them at times, it’s like the frustration that you get solving a crossword puzzle. So, it’s still an overall positive and satisfying experience!

Dog gets mentally tired.

Your dog will get stimulation and satisfaction from puzzle feeding, which means you are less reliant on physical activity to tire them each day. It also means they may have less mental energy to spend chewing your furniture or barking at the neighbors!

Keep dog out of trouble.

You can time when you feed them to keep them occupied rather than getting into trouble, being underfoot, or pestering you.

Reduce your guilt.

There are times when your dog really wants to interact or have fun and you just can’t do it, giving them a food puzzle gives them what they want so you don’t have to feel like you are letting them down.

Who are Food Puzzles Good for?

Pretty much all dogs!

Food puzzles are great for puppies, older dogs, active dogs, injured dogs, playful dogs, and nervous dogs. Unless your dog has a rare dietary issue, food puzzles are probably great for your dog!

Owners who want to give their dog a fun life.

Food puzzles are great for humans who are gone most of the day and want to give their dog something to do. Or for humans who are home a lot and sometimes need their dog to be quiet. If you don’t have as much time for your dog as you wish you did, or if you want your dog to have a fun and engaging life, food puzzles are for you!

When Should You Use Food Puzzles?

For every meal!

Food puzzles are quick and easy to use, so it’s easy to feed every meal in puzzles. If you normally free feed or feed your dog one meal per day, check with your vet about switching to feeding two meals a day.  That way your dog can have more problem-solving fun!

When it works best for you.

Time feeding around a time that helps you. I used to do right after getting home from work to give myself time to put my stuff away, pee, and change. Now I do it as I clean up in the morning and during the time they would normally bark at the neighbors in the evening. You can also do it when you need to crate your dog if you are potty or chew training, when you have a conference call if you work from home, or when you want them to leave your guests alone. This can help curb any stress you might have in your relationship with your dog and give you the occasional break that you deserve!

How Do You Use Food Puzzles?

Make it easy to incorporate them into your routine.

Pick puzzles that are easy to fill and easy to clean. You want to make it an easy and fun part of your routine too!

Keep everyone safe.

Give the puzzle to your dog in a location where no other pets or kids might approach the puzzle and upset your dog. Pick the puzzle up when your dog finishes with it.

Set your dog up to succeed.

If your dog hasn’t puzzle fed before, start with easy puzzles, even if they are a genius. Slow feeders and stuffables like Kongs often make great first puzzles. They should be able to solve the puzzle with minimal help from you to enjoy the experience and gain confidence and independence in problem solving.

Conclusion

Food puzzles are clever toys that allow your dog to use their brains and get more enjoyment from their meals. The fact that your dog can independently entertain themselves means you can give them more fun without more time or effort on your part. Plus, you can keep them out of trouble when you need to. Switching to puzzle feeding is hands down the easiest way for you to improve your dog’s quality of life.

If you are intrigued, check out our other posts to see our Food Puzzle Reviews to choose a puzzle or two for your dog! We also included a link below to some great DIY puzzle feeding options if you don’t have the budget to buy puzzles.

Resources

Dr. Sophia Yin’s List of 7 Essentials for All Dogs includes food puzzles.

Victoria Stilwell recommends interactive toys, including food puzzles.