If you’ve ever wondered how such a small puppy can have so much energy, you’re definitely not alone. When I got my Springador puppy in 2022, it was a constant game how ‘How can I tire out this dog?!’ Although Honey had the energy for long walks, it isn’t ideal for puppy’s joints to walk them for hours a day, you have to take it slow and build them up for healthy growth. This is where dog enrichment toys are the perfect solution!
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Why are dog enrichment toys important?
Mental stimulation is just as essential for raising a happy, well-balanced dog as physical exercise. It’s often the secret to a calmer puppy at home. Enrichment toys encourage your puppy to sniff, problem-solve, lick, chew and play in ways that tap into their natural instincts, helping to prevent boredom, destructive behaviour and endless zoomies around the living room.
Whether you’re working from home, dealing with rainy-day walks, or simply looking for new ways to keep your pup entertained, the right enrichment toys can make a huge difference. Here are some of the best types of dog enrichment toys designed to challenge your puppy’s brain and help tire them out in the best possible way.
If you do work from home, check out my post ‘The ultimate guide to a productive puppy schedule for remote work.’ to see how I incorporated enrichment toys into our daily routine.
Signs your dog needs more mental stimulation
When puppies and adult dogs don’t get enough mental stimulation, they often find their own ways to burn energy or relieve boredom. If your dog is showing any of the signs below, they may benefit from more enrichment activities in their daily routine.
- Destructive chewing
- Excessive barking or whining
- Zoomies at unexpected times
- Digging indoors or in the garden
- Restlessness and inability to settle
- Attention seeking behaviour like pawing at you, bring you toys, pulling on your clothes
- Stealing household items
- Excessive licking
- Sleeping poorly during the day
If any of these behaviours sound familiar, adding enrichment toys into your puppy’s routine can provide the mental workout they’re missing — often resulting in a calmer, more content dog at home. Check out my guide on puppy proofing your house to also help minimise any damage fro an under-stimulated dog!
5 Dog Enrichment Toys to Tire Out Your Puppy
1. Stuffable Rubber Toys
There are so many kinds of stuffable rubber toys for dogs around. You can either stuff them with something soft like peanut butter or greek yoghurt and stick them in the freezer. Or, you can stuff them with treats your dog has to work to release. My dog’s favourite is the Kong Stuff-a-ball . Honey would spend ages knocking this around to get treats to fall out! As a healthier alternative I would use chopped up bell pepper. Our Kong Stuff-a-ball has lasted over 4 years and is still going strong. Kong quality is something else!
Durable Natural Rubber Dog Toy: This dog chew toy is crafted with KONG Classic rubber for durable and long-lasting chew sessions. This chew toy turns into a treat dispensing challenge when stuffed with KONG Snacks, pastes, or peanut butter.
2. Food Dispensing Puzzle Toys
These are usually a large flat plastic toy, which could feature various buttons, levers, and doors. Your dog has to use their brain to figure out how to get the door to open and release treats. So frustrating when they can smell the treats inside! But I assure you, they won’t be giving up in a short amount of time. Especially if you have a very food motivated breed.
Watch out, as these toys come in different levels of difficulty. Your Border Collie might need a level 4 expert version, while your bull dog might need a level 1. (No offence to Bulldogs, i googled lazy dog breeds).
Here is a medium level 2 option, with over 75 thousand positive reviews on Amazon.
Designed by Nina Ottosson in Sweden, this boredom-busting puzzle engages your dog with unique treat-hiding compartments, including flip lids, sliding tiles, and removable bricks, Offering mental stimulation and a safe, fun way to redirect destructive behavior
3. Snuffle Mats
Snuffle mats are one of the simplest yet most effective enrichment toys you can introduce to your puppy. Designed with layers of soft fabric strips, these mats allow you to scatter kibble or treats throughout the surface so your dog has to use their nose to search and forage for food. This taps into a dog’s natural sniffing instincts — something they would spend hours doing in the wild — and provides valuable mental stimulation without requiring lots of space or physical effort.
The puppy training classes we attended highly recommended any sniffing related games for tiring out our puppies, even just scattering kibble across grass in the garden. Sniffing is surprisingly tiring for dogs, often more so than a short walk, because it engages their brain and encourages focused problem-solving.
For puppies, snuffle mats are especially helpful for slowing down fast eaters, building confidence, and encouraging calm, independent play. They can also be a great option for rainy days, post-walk wind-down time, or keeping your puppy occupied while you work from home.
Here is a great snuffle mat option on Amazon with 4.5K happy reviews!
This snuffle mat for dogs contains 8 different places to hide food or snacks. It will increase the fun, challenge and training intensity of foraging. It allows you to enjoy the happy time of interacting with your dogs and avoid your dog destroying the furniture due to boredom.
4. Lick Mats
Lick mats are a fantastic enrichment tool designed to promote calm, focused behaviour in puppies and adult dogs alike. Made from textured silicone or rubber, these mats are spread with soft foods such as dog-safe peanut butter, natural yoghurt, wet food, or mashed fruit and vegetables. Your puppy then works to lick the food out of the grooves and patterns, turning snack time into a soothing mental activity.
Licking is a naturally calming behaviour for dogs, releasing endorphins that can help reduce stress and anxiety. This makes lick mats particularly useful during potentially stressful moments, such as grooming, bath time, or when guests visit the house. They’re also ideal for helping energetic puppies wind down in the evening or settle after walks.
I’ve been using lick mats again for 4 years with my dog, they are a fantastic way to get some peace and quiet for 20 minutes! They were particularly helpful for us when we had guests over, or to get her to calm down after a walk.
Here are some lick mats from a brand I am a big fan of, ‘Bugalugs.’ We’re regular customers of their salmon oil for dogs and their doggy bath products too. I’m sure these lick mats will be perfect for your dog!
Keeps pets entertained & reduces stress & anxiety – Bugalugs silicone dog feeding mat, puppy lick mat and cat feeding mat is ideal as a distraction for dogs who get anxious during vet trips or during bath time. With strong suction cups and raised stimulating patterns, the Bugalugs pet feeding mat, cat mat and feeding mats for dogs are freezable for extended treat time, microwavable and dishwasher friendly. Set includes 2x lick mats, 1x spatula & 1x brush.
5. Chew Enrichment Toys
Chew toys are an essential addition to any puppy’s routine, especially during the teething stage when the urge to chew is at its strongest. Rather than trying to stop chewing altogether, these toys provide a safe and appropriate outlet for a completely natural behaviour. Chew toys help satisfy your puppy’s instinct to gnaw while also offering mental stimulation and comfort.
Chewing can be surprisingly calming for dogs, helping them release excess energy and self-soothe when they feel bored, overstimulated, or anxious. For young puppies, chew enrichment toys can also ease sore gums as adult teeth come through, reducing the likelihood that furniture, shoes, or household items become unintended victims.
I found it was much easier to get my dog to chew a natural & flavoursome chew treat over a chew toy. I never knew when I bought a toy in the shop if it would be one she would want to play fetch with, tug of war, or chew. That’s why I would prefer to buy long lasting natural chews, our favourites being the Yakers bar. Check out my blog post on other natural dog chews here.
Yakers bars are made from Himalayan Yak milk, and would keep my puppy chewing for hours. Although I would take it off her after a 30 minute chew session so she didn’t overdo it and hurt her teeth.
DURABLE CHEW: Crafted to keep dogs happily engaged, these natural dog chews are tough and satisfying, ideal for aggressive chewers who crave a sturdy dog chew that resists fast breakage and lasts through extended gnawing sessions.
ALL-NATURAL INGREDIENTS: These 100% natural dog chews long lasting are made with just a few simple ingredients—no preservatives, gluten, or artificial flavors—making them a natural dog chew option you can trust for your pet’s daily chewing routine.
Puppy Enrichment Safety Tips
- Always supervise your puppy when introducing a new toy.
- Choose toys appropriate for your puppy’s size and chewing strength.
- Avoid small removable parts that could become choking hazards.
- Adjust treat quantities to prevent overfeeding.
- Regularly check toys for damage and replace when worn.
Mental enrichment doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive — sometimes the simplest activities are the most effective. By adding a few enrichment toys into your puppy’s daily routine, you’re not just keeping them busy; you’re helping build confidence, encouraging natural behaviours, and creating a calmer, happier companion. Every puppy is different, so don’t be afraid to experiment and see what your dog enjoys most. A mentally satisfied puppy is far more likely to settle, relax, and snooze at your feet — which is a win for both of you.
Related Blog Posts
Here are some other puppy focused blog posts 🙂
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