Keep Your Small Dog Engaged During Quarantine With These Puzzles

We got our pup before COVID-19 emerged. I was lucky enough to be able to bring him to the office with me. He got so much attention from other people and dogs. Since I work from home, nowadays he doesn’t get to interact with other dogs and people as often. I got my dog his first puzzle on a whim. I didn’t know if he’d be interested in it or even be able to solve it.

Now puzzles are one of his favorite toys. They keep him busy, engaged, and promote mental stimulation. He knows the word puzzle by heart and prances whenever I say the word.

Here is a list of amazing dog puzzles you can find on Chewy.

• 1. Outward Hound Tornado Puzzle

  

  Here's what buyers are saying: "My Frenchie LOVES this puzzle game. She is a very busy dog and this challenges her just enough on the days the weather doesn't allow for us to play in the dog park. We typically play it two times in a row. She is very good at it now, but when we place the bones in different places, it's like a brand new game! Highly recommend this :)"

• 2. Outward Hound Twister Puzzle

  

  Here's what buyers are saying: "My Jack Russel is a service dog and very smart...to the point where she is neurotic. Subsequently, she gets bored very easy. I started giving her puzzle toys and she loves them. It took her a day or two to really figure it out but now she perks up as soon as she sees me put treats in it. You can tell she genuinely is having fun playing and using her thinking skills. She is starting to get dementia and this has been really great for keeping her engaged and slowing the cognitive decline"

• 3. Outward Hound Brick Puzzle Game

  

  Here's what buyers are saying: "I got this for my 6 year old Dachshund to keep him occupied during video calls (he has gotten very good at video-bombing). It is a winner!"

• 4. Outward Hound Hide N' Slide Puzzle

  

  Here's what buyers are saying: "My boy Frankie inhales his food. He is also a problem solver. I like this puzzle for a few reasons: 1. it does not have loose parts my dog can pick up and walk off with; 2. It has an easy and a hard setting. The easy setting you put food in the wells and slide the cover on, but you don't use the knobs. I did that twice. Then I used the knobs. The look on Frankie's face when he couldn't nudge the cover was priceless! Wish I had the camera on him at that point! I measure out his food, and put 4 or 5 pieces in each well. I have to refill it, about 4 times, for his meal. Slows him down, and he has to think. Great fun!"

• 5. Trixie Mad Scientist Turn Around Activity Strategy Game

  

  Here's what buyers are saying: "I have a Jack Russell Terrier and she absolutely loves this! Even though she is short and small, she is still able to flip the beakers with her snoot and paw. She looks forward to this game every day. We fill it with her food and some cut up carrots. She loves to keep flipping, knowing there are different treats."

• 6. West Paw Zogoflex Toppl Tough Treat Dispensing Dog Chew Toy

  

  Here's what buyers are saying: "My corgi eats his frozen dinner from his toppl. He is fully invested and engaged with getting his food out! Really great for his mental stimulation and enrichment. I rotate this with the other west paw toy."

• 7. West Paw Qwizl Tough Treat Dispensing Dog Chew Toy

  

  Here's what buyers are saying: "This ended up being bigger and heavier than I expected when I put it in front of my 8 lb dog. I also wasn’t sure anything would fit inside the treat slot. It looked pretty clunky and I wasn’t sure she would be able to manipulate it. Big surprise! She loves it. While it is too big to carry in her mouth she can nose it and bat it around into an exciting roll and chase it. I was able to jam a small dental chew stick inside the treat slot and this made it last longer. She seems to enjoy holding it in her forepaws and chewing. While this toy doesn’t look like much on the shelf the dog was totally jazzed for this toy."

• 8. Starmark Treat Dispensing Bob-a-Lot Dog Toy, Small

  

• 9. Pet Zone IQ Treat Dispenser Ball Dog Toy, 3-in-1

  

  Here's what buyers are saying: "This was the first toy that entertained my puppy enough for me to leave him alone doing his own thing while he was awake. A little bit of training and using the easiest mode (no inserts) went a long way to getting him hooked on this toy. We have him regularly using it with one insert now and its great."