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The best puzzles and toys to get your dog’s mind working
Dogs love their humans unconditionally. You can see it in their eyes as they gaze up at you and in the excited wag of their tails. Since the average lifespan of your furry friend is only about a decade, don’t you owe them the best life has to offer?
Fido needs more than just daily walks, all the scratches and basic necessities — your dog also needs puzzles to keep its mind sharp and toys to keep its teeth away from your furniture, shoes and pillows. But with so many products on the market, which are the best for your pet?
Here are eight of the most tantalizing doggie toys and puzzles that promise to keep your pup entertained. Whether you’re playing with your fur baby, they’re playing with other dogs or just having fun while you’re away, these playthings are worth every penny.
1. Slow it down!
Many dogs struggle with eating slowly. Luckily, the design of this food bowl makes it impossible for your dog to scarf down its food all at once. It must use its tongue to scoop out small amounts of kibble at a time.
Promising review: “This is exactly what I needed for my dog. It has made an enormous difference when he eats. … [H]e can’t move the bowl around and [it] is heavy enough so he won’t turn it over or anything. I love this product and totally recommend.”
2. Where’d it go?
Your furry friend loves to play, and this bouncy ball is the perfect way to keep Fido on his toes. When it bounces from a surface, it’s impossible to predict the direction it will go. Toss it around for fun and fill it with treats as a special surprise.
Promising review: “I have three of these, which I fill with treats or peanut butter for my dogs. … They throw these around, bouncing them to disperse the treats. It keeps them entertained for quite a long time.“
3. Better hide this one at night
If your little prince or princess adores plush toys, try this “invincible” plush. There’s no stuffing to fall out and pose a hazard, and the squeaker will continue to produce sound even after it’s pierced. Hide it away when you’re ready for a nap or bed, and bring it out when it’s playtime.
Promising review: “My Pom is extremely hard on toys, especially squeakers! He’s also hard on the material itself. I really didn’t think it would be invincible, but IT IS! Almost a year later and it’s still in extremely great shape and still squeaks!”
4. Snack time
Every dog is a good boy or girl, and they deserve treats. But if they have the bad habit of snapping their snacks from your hands, try this puzzle. Just add a few of your dog’s favorite treats and stand back. They’ll figure it out just fine.
Promising review: “My dogs love these balls! They keep them busy until the treats inside are gone! … Me and my ‘babies’ are so satisfied!“
5. Clean those teeth
Healthy teeth make for a healthy pup. This tasty bristle bone acts as a toothbrush while little Princess chews between the nylon and rubber bristles. When she’s done, just put it on the top rack of your dishwasher to clean it up.
Promising review: “This bone is the best thing I have bought! … [B]oth my vet and my groomer ask what I do for my dog’s teeth because they have both said his teeth are in the best shape for his age and breed. … [T]o be honest, most of the time he likes to work on it plain without the treats … It’s also very durable. In 6 years, we just replaced his second bone. Great buy!”
6. Your best friend’s best friend
Not all toys need to double as toothbrushes or food puzzles. Sometimes, all Fido really wants is a chewable best friend. That’s where the goDog rooster comes in. Its body is textured and the small limbs make it ideal for dangling. The seams are reinforced and the rooster comes with a chew-resistant lining to help it last longer than the average toy.
Promising review: “My dog has never been one for stuffed toys. He was getting bored and depressed in my new place so I bought him this chicken to keep him entertained. The way he acts with this is hilarious. He’ll carry it around, so proud of it, and loves to shake it back and forth! It’s also lasted him months now, which I was worried about since he’s such a strong chewer. Great dog toy, will be supplying him these for the rest of his life!”
7. For the smarty-pants
Are basic food puzzles too simple for your dog? It’s time to up the ante. Hide food and treats in this crafty little puzzle that will stimulate your dog’s mind and stave off boredom. The blocks can slide to reveal the treat or be flipped open.
Promising review: “I could not wait to get this puzzle and I was not disappointed! We have a lot of puzzles, but this one was … different than any of the others! This one took my dog some time to figure out but he loved it! Very durable, easy to clean. We used some Purebites to keep him motivated to solve the entire puzzle and he did!”
8. For the chewer
Some dog breeds are known to chew anything from furniture to the side of your house. If your furry friend needs a tasty and reliable chew toy, turn to the Benebone wishbone-shaped dog chew. It’s flavored with real bacon and is shaped so your dog can pick it up with ease.
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Tags: Amazon, buy, clean, design, dogs, fall, food and drinks, friend, fun, furniture, Life, lifespan, likes, love, market, new, Now, pet, play, produce, product, products, puzzle, puzzles, Real, review, Sharp, shoes, small, sound, surprise, T, time, toothbrush, toys, work
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