OUR FAVOURITE CANINE ENRICHMENT FEEDERS
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I came across the idea of enrichment-style feeding for dogs quite a few years ago and have since tried out a number of different enrichment and puzzle feeders.
Our dogs were not necessarily fans of every style of feeder. Below, I share our favourite canine enrichment feeders and why we love them so much.
WEST PAW TOPPL
I spent years buying ever-poplar Kongs before realizing that my dogs weren’t actually huge fans of them. Izzie in particular did not want to work hard enough to clean out a Kong and would often leave them unfinished.
Personally, I found Kongs a pain to fill and clean properly so I went in search of an alternative.
The West Paw Toppl turned out to be perfect for us. The larger top opening makes filling and freezing super easy to do, and they’re dishwasher safe so cleanup is a breeze.
And the dogs LOVE them.
The internal “fingers” keep it a challenge for them, but the large opening means they don’t have to work quite as hard. There is also no risk of suction or getting a tongue stuck.
To increase the difficulty, the small and large size Toppls fit together to create an enclosed puzzle toy for dogs who like more of a challenge.
Toppls are suitable for wet or dry foods. We prefer to fill with things like Greek yogurt, mashed bananas, pumpkin, and peanut butter. We then add things like berries, treats, and slices of apple or pear before freezing.
Find them here: AMAZON | WEST PAW
WEST PAW RUMBL
Another favourite from West Paw, the Rumbl is a dry treat or kibble dispenser that will slow down feeding time or provide some distraction and entertainment.
The shape and texture of the Rumbl help to keep it from rolling too far or too fast like some other treat dispensing balls we’ve tried.
The size of the treats or kibble will dictate how quick and easy it is for the dogs to empty them. The large size Rumbl holds up to two cups of kibble, while the small holds one cup. The Rumbl is also dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
I have heard of people filling their Rumbls with soft or wet foods like you would a Toppl or Kong but we stick to dry treats and kibble in these.
Find it here: AMAZON | WEST PAW
LICKIMAT LICK MATS
Lick mats are another soft food enrichment feeding option that come in various sizes, patterns, and levels of difficulty.
They’re basically textured rubber mats that you smear with foods such as mashed bananas, baby food, yogurt, etc. They can then be frozen if you want them to last a bit longer, or simply given as is, unfrozen.
I like the Lickimat brand’s Tuff Series of lick mats which are a little more durable than some other versions we’ve tried.
The dogs get SO excited when the lick mats come out of the freezer and will lay and lick at them for ages.
Find them here: AMAZON
SNUFFLE MAT
Snuffle mats are easy to use puzzle feeders that give your dog a chance to satisfy their need to sniff out, search for, and find food.
They are best used with dry treats or kibble and are super easy to fill and make for a quick activity whenever you need to give your dog something to do.
The snuffle mat we use has different sections, pockets, and hidey holes for some variation and to keep it interesting for the dogs.
It’s also very easy to clean by tossing it in the washing machine and it rolls up nicely for storage.
Find it here: AMAZON
READ MORE: CANINE ENRICHMENT FOR HIGH ENERGY DOGS
I have found that enrichment feeding has added such a great level of mental stimulation for our dogs. Not only do they love the extra treats but it helps to entertain and calm them.
I hope you find this list of our favourite enrichment feeders and puzzle toys for dogs to be useful if you are in the market for your own dogs.
Or, if you have a favourite enrichment feeder you use, please share in the comments below. We’re always looking for something new to try!
