Dogs aren't meant to live in small apartments without any stimulation. Yet, many city dwellers don't realize how much stimulation their furry best friend needs.
Interactive Treat Toys For Indoor Dogs: Why Mental Exercise Matters for Dogs
The trick to a happy and healthy dog is regular enrichment and allowing them to engage in their innate behaviors, such as playing, chasing, smelling - chewing and scavenging. Dogs need mental exercise just like they need physical exercise, particularly during times when they're stuck indoors. Retriever breeds, for example, are usually ball-crazy because they were originally bred to fetch things from water, says Heather Loenser - DVM and director of veterinary outreach at the American Kennel Club.
Interactive toys appeal to dogs' ancestral drive to work for their food. They can be rubber toys with kibble inside, or chew toys that hide a treat inside. It's no secret that COVID changed the way we live and work. As remote learning and work-from-home orders surged, pet adoptions skyrocketed, with many people snuggling up with new pups and kittys during lockdowns.
In 2025, 42.6% of U.S. households owned dogs - and 32.6% owned cats, resulting in an estimated 87.3 million dogs and 76.3 million cats in the U.S. The surge in pet parenting during the pandemic also underscored the importance of providing enrichment activities for pets, especially when humans are stuck indoors. Pet parents can consider interactive toys that dispense treats to help keep their dogs engaged and calm.
What Are Interactive Treat Toys for Dogs
Retail dog toys are often provided to companion animals to provide cognitive and physical stimulation and improve the animals' quality of life. These toys, sometimes known as "enrichment toys", have been shown to play a role in increasing appetite and activity levels and decreasing undesirable behaviors (e.g. - barking, self-isolating behaviors) in some domestic dog populations. But not all toys are created equal, and it's important to consider size, material, and your dog's personality when making a purchase.
Dogs who don't receive stimulation tend to find ways to enrich themselves - resulting in unwanted behaviors. Boredom in dogs leads to frustration and destructive behavior. Throwing a ball or a toy isn't enough enrichment to wear out most dogs, says Loenser. Instead, she suggests pet parents consider puzzles and other interactive toys that occupy their dog's time and attention.
Puzzles are beneficial because they mimic the way wolves and feral dogs have to work for their food. "There are so many great interactive toys now," says Caroline Miller, founder of the website DogPuzzle TOYbox - which features hundreds of interactive feeder toys for dogs. One popular option is the KONG Classic, a durable rubber toy that can be filled with treats or peanut butter to keep dogs occupied.
Types of Interactive Treat Toys Available
The AKC Shop, for example, offers interactive toys such as the Frisco Guacamole Hide & Seek Puzzle Plush Squeaky Dog Toy and the Frisco Silicone Treat Lick Mat. The mat, which is available in a 2-count pack - is designed for easy filling and cleaning. Dogs use their noses to seek out hidden treats from the mat's various compartments, providing entertaining enrichment that mimics natural foraging behavior.
A recent study published in the journal Animals found that while dogs who received more complex toys showed a slightly improved cognitive bias, there were no significant differences in behaviors between the subjects who received "less complex" toys (e.g., a bone, ball) and "more complex" toys (e.g. - puzzle toys). This may suggest that simply providing any toy may help ward off boredom and lead to improved welfare in some dogs. Still, the study didn't examine whether the complexity of the toy impacted the amount of time a dog was engaged.
How to Choose the Right Toy for Your Dog
When shopping for a toy, it's important to consider your dog's personality and size. Miller says to consider slow feeders for dogs who gobble their food, but perhaps try a more complex puzzle toy for dogs who like to problem-solve. "If your dog gives up easily or gets frustrated, start out with something very easy so you can set them up for success -" advises Miller.
It's also important to consider material. Loenser reports that some dogs may choke on hard plastic, so she recommends pinching the toy to see if it's soft enough that teeth won't chip or break. "Be aware of toys that have small parts that could be chewed off and swallowed," she says. Ultimately, both experts agree, pet owners should consider toys that will keep their pets engaged and happy.
Making mealtime fun - challenging and interactive is a great way to satisfy your dog's innate instincts and curiosities. Giving your dog a cognitive workout burns off excess energy, provides entertainment, and prevents problem behavior. Interactive feeder toys are useful for slowing down gulpers, as well as delivering enrichment that mimics natural foraging behavior.
Try freezing wet food or treats inside rubber toys for additional entertainment, suggests Miller. Just be sure your dog is supervised during playtime. And remember - no toy is 100 percent safe, says Loensner, so be sure to take away anything that becomes damaged or broken.
References
- mental exercise just like they - akc.org
- 42.6 - avma.org
- who received more complex toys - pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
