Our 11 Favorite Puzzle Toys Will Intrigue and Entertain Your Dog (2025)

The Outward Hound Hide N Slide Puzzle Dog Toy is designed to challenge dogs of all sizes to sniff out tasty bites of their favorite kibble or treats. If your dog has a habit of eating too quickly, this puzzle can be given at mealtime to help them chew and swallow slowly.

Outward Hound categorizes its puzzle toys on a scale from one to four, and the Hide N Slide is a two, which means it’s a little more difficult than other dog puzzles, but not the most challenging. It should take your dog longer to solve than a level 1 toy, but the duration varies with each unique pupper.

The toy is made of durable wood and plastic composite material that won’t splinter or break, no matter how aggressively your dog likes to chew. It also has a non-slip back to keep it in place while your dog tries to unlock a bite. It's BPA-, PVC-, and phthalate-free, and easy to clean with soap and warm water. It comes in two colors, tan or purple, and there is also a version of the Hide N Slide Puzzle Dog Toy for puppies that is light green and better suited for growing pups.

Another plus for this puzzle toy is that there are no removable parts so you don’t have to worry about choking hazards. But it's always recommended that you supervise a dog while they play with any toy.

_{Life Stage:All |Dimensions:2 x 11.6 x 11.6 inches | Play Style: Puzzle, treat | Colors: Purple, tan, green (puppy only)}

The Hide A Squirrel Toy from Outward Hound comes in four sizes and doesn't require the addition of treats to engage a dog. If you have a big dog that loves to chase squirrels, the Hide A Squirrel Toy is sure to grab their attention.

The plush toy features a tree trunk with six holes where you can hide squirrel stuffies with squeakers inside for a game of hide and seek. Once the squirrels are hidden, your dog gets to search around and pull them out.

Different from the other options on this list, instead of food, your dog gets rewarded by the sheer pleasure of sniffing out the squirrels. It’s more interactive between human and hound as well since you have to put the squirrels back in the tree trunk when it’s time to try again—making it an even better bonding experience.

And if your dog makes some of the squirrels disappear, you can purchase replacement squirrels to extend the longevity of this toy.

_{Life Stage:All |Dimensions:Varies | Play Style: Puzzle | Colors: Brown}

Treat-dispensing toys are a great way to work your dog’s brain. They earn their snacks or their dinner while figuring out how to get the food to magically appear. The soft and pliable Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Snoop is easy to fill with kibble and treats. Pop out the neck, add food, and pop it back. Your pup can then roll it and nudge it around.

One big plus is this toy is very quiet. Some hard plastic treat dispensers make a ruckus when they roll around and hit the floors and the walls. This one is whisper-quiet. It will, however, pick up lint and dog hair when it’s rolling around.

Some pups will play with this even when it’s empty, partially because of the peppermint oil scent in the material, but also because it still smells like food! Puppies and small dogs might get smart and just stick in their noses and use it like a bowl. For those guys, the Lil Snoop might be a better idea.

_{Life Stage: All | Dimensions: 5 x 3.75 x 5 inches | Play Style: Treat | Colors: Blue, orange}

The Outward Hound Nina Ottosson Treat Tumble is a ball that dispenses treats as your ball rolls it around. Fill the ball with kibble or treats through the holes and then let your dog work for their snacks. The ball comes in two sizes and two bright color combos.

Dog puzzles come in various levels of difficulty and this is a great entry-level toy for dogs just beginning to learn brain games. To make it a little more challenging, turn things into a treat treasure hunt by using the ball outside. Don’t use messy or sticky treats because the ball has to be washed by hand.

_{Life Stage: All | Dimensions: 4.75 inches, 5.75 inches | Play Style: Treat | Colors: Blue and yellow, red and yellow}

The Kong Classic Dog Toy is a tried-and-true puzzle toy that's simplistic, reliable, and durable. It’s made from an ultra-tough rubber that's nearly impossible to pierce, has a bubbled design that resembles a snowman, and bounces erratically for mental stimulation.

You can stuff the toy with treats, kibble, or your dog’s favorite smear-able snack and watch as they try to get every last bite out. You can also freeze the toy with peanut butter or plain yogurt inside to extend the duration of the treat-driven mission.

In addition to sharpening your dog’s mental skills, the Kong Classic Dog Toy is ideal for chewing, teething, and entertaining. The toy is manufactured in the United States and is available in six sizes and four densities to meet the needs of teething puppies, aging seniors, tough chewers, and all dogs in between.

_{Life Stage:All |Dimensions:3.5 x 2.25 x 2.25 inches (medium) | Play Styles:Chew, fetch, treat | Colors:Black, red, purple, light blue (puppy only), light pink (puppy only)}

The Zogoflex Qwizl Dog Puzzle Treat Toy from West Paw is a lightweight cylinder-shaped toy with a spongy rubber consistency that can withstand canine chewing. With a treat placed inside, the Qwizl challenges dogs to do whatever they can to free their desired reward including pawing, tossing, shaking, and chewing.

This Zogoflex toy, a top puzzle toy for tough chewers, floats in water and is dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. While testing, we found that the toy paired with dog drool would easily pick up lint, but after two weeks of our hard-chewing dog's dedication to puzzle solving with the Qwizl, there were hardly any signs of wear.

The toy is made in the United States, comes in three bright colors, and can be recycled should your dog decide the Qwizl no longer brings them joy.

_{Life Stage:Adult |Dimensions:5.5 x 2.25 x 2.25 inches (small); 5.91 x 2.36 x 6.5 inches (large) | Play Styles:Chew, fetch, treat, puzzle | Colors:Aqua blue, tangerine, Granny smith}

For outdoor playtime, you don’t always have to rely on dog frisbees for fun. There are so many aspects of the Kong Jumbler Ball that will keep your dog entertained. There’s a handle so your dog can pick it up and whirl it around. There’s a ball inside for motivation as your pup figures out how to get to it. And the ball makes a fun, loud squeaky sound.

The ball is made of durable plastic which is easy to clean with some gentle dish soap and a quick rinse under the faucet. This toy comes in two sizes and it floats for fun at the beach or in the pool. On rainy or cold days, it can be used for indoor playtime too.

_{Life Stage: All | Dimensions: 5.5 inches, 7 inches | Play Style: Fetch, puzzle | Colors: Blue, orange, purple, red}

For dogs that eat quickly, a snuffle mat toy is a great alternative to a food bowl. The Activity Matz Garden Game Dog Puzzle Toy from Outward Hound has pockets, flaps, folds, and a hook and loop compartment where treats and kibble can be hidden.

The toy is garden-themed with two removable plushies—a carrot and a beet—and a plush cabbage patch where your dog will have to dig to find their food. It's easy to wipe clean and has a non-slip back to help keep the mat in place while your dog is on a mission to free their food. Plus, the Activity Matz can be folded up when not in use for storage.

_{Life Stage: All | Dimensions: 1.6 x 14 x 21.5 inches | Play Styles: Puzzle, treat | Colors: Brown}

Some dogs are really motivated by toys that squeak and flash and make silly noises. The Pet Qwerks Babble Ball is motion-activated so when your pup walks by, the ball talks back to them, encouraging them to play.

Available in three sizes, the red ball makes 18 different sounds. They range from whistles and doorbells to just a friendly “hello!”

The ball is made of durable plastic but always keep an eye on your pet when playing. This includes replaceable batteries that are tucked behind a secure door. Swap them out when they run low or when you just need a break from all the racket.

_{Life Stage: All | Dimensions: 2.13 inches, 2.75 inches, 3.13 inches | Play Style: Chew, fetch | Colors: Red}

Although the Outward Hound Lickin’ Layers puzzle feeder is for dogs of any age, it can be particularly fun for puppies. Puppies often have loads of energy and they like to eat. Combine the challenges of this puzzle with treats or food and the little ones will have a blast and stay occupied for a while.

The puzzle has three layers with a total of more than 100 different compartments. You can fill them with treats, kibble, canned food, or other spreadable snacks like yogurt and peanut butter.

The pup will learn to rotate the layers and lick the spots to get to their rewards. The layers come apart for cleaning, but they must be hand-washed.

_{Life Stage: All | Dimensions: 10.35 x 10.35 x 2.5 inches | Play Style: Puzzle, treat | Colors: Purple, green, and blue}

The Cabbage Pop from Lambwolf Collective offers your dog various ways to play and comes in two sizes: regular for x-small to medium sized dogs and large for medium to x-large dogs. The vegetable shaped toy has a TPR (thermoplastic rubber) ball—covered in teddy bear soft material—inside for fetch, burrow, and snuffle play with the addition of treats or kibble. Plus, the crinkly cabbage leaves provide lots of nooks and crannies to hide treats.

While the Cabbage Pop does have a sturdy construction, the soft material is less durable than you find in some other toys.

_{Life Stage: All | Dimensions: 8 x 8 inches | Play Style: Fetch, puzzle, treat | Colors: Green}

Final Verdict

Our favorite is the Outward Hound Hide N Slide Puzzle which has no removable parts and has various levels of challenges. We also like the Kong Jumbler Ball which is great for outdoors. It squeaks, lights up, and has a hidden ball inside to keep your pup interested.

FAQ

• Are puzzle toys good for dogs?

  Yes, puzzle toys are an excellent source of engagement and entertainment for dogs. Puzzles can keep your dog mentally and physically active while they work towards unlocking a treat or pinpointing the source of a squeak. They can also help dogs that tend to eat too quickly to slow down at mealtime.

• Do puzzle toys make dogs smarter?

  Yes, puzzle toys stimulate a dog's brain and can help improve their cognitive skills. After a while of playing with a puzzle toy, many dogs will start to figure out how it works and then apply that knowledge the next time the puzzle toy is introduced to them.