12 best interactive dog toys and puzzles for your canine companion

If you're looking for interactive toys to encourage their natural sniffing and foraging behaviour, we recommend the Play Time Snuffle Ball from Pets at Home. It's simple to fill (although it does take some time if you're adding lots) and the treats don't fall out easily.

My Jack Russell Terrier Toby is a huge fan of round toys, so he so absolutely adored this one! He is 14 years old but became like a puppy again when playing with the snuffle ball. He rolled it around on the floor for ages and enjoyed pushing his nose into to the fabric to locate the bits of kibble.

Arabella Horspool, our Commercial Content Writer reviewed this product. She has three dogs (a Dachshund and two Jack Russell Terriers).

With over 32,000 ratings, the Trixie Dog Activity Flip Board is a brilliant puzzle for any pooch who needs a new task to engage their brain with whilst you get on with any important things you need to do (staying near your dog to keep an eye on them, of course).

I have a puppy, so I used The Trixie Dog Activity Board as a starting point to get him into puzzles, as there are three different activities in one. It certainly was a challenge, but it kept him occupied. My older two dogs have had some experience with puzzles and found this one intriguing.

It is super durable as they were scratching it with their paws and it didn't leave a mark. However, as my dogs are quite small, they did struggle to lift the skittles off with their mouths.

Reviewed by our Commercial Content Writer, Arabella Horspool, who has three dogs, two Jack Russell Terriers and a Dachshund.

Many dogs love a game of fetch, and this Outward Hound Hide A Squirrel Plush Dog Toy Puzzle is the best interactive toy for any dog who loves a bit of a workout as it can be thrown and retrieved. Just fill the tree trunk with three stuffed squeaky squirrels, toss it, and let your dog's natural hunting instincts kick in.

Challenging and engaging, this interactive product is a winner in our eyes. We love that it's a 2-in-1 game in the sense that you can toss the squirrel-filled trunk, place it on the ground, or take the squeaky plush toys out and launch them for a game of fetch. Plus, it's lightweight too, which is a bonus.

Many reviewers have said that their dog has spent a lot of time interacting with it, with one saying: "he'll spend a happy half an hour seeking them all out. He will play with the tree trunk for hours, ragging it, running round with it. It is really well made, and if it can stand the attentions of an overexcited collie it must be good."

This fun AWOOF Snuffle Feeding Mat allows you to hide small treats and toys deep inside the mat for your furry friend as their senses go wild trying to find everything you've hidden. Being Amazon's number one best-seller, the toy is portable, so you can easily take it with you and play hide and seek on the go.

It trains your dog's smell, consumes their energy and keeps them occupied. There's also a non-slip cloth on the bottom, preventing the dog from moving the mat in case they decide to bury it somewhere in the back garden.

Customers like that it's machine washable and easy to dry, which is definitely needed if you have a pooch that drools a lot!

Interactive and indestructible, this tough toy is a toothbrush for dogs (especially for aggressive chewers). With rave reviews, this product allows you to monitor your dog's teeth cleaning and dental care.

Not only does it get them into a healthy chewing habit, but it cleans their teeth, gives them fresh breath and prevents gum diseases Dogs just can't get enough of the crocodile like features. Made out of 100% natural rubber, this toy is suitable for 30-60lbs dogs (not puppies). And, you can even play a squeaky game of fetch with it.

Plenty of customers say they have dogs that usually shred their toys, but with this one, they weren't able to pierce through it. One even said that they noticed "a slight improvement in the dogs teeth".

This Pet Prime Automatic Ball Launcher is a great budget option for smaller dogs and older puppies. It has an impressive range of distances (10, 20 and 30ft) so your pooch can burn off energy indoors and outside. To make sure it's durable, it's made from hard-wearing ABS plastic.

We love that it comes with three small tennis balls, which is why it's such a good choice for small pups, but it's also available in other sizes. Customers were impressed at the trajectory of the ball and say that their dogs get excited when they hear the noise it makes before it flies out.

It may require some training with your pet to get them to put the ball back into the machine by themselves, but once they get the hang of it, they'll be well away!

This WESTHL Pet Food Ball is the best interactive dog toy when it comes to treat time! The dispensing ball increases the IQ and mental stimulation. It lets the dog see, smell, and hear that there are snacks inside and arouses their senses to try and unlock them.

Not only is it the best alternative to bowl feeding as it slows the process down, but the reward system also helps discourage bloating and digestion. The toy also maintains your dog's physical alertness and fulfils their hunting instincts. Also, you can adjust the size of the gap that the treats come out of, depending on the size of the food or how difficult you want it to be.

From the reviews, it's clear to see that customers' pets found this toy engaging. One said, "I absolutely love this product. My 12 week old puppy tried to use it and didn’t understand it but on her second attempt she figured it out and is now absolutely flying it!"

If your little one craves constant attention and loves hearing you speak, a Babble Ball could be just what they need to distract them for a while. It works just like a normal ball, only it will say short phrases like "Hot diggity dog" and make noises.

Customers found comedy value in this product, with one saying, "My dog loves this babble ball and had so many laughs already with it". However, some pointed out that "it doesn’t say too many words and makes more noises than anything" but the look on their dogs' face is priceless!

The Starmark Bob-a-Lot Interactive Dog Toy is another great way to monitor feeding. Coming in small and large, all you need to do is insert the food and treats at the top and then the bob-a-lot wobbles and bobbles – drops treats as it goes. You can also adjust the openings on the toy to customise the difficulty and keep your dog engaged.

They say that it's suitable for dogs of all sizes and one owner wrote "My puppy has had this since he was 8 weeks old, he is now almost 1 and still loves this toy". People have pointed out that it's durable and easy to use.

For a more intermediate interactive dog puzzle, Outward Hound has a Dog Tornado toy by Nina Ottosson. It has 12 different compartments, perfect for hiding your dog's favourite wet or dry treats inside.

This very interactive toy is ideal for dogs who can be quite destructive and left alone as it combats their boredom. It exercises your dog's mind and keeps it satisfied. A customer said that their Akita struggled with the middle bone bricks at first, so they had to remove them, but "now he just goes for it, knocking the bone bricks out of the way so focused on getting the treats".

It is worth mentioning that it takes a little while to clean, due to it having removable lids, but it's worth it if it keeps your dog engaged for so long.

This tower toy is a great way of testing your pup both physically and mentally. With a level 1 difficulty that makes it suitable for all dogs, your furry friend will have to use strategy, and some practice, to receive their tasty reward.

It has three cones for hiding small treats and larger treats can be placed in the tower, falling down to your excitable fluff-ball when the tray levels are pulled out. There's also an instructional booklet which has training tips for owners.

Customers say that cats may enjoy using this tower toy as much as dogs do, whilst others say that it's easy enough for their pet to use, but that it could be more durable.

A more advanced interactive dog puzzle, this Nina Ottosson Casino Treat Dog Toy is a great investment. This toy has no removable parts to avoid choking and is suitable for dogs of all ages, sizes, and energy levels.

It is designed for more challenging play, making it ideal for dogs who have most other puzzle toys sussed. That being said, if your dog isn’t very food motivated, they may not be overly interested in the puzzle as it takes some effort to work out. 

One customer said that their "4 month old labradoodle puppy loves this - he’s obsessed with food and loves this kind of toy"; they went straight to level 4 as (the puppy had used puzzles before) and it takes him around 10 minutes to complete it.