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.

Choosing the best puzzle toy is key to maximising your furry friend's engagement and ensuring they get the most out of their mental enrichment time. There are several factors that come into play:

• Difficulty Level: Consider your dog's previous experience with interactive toys and their natural problem-solving abilities. If they're new to the world of enrichment, start with puzzle toys that offer easily accessible rewards to build their confidence and enthusiasm. As they master simpler challenges, you can gradually introduce more challenging dog puzzle toys, or you can opt for those with adjustable difficulty settings. For example, our Pebble Puzzle Toy offers adjustable difficulty levels, making it versatile for dogs of various skill sets, from novice dogs to more experienced problem-solvers.
• Dog's Size and Breed: The physical size and strength of your dog are important. A dog puzzle toy should be appropriately sized to prevent choking hazards and to provide a satisfying challenge without being frustrating. Dog with flatter faces might encounter unique challenges with certain toys and slow feeders due to their shorter muzzle. Dogs with powerful jaws or enthusiastic playstyles might require more durable toys designed to withstand rigorous interaction. Lunoji strives to design toys that are robust and safe for a wide range of dogs.
• Chewing Style: Does your dog tend to be a gentle licker, an enthusiastic nibbler, or a heavy chewer? Understanding your dog’s chewing habits can help with choosing appropriate toys. For heavy chewers, it’s important to select puzzle toys made from tough, durable materials that can better withstand gnawing. Remember that no toy is indestructible - we always encourage supervising your dog, especially when introducing a new toy, to ensure that they're engaging with it safely and happily.
• Type of Engagement and Play Style: Dog puzzle toys come in various forms, each offering a different kind of interaction.

1. Rolling treat dispensing toys, like our Pebble Puzzle Toy, encourage active play, chasing, and nudging to release kibble or treats. These are great for dogs who enjoy movement and a bit of physical exertion during their mental workout, while the puzzle also functions as a slow feeder.
2. Stationary interactive feeder toys require more focused manipulation with paws or noses to uncover food. These can be ideal for dogs who prefer a calmer, more concentrated problem-solving session.

By carefully considering these factors, you can select the ideal dog puzzle toy that provides the perfect balance of challenge and reward, ensuring your pup stays mentally stimulated, happy, and well-behaved.

Puzzle toys provide great enrichment opportunities for your pets. They allow for 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. Our dog puzzle toys are specifically designed to challenge your dog’s intellect, promote cognitive development, and serve as a mental workout that keeps them engaged and helps prevent boredom-related behaviours.
• Reduced Boredom: Boredom in dogs can lead them to destructive behaviours. Puzzle toys and slow feeders provide a healthy outlet for your dog's energy through a fun and engaging way, keeping your dog occupied and releasing 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: While primarily designed for mental enrichment, some of our puzzle toys, like Pebble, also function as slow feeders. They help regulate your dog's eating pace, which can improve digestion and reduce the risk of bloating and regurgitation caused by eating too quickly.
• 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. To learn more about how licking benefits your dog’s well-being, check out our guide on The Power of Licking: A Guide to Canine Enrichment.

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.