Best Toys to Keep Your Dog Busy While You’re at Work

If you have a dog, you have probably worried about how he copes when the house empties out. The good news is there are plenty of toys built to keep a dog busy, occupied, and mentally worked while you are gone for the day.

The right toy cuts down on boredom, gives the brain something to chew on, and heads off the bad habits that come with a dog who has nothing to do.

From what I have seen over the years, the Kong Classic is the pick I point most people to. That said, I recently came across the Nina Ottosson Dog Puzzles Games and they are clever, well-built toys that throw a real mix of challenges at a dog.

So here is my shortlist of the best toys for keeping a dog busy while you are at work.

Kong Classic Dog Toy

The Kong is about as well-known as dog toys get. It keeps dogs of any size or breed thinking, playing, and busy for a good stretch.

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It looks plain at first glance, but a few details make it genuinely appealing to dogs.

For starters, it is made from tough natural rubber that suits an average chewer well. It has earned a name for standing up to most dogs, which puts it near the top of any chew toy list.

For the really powerful chewers, there is also the Kong Extreme, which is the same idea as the Classic but built from a stronger rubber.

Then there is the shape. That lopsided cone gives the Kong a bounce you can never quite call, which is exactly why dogs love chasing it across the floor.

The real draw, though, is that it is hollow. You pack the center with treats or food your dog likes, and he will spend ages working out how to pry it all loose.

Want to stretch that out even further? Stuff the Kong with treats and peanut butter, then freeze it overnight.

Hand it over right before you head out the door and he will stay occupied for a good while after you leave.

Kong Wobbler Dog Toy

The Wobbler is a food-dispensing toy meant to keep dogs busy, thinking, and entertained all at once.

Load it with kibble or treats, and when your dog nudges it with a nose or paw it spins and rolls, dropping food out through a small hole.

On top of the puzzle of getting the food out, the way it wobbles unpredictably holds a dog’s attention for a long time.

It also slows down a fast eater. That said, some owners find the treats spill out too readily, so it does not put up much of a fight for certain dogs.

In my own house it has been great with puppies. When my Labrador was just a few months old, we would give it to her before work and she stayed happily busy for ages.

There are two sizes:

• Small. For ½ cup of food and is recommended for small dogs.
• Large. For 1 cup of food and is recommended for medium to large dogs.

It holds up reasonably well, is made from BPA-free plastic, and goes straight in the dishwasher.

Nina Ottosson Dog Puzzles Games and Toys

Nina Ottosson is a Swedish dog trainer known for the toys and games she designs. Since 1990 she has put out a long line of interactive games made to give dogs a mental workout.

Her toys work a dog’s mind, keep boredom at bay, and ease the behavior issues that come with it.

Each game asks the dog to solve a small problem to uncover hidden treats. They come in three difficulty levels, Easy, Intermediate, and Advanced, so you can match the toy to what your dog can handle.

You can start a puppy on them at around 10 weeks. Begin with the easy games and keep each session short.

They are also a smart choice for old dogs. An older dog can’t run around the way he used to, so a puzzle toy gives him something to do without the physical strain.

You will find them in wood or plastic. The wooden ones are eco-friendly and heavier, which suits dogs that play rough. The plastic ones wipe clean easily and work with dry or wet food.

Dog Smart Beginner Dog Puzzle Toy

This one sits at the easy end. It is a good way to introduce your dog to puzzles and problem-solving, and to get him ready for the harder games down the line.

Dog Tornado – Puzzle Game Dog Toys

This is the intermediate option, though you can start it easy and ramp up the difficulty as your dog gets the hang of it.

Dog Twister Advanced Puzzle Dog Toy

This is the advanced one, which means your dog has to work through several steps in order to reach the treats.

It suits a clever dog who can spend anywhere from half an hour to over an hour cracking it.

Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball

It looks like a basic treat-dispensing toy, and it is. But that simplicity is part of the appeal, and it can keep a dog occupied for a long while.

Using it could not be easier. Fill the ball with treats, and as your dog bats and rolls the Tricky Treat Ball, they drop out one by one. He stays focused, chasing his favorite treats from room to room.

It also helps a fast eater slow down at mealtime.

Keep in mind that a hard chewer may not be the best fit for this one. From what other owners report, though, it does hold up better than most toys of its kind.

It comes in three sizes, small, medium, and large, so there is a fit for most dogs.

Our Pets IQ Treat Ball Interactive Food Dispensing Dog Toy

The IQ Treat Ball is another treat-dispensing ball, but it has a couple of tricks of its own.

It works like the rest of them: your dog rolls the ball around and treats fall out as a payoff for the effort.

But the IQ Treat Ball lets you dial the difficulty up or down, so you can make the game tougher as your dog improves.

Best suited to small and medium breeds, it is made from non-toxic plastic that stands up to a fair amount of rough play.

A lot of owners use it to slow down feeding. It makes a dog earn his food, working both his body and his head to get it.

Beyond the slow feeding, it keeps a dog busy, thinking, and moving for a long stretch. Some owners say their dogs are worn out by the time they are done with it.

PetSafe Busy Buddy Tug-A-Jug Meal-Dispensing Dog Toy

The Busy Buddy Tug-A-Jug is a food-dispensing toy that encourages dogs to eat at a slower pace while keeping their minds busy.

The Tug-A-Jug sets a different kind of puzzle than most food toys. Biting or shaking it gets your dog nowhere. He has to work the rope in and out to shake the food loose bit by bit.

It gives a dog a real mental workout.

It is not an easy one to crack. A dog who isn’t used to puzzles may get frustrated with it. But for a seriously food-driven dog, it works a treat.

It is built from tough, non-toxic materials made to last.

There are three different sizes:

• X-Small. For dogs under 10 lb.
• Small. For dogs between 10 to 40 lb.
• Medium/Large. For dogs over 40 lb.

The Tug-A-Jug is a great way to turn dinner into a game your dog has to work at. Some owners say their dog stays busy with it for a good half hour trying to get the food out.

Snuffle Mat for Dogs – Interactive Treats IQ Enrichment Toys

Snuffle Mat for Dogs puts a dog’s nose to work, keeping him busy and engaged while he sniffs out his food.

It works for small and large breeds alike. The mat copies the way a dog forages in the wild, getting him to sniff, hunt, and dig out hidden treats. That keeps his mind sharp and cuts down on boredom.

It also works as a slow feeder, nudging your dog to eat at a more natural pace. That helps prevent bloating and eases digestion.

It is good for lively puppies of every sort, giving them something to do at playtime while you enjoy watching them go at it.

All of this keeps a dog busy, sniffing and puzzling his way to the food for a long stretch.

StarMark Bob-A-Lot Interactive Dog Toy

The Bob-A-Lot is a solid pick for keeping a dog entertained and thinking. He has to push and rock it to spill out treats or kibble, and it tips in a way he can never quite predict, which is exactly what makes it so tempting.

You can widen or narrow the openings to tune the difficulty to your dog.

Plenty of owners use it to slow down a fast eater while keeping the dog busy and occupied for a long time.

It holds up to three cups, enough for a full meal.

A lot of owners get great results with the Bob-a-Lot, mostly with small and medium dogs that aren’t heavy chewers.

Kruuse Buster Food Cube Feeder

The Buster Cube gives a dog both a physical and a mental task while he works for his food.

Inside are several compartments, and as your dog rolls it with his nose or paws the food drops out. A built-in adjustment lets you change the difficulty to keep things interesting.

The Buster Cube is made from tough, safe thermoplastic rubber and cleans up easily, dishwasher included.

Among owners it has a name as one of the toughest toys around, even against natural hard chewers.

There are two different sizes:

• Mini
• Large

Dogs love to chew, and if yours is a hard chewer who is also food-driven, this is the sort of toy that will keep him going for hours while you are at work or out of the house.

WEST PAW Toppl Tough Dog Chew

A treat-dispensing toy with an unusual, sturdy design that also holds up to tough chewers.

Much like the Kong Classic, the WEST PAW Toppl Tough Dog Chew can be packed with peanut butter or whatever treat your dog likes best. Freeze it and you make the whole thing harder and more interesting for him.

Even empty it is a tough chew toy that bounces every which way and floats, which makes it a fine way to keep a dog busy for a long time.

It is easy to clean, dishwasher safe, and made from recyclable, non-toxic material that is free of BPA and phthalates and meets FDA standards.

Final Thoughts

Next to daily exercise, keeping a dog busy and mentally engaged is one of the surest ways to improve his behavior and how he feels overall.

Puzzle toys are one of the best ways to do that, whether your dog is home alone during the workday or right there with you in the evening.

Rotate the toys every so often so he doesn’t lose interest and stays engaged.

Safety matters too. Stick to toys made from non-toxic materials.

Bear in mind that every dog has his own tastes. A toy that one dog adores may leave another cold.

So don’t be put off if the first one falls flat. It is worth working through a few kinds until you land on the one your dog can’t get enough of.

Resources

• The Kong Company

• Nina Ottosson