I Bought My Dog A Bunch Of Puzzles
Tags: Pets, Dogs, Love, Family, This Happened To Me

There is almost nothing more destructive than a bored dog.

Dogs need more than brisk walks and belly rubs. They also need mental stimulation.

Ginger spends a lot of time in my room due to an unfortunate event that took place this past Christmas. It’s in the best interest of all of us to keep the dogs separated for the most part when they’re inside.

It broke my heart to see Ginger laying on my bed bored out of her mind. Every time she whined at my door, I wanted nothing more than to let her go see her doggy friends upstairs.

I went to Google and YouTube to try to figure out how I could keep her from dying of boredom in my small bedroom when she’s not running around the yard outside. Due to the Michigan winter, which people keep calling “mild”, the dogs can’t spend all day outside anymore.

I stumbled upon something called “interactive dog toys.”

I never thought of dogs having their own puzzle toys. I knew there were countless baby, kid, and even adult puzzles — but it never crossed my mind that dogs could also enjoy puzzles.

Dogs are really smart. Some are definitely smarter than others, but they’re more than just cuddle bugs. Actually, a lot of dogs will turn into an anxious mess if they don’t have some sort of “job” to do.

This is why a lot of dogs find their own “jobs” around the house like becoming a living, breathing doorbell to alert everyone when someone is approaching the house. Herding dogs are known to end up herding unusual things like people and cars in the driveway.

Some take it upon themselves to become landscapers, digging up various holes in countless yards all over the world.

I ordered my sweet pup puzzle toys and a bunch of various treats.

At first, she didn’t like the idea of having to work hard for her treats. She gave up and refused to look at them.

In the beginning, I had to fill the secret compartments in front of her and talk her through it. We tackled each compartment one by one together. As time went on, she started attacking the puzzles without me having to coach her along.

Once she realized she gets way more treats by completing the puzzles, she got excited. By day three, she couldn’t wait for me to put the treat-filled toy in front of her.

It’s important to note that supervision is highly recommended with these puzzle toys.

A lot of them aren’t the kind of toys you sit down and leave the dog alone with like you would a frozen, treat-filled kong. They’re meant for you and the dog to enjoy together. They can also be used as a training tool if you’d like.

However, there are some puzzles that you can leave your dog alone with. You just have to know which one you’re buying. I also bought Ginger a ball that I can stuff treats in, and if I was leaving her alone in a bigger room it would be a hit.

Another important thing to think about when buying puzzle toys is once they get it figured out, it won’t take them that long to get all the treats the next time. Ginger’s had her puzzles for a couple weeks now and it only takes her a couple minutes. If you’re wanting something that lasts way longer, maybe a treat ball or something along the lines of that would be better for you.

I love watching her attack the puzzles. It only takes me a minute or two to stuff the treats in and then as soon as I sit it in front of her, she starts opening the compartments. I think it’s been a good way for us to bond.

I definitely plan on getting her more puzzle toys in the future to keep her mentally stimulated.

As I finish typing this article, she is busy playing with the level 3 puzzle on my bedroom floor. She opens the sliding compartments with her nose. There are little pieces that fit in the circular holes that she picks up with her teeth if she can’t knock them over with her nose.

There’s one compartment where she has to push this little knob until the compartment slides out. Then there’s one more where she has to pull a string with her teeth, but she hasn’t figured that one out yet. Instead she picks the whole toy up and tilts it to get that compartment to slide out.

As soon as she’s done, she plops down and looks at me as if to say “Refill it, dad.”

So, I refill it.