Got Toys? Puzzles and Chews That Provide a Good Outlet for Dogs

You can walk into nearly any pet store and get bombarded with a plethora of dog toys.  While some are merely for money-making and marketing purposes (does your dog really need a stuffed Easter Bunny that he is going to destroy in 3.2 seconds flat or a squeaky ball with your favorite sports team on it?), the good toy-making companies understand the logical need for a dog to have opportunities for the right kind of enrichment, mental stimulation, and outlet for his energy.  This means having a durable item that engages your dog’s mind, that he can chew without destruction or that encourages him to interact with other social beings in the proper way, and which he can enjoy time and time again.

You may find that you already have some toys for your dog and he doesn’t seem interested in them.  This could be because they are the wrong kind to fill his particular needs, he doesn’t know how to engage with a particular toy, or he just doesn’t have a preference towards the ones that he has.  Every dog is different and what some dogs love, others could care less for.  Have you ever met a child that has 20 toys sitting in her toy chest yet she swears she has nothing to play with and wants what her friend has?  I often advise my clients that while having a number of great toys to choose from can give you a better chance at success, the number of toys doesn’t mean as much as the quality of the toys and what the dog gets out of playing with them.  So to save money, I recommend steering clear of the cute ones that are easily destroyed (and then you have to replace them) or that don’t really serve a purpose for your dog, and instead spend the money to get the good stuff that will more likely engage your dog in the appropriate ways.
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This is a list of some of my favorite dog toys and chews, collected over the years through use with a variety of different dogs.  These items tend to hold up well, even to strong chewers (though if your dog has a strong propensity for chewing, you will want to monitor him with some of the puzzle toys at first to ensure he doesn’t abuse what the toy should be used for).  You should be able to find many of these items either in a local pet store (some of the smaller boutique stores tend to carry this caliber over some of the larger chain stores), as well as online on such sites as Amazon and Chewy.

PUZZLE TOYS:
The allure behind puzzle toys is that they give your dog something productive to focus on, provoking your dog’s problem-solving skills and engaging his brain (kind of like how we humans will do a crossword or Sodoku puzzle, or play video games).  They can be a good source for some stimulation and can use up some of your dog’s mental energy. 

For many of these you can use smaller treats for beginners/easy play and larger-sized treats for increased difficulty.  Some even include adjustable difficulty levels.  Just remember – you want to give your dog just enough of a challenge, but you don’t want to make the treats impossible to get out or this can actually build frustration or anxiety for some dogs.  If you’re not sure about the difficulty level, test it out yourself before giving it to your dog.  If you can’t get the treats out, chances are your dog won’t be able to either!

• ​JW Pet Ho-lee Treat Ball or Rockin’ Treat Ball
• Planet Dog Orbee Tuff Mazee Ball
• PetSafe Busy Buddy Barnacle Dog Toy or Busy Buddy Twist 'N Treat Toy – these are made from a pretty durable rubber
• PetSafe Busy Buddy Kibble Nibble Dog Toy or Magic Mushroom Treat Dispenser Toy – these toys are made of hard plastic so if you have strong chewers, check occasionally for cracks and don’t leave with them for an extended period of time.
• KONG Classic or Extreme.  I love these because they are very versatile.  You can throw a few treats in for shorter play, or stuff and freeze the KONG for longer-lasting play!  (For my favorite KONG recipes, see “The Amazing Frozen KONG!  Recipes for Relaxation.”)  KONG also makes a variety of different shaped toys with holes to fill with kibble, such as the KONG Quest Star Pods and the new KONG Clicks.
• PetSafe Busy Buddy Squirrel Dude is just like a KONG that looks like a squirrel!
• PetZone IQ Treat Ball – this one is for the advanced puzzle-lovers out there!  It has two separate compartments that treats must make it through before release, and it’s weighted so it wobbles but isn’t so easy to roll.
• Seek-a-Treat Shuffle Bone or Seek-a-Treat Discovery Wheel – these are two examples of puzzle boards that have hidden compartments to hide treats, giving your dog an opportunity to do some problem-solving.

From top left: Planet Dog Orbee Tuff Mazee Ball, JW Pet Ho-lee Treat Ball; Kong and PetSafe Busy Buddy Twist 'N Treat (stock photos from manufacturer's websites)

INTERACTIVE TOYS:
These are the toys that encourage social interaction and fulfill a dog’s need to engage with other social beings.  Sometimes a dog doesn’t want to play by himself – he wants to play with you or another dog!  Some of these toys are not meant to be left with the dog unattended so once playtime is over, I recommend putting these toys away.  This will also keep your dog thinking they are exciting (for next time) and will also keep the toys in tip-top shape!

• ​KONG Jumbler Ball
• KONG Wubba and Tugga Wubba (my dog Scout’s personal favorite!)
• Chuck-It – for those dogs who love to fetch balls but their humans are less than stellar with their throwing skills 😉
• Planet Dog Orbee Tuff Globes – available in different sizes and some even glow in the dark
• Tuffy – this brand offers boomerangs, rings, ultimate flyer frisbees and animals of different shapes and sizes made of a durable, three- or four-layer process that ensures they are dog “tuff”.  Hand-made (not mass machine-processed).  Fun to look at and play with!
• Rope or Fleece-Braided tug toys – you can find long rope toys in the stores, or you can make your own fleece tug toys by braiding durable thick fleece strips like you would braid a lanyard

From top left: Scout shows off his Tugga Wubba; rope toy, Planet Dog Orbee Tuff Globes, Chuck-It (stock photos from manufacturer's websites)

CHEWS:
A dog takes a lot of his energy out through his mouth – it’s why dogs tend to mouth at you when they’re excited, go to town on a bone when they’re stressed, or chew your furniture when they’re bored.  To keep your dog in a more balanced emotional state, I recommend providing natural chews at least a few times a week.  Some of them are edible, easily digestible and are not meant to last as long depending on how strong of a chewer he is, while others may last longer and give your dog several days of enjoyment.

I strongly recommend natural chews, as in chews that are actually derived from other animals and whole foods and not created in a lab.  The right kinds of these chews have not gone through any chemical processes and are still as close to their biological state as is safe for dog consumption (unlike rawhide, which goes through a major chemical process – if you ever watch videos about how rawhide is made, you’ll wonder why it’s even allowed on the market!).  This means no formaldehyde, unhealthy fillers (like corn meal) that dogs’ stomachs don’t process well, and no artificial colors (which have been linked to hyperactivity).  In addition, using these natural chews means that more parts of the animal are being used and not wasted when humans harvest these animals for meat.

Edible chews: 

• bully sticks
• windpipes (trachea) and tendons
• lamb/pig/cow ears
• chicken/duck feet
• pig/cow snouts
• turkey necks
• fish skin rolls (like haddock, cod or salmon)
• beef tripe twists and a variety of other products by Barkworthies – a natural treat company that dehydrates their bone products so they crumble and are easily digested (as opposed to baking which causes splintering and cracking)
• Himalayan chews (cheese-based so I don't recommend these if your dog can't process dairy products)
• Twizzies all-natural dog chew sticks (grain, dairy and gluten-free; available in 4 flavors)
• Earth Animals NO-HIDE chews (available in chicken, beef or salmon and made with organic ingredients)

From top left: Earth Animal No-Hide chews, Barkworthies Beef Tripe Twists, bully sticks and Piggy Twizzies (stock photos from manufacturer's websites)

Longer-lasting chews:

• kneecaps/beef knuckles
• sterilized white bones (empty, that you can fill with whatever you like; I would avoid the pre-filled ones, as many brands usually include a high level of sugar, salt and artificial coloring)
• cow hooves
• goat horns, deer/moose antlers (I find some dogs prefer the antlers that are split/cut so the porous marrow in the middle is easier to get to).

From top left: antlers, Barkworthies Goat Horn, sterilized white bones, beef knuckle bone (stock photos from manufacturer's websites)

Using these toys and chews to provide your dog some mental stimulation and an outlet for his energy will keep him in a more balanced emotional state.  Particularly on days where he can’t get enough physical activity, these items will at least take the edge off so your dog isn’t raring to go crazy at the first sign of any kind of stimulating situation!  Your dog will be happy, you will be happy – sounds like a key ingredient in the recipe to harmony!
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NOTE: As with any product, please supervise your dog with these items until you know how he will react to them.  With the edible chews, introducing a new substance may initially cause stomach upset or loose stool if your dog has a sensitive stomach or is not used to trying new things.  If this occurs, wait a few days and then reintroduce the item gradually (i.e. for a shorter period of time or a smaller piece.  Also make sure it is far enough from meal time so he doesn’t take in more than his stomach is used to).  If stomach upset still occurs, discontinue use – your dog may have an allergy or trouble processing that particular item.  If you have never used an item with this level of value for your dog before and guarding behavior occurs, discontinue use until a behavioral professional can help you teach your dog that he can enjoy these items in peace without fear of them being taken away by you or another animal.