Dog enrichment toys are specially-designed toys that provide mental and physical stimulation for dogs, by providing them an outlet for natural behaviours like sniffing, dissecting, chewing, and foraging.

Some examples of dog enrichment toys include: 

• Puzzle toys, which work your dog's mind as they figure out how to get food out
• Slow feeders, which reduce choking risks and encourage your dog to lick
• Chews and chew toys, which give your dog appropriate objects to gnaw on

Dog enrichment activities play an important role in improving your dog's overall well-being, by giving them appropriate outlets to perform natural dog behaviours such as sniffing, dissecting, chewing, and foraging. Depending on the type of enrichment activity, they could help to sharpen your dog's mind, reduce anxiety and promote calm, or provide a mental and physical workout.

Puzzle toys are great enrichment tools to give your dog to play with. They provide several benefits such as:

• Mental Stimulation: Puzzle toys encourage your dog to use critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which helps to keep their mind sharp.
• Reduced Boredom: Boredom in dogs can lead them to destructive behaviors. Puzzle toys, slow feeders, and long-lasting chews can provide a fun and engaging way to keep your dog occupied and release their energy healthily.
• Improved Problem-Solving Skills: As your dog tackles the puzzles, it will increasingly develop and sharpen their problem-solving abilities.
• Slower Eating Pace: Puzzle feeders can also act as a slow feeder, slowing down your dog's eating pace which helps with digestive and obesity issues.
• Calmer Behaviour: Mental stimulation is shown to help reduce anxiety and hyperactivity in dogs, leading them to be calmer and more relaxed. Additionally, calming behaviours like licking are shown to release feel-good chemicals (serotonin), which can help regulate stress and anxiety.

You can start by showing your dog the toy and encouraging them to interact with it. Pair the presence of the toy with treats - we suggest strong-smelling treats that really get your dog's attention. When starting out, make the game as easy as possible to give your dog quick wins and encourage future interest. 

If your dog is particularly fearful of new objects, reward every small interaction with the toy - even something as small as a glance or a step in the direction of the toy. 

Be sure to go at your dog's pace and keep it fun, and remember to always supervise and prevent any inappropriate or destructive behaviour!

You should clean your dog's puzzle toys at least twice a month to remove dirt and bacteria, or after every use if you're using it with fresh food or paste. You will need to wash toys that are placed or brought outside more frequently as they are more easily contaminated. At Lunoji, we strive to design toys that are easy to wash. All of our toys are dishwasher-safe (top rack, max 50C) and handwash-friendly. For long-term care, scrub gently with a sponge and dog-safe soap, rinse, and air dry!

Slow feeder toys and bowls are designed to reduce your dog's eating pace by incorporating blockers, puzzles, small openings, varying textures, and other related elements that prevent food from being swallowed too quickly. This can help to reduce the risk of choking, improve digestion, and provide mental stimulation, turning your dog's mealtime into an engaging activity.

Each toy is designed with different objectives and advantages in mind:

• Trove Pup Cup: Trove is designed to encourage licking of frozen treats and meals, and comes with insulated walls to maximise the length of time that treats stay frozen. Internal ridges hold the ice in place, preventing dogs from swallowing the contents too quickly. Trove also has a flat base and airtight spillproof lid, making it the perfect toy to bring outdoors. 
  
  Trove has a relatively large opening, making it a good beginner toy for dogs that are new to puzzle toys, or dogs that are less motivated to work for their food.
  
  
• Twirl Lick Mat: Twirl is a two-piece lick mat that is designed to encourage licking of pastes like yogurt, nut butter, meat/vegetable puree, etc. It has challenging curves and ridges that dogs need to navigate with their tongue. 
  
  Compared to a regular lick mat, Twirl is easier to clean - while being more challenging to lick clean.
  
  
• Pebble Puzzle Toy: Pebble is a two-in-one puzzle toy that acts as a slow feeder and a treat dispenser. It can be configured to release dry treats or kibble when your dog paws, noses, or pushes the toy around. It can also be used as a slow feeder for all types of food, including wet, dry, or even raw meals. 
  
  Pebble has adjustable difficulties, so you can adjust the challenge levels based on your dog's needs and motivation.

Our slow feeders are designed to work with a variety of foods. You can use it with kibble, fresh foods, paste, or even frozen treats like our Trove Blend.

We'd love to hear from you and see how we can help! Get in touch with us via email here.