Top 50 Best Interactive Dog Toys

Using interactive dog toys is the most sure-proof way to keep your pup mentally stimulated, which means a happier, healthier dog.

A mentally stimulated dog is also less destructive.

We tried some of the most popular toys available to pick the 50 best interactive dog toys based on their ability to stimulate the dog's brain and their popularity among dogs and owners.

The importance of interactive dog toys

Any toy (as long as it's not dangerous) is better than no toy for dogs, but interactive dog toys serve a more special purpose – brain stimulation.

Studies have observed how the lack of mental stimulation results in serious health issues in dogs, both physical and mental: boredom, apathy, stress, and depression, which then manifests into destructive behavior, obsessive-compulsive behavior, and even aggression (1, 2, 3).

Further research has proven how environmental enrichment and mental stimulation through a variety of methods, including some of the best interactive dog toys, can stave off these mental issues in dogs, cats, and other animal models (4, 5, 6, 7). These studies also observed how, after just a little mental stimulation with toys, dogs become less fearful, less anxious, and less stressed.

The best mental exercise for the dog is playing with the owner, but that's not always possible.

The design of the best interactive dog toys is structured specifically to occupy the dog's brain and provide mental exercise.

They aren't simply for chewing but rather for the dog to figure something out within the toy or interact with it.

It occupies your pet's attention and thereby enriches the environment.

Some toys are better than others at this, so here are the 50 best interactive dog toys you can buy today.

Best Interactive Dog Toys for Physical and Mental Stimulation

Trixie Pet Products FlipBoard

Price: $9.19
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This isn’t a toy that your dog can play with alone, but it’s one of our favorite toys for mental stimulation. Grab a few treats that have a good scent to them and hide them under the flaps, cones, and slides, then let your pup try their paw at uncovering them. Trixie Pet has a few variations on this puzzle that increase in difficulty level and hone various discovery skills.

Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel

Price: $19.39
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If your pup loves soft toys (and isn’t a toy destroyer), the Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel is a great choice. A large plush log with multiple openings, the Hide-A-Squirrel comes with multiple plush squirrels that can be hidden inside the log and pulled out. Each squirrel squeaks, and our favorite thing to do is keep hold of the toy, let our pups pull the squirrels out one by one, and as they pull them out, we feed them back in through the back. It’s a never-ending squeaky game of fun.

KONG Extreme Dog Toy

Price: $13.99
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You may not think of the Kong as an interactive toy, but it is a great way to encourage your dog to use its foraging instincts. Just use the Kong to hold treats or frozen snacks, and let your dog work on digging them out! It’ll keep your pup occupied, and it’s a great distraction for those first few minutes when you have to leave the house to get to work.

KONG Wobbler Treat Dispensing Dog Toy

Price: $19.99
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The KONG Wobbler is one of our top favorite best interactive dog toys because it’s one of the few toys that can keep a working dog busy when you have things to do. Like the “Boppo Clown” that gets knocked down and pops back up, as your dog rolls the Wobbler around, it pops back up, and as it does, it dispenses small treats or kibble. We also love this one for slowing down fast eaters at dinner time.

 

HIPPIH Interactive Dog Toys for Treat Dispensing

Price: $8.49
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Made from non-toxic and extra-tough rubber, this toy is perfect for teeth grinding in your dogs. This toy is designed with patterns that dog treats can be stuffed into. Watch as your pup rolls the balls around and works at getting the kibble lined up with the openings so that they can spill the food out onto the floor.

Interactive Dog Food Puzzle Toy

Price: $38.00
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Another puzzle toy, the Interactive Dog Food Puzzle Toy, features slides and cones with small hiding spots under each, and it works by providing your pet with treats. Just grab some delicious-smelling dog treats, hide them in each chamber, and let your pup sniff them out and maneuver the puzzle pieces to get to them. This isn’t a toy you can leave your pup to play with alone, but it’s a fun one to play with together!

Nina Ottosson Outward Hound Dog Puzzle Toy

Price: $19.99
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Another favorite of ours, this Nina Ottosson puzzle toy, is a little more advanced but follows the same principles as other puzzle toys on our best interactive dog toys list. What we love most about this toy is that the pieces don’t come away from the board, so you don’t have to worry about losing them!

ThinkPet Treat Dispensing Toy IQ Ball

Price: $6.46
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This interactive treat ball is a natural rubber ball with small holes around it. All you need to do is sprinkle some kibble inside those holes and let your pup get to work. As they roll the ball around, they work to release the kibble pieces. We love this dog toy because it can be used to slow down mealtimes, but it also incorporates activity into interactive play.

Busy Buddy Squeak N Treat Troog Dog Toy

Price: $7.34
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We are in love with this treat dispensing dog toy because it not only encourages play and foraging but also because it squeaks. Not many treat-dispensing toys include a squeaker, but this jack-shaped toy has it all and is one of the best, most unique interactive dog toys. The one thing we would change? That vanilla scent! Scented toys just don’t agree with some pups, so keep that in mind.

Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball

Price: $6.86
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We’re torn over this one, but a lot of pet parents love it, so we had to keep it on the best interactive dog toys list. Another treat dispensing ball, we love that this one is made from safety-tested food-safe rubber and that it encourages your dog to work a little harder to get treats through the single smaller hole. What we don’t like, what our pups don’t seem to like, is the “subtle scent.” We aren’t sure what it is, but it’s enough to get a hungry Labrador to leave it full of treats in the corner of the room.

Pet Zone IQ Treat Ball

Price: $10.95
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This is another toy that makes the best interactive dog toys list by recommendations from other pet parents, but one that we’re not so sure about. The IQ ball dispenses treats, but it makes your pup work harder to get them because they have to work them through an interior trap to get them to the dispensing hole. What we don’t love about this one is the noise that this one makes! It can give you a headache, and it’ll definitely scare off the more timid pups out there.

PAW5 Wooly Snuffle Mat

Price: $39.50
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A fun way to slow down your pup at mealtime and to encourage them to utilize their natural foraging skills, and we love this mat. The only type of best interactive dog toys on this list, it’s fairly simple as far as snuffle mat designs go, but it’s easy to use, fun for your pup, and washable, so you don’t have to worry about keeping it clean.

Trixie's Mad Scientist for Dogs

Price: $14.88
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The Trixie’s Mad Scientist toy is designed to work your dog’s problem-solving skills while taking advantage of their desire for treats, and it's another very unique option among the rest of the best interactive dog toys here. Put small treats in the tubes and watch as your pup figures out which tubes hold the treats and nuzzle them to tip out their prize! You can even make the game trickier by mixing and matching caps for the tubes.

Nose-It! Flex Plus

Price: $28.83
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The Nose-It! Flex Plus is made from phthalate-free, food-safe material and features a treat-dispensing hole that you can load with treats or kibble. The unique shape gives your pup something to hold on to as they play and lets them control the toy completely as they do. What makes this toy stand out among the other best interactive dog toys listed? It can hold up to 2 cups of food and is the perfect way to slow down your speedy eater.

Joe’s Home Dog Snuffle Mat

Price: $28.95
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Another snuffle mat, this alternative option offers your dog the opportunity to develop their nose work – hide and find work based on scent – as well as indulge their natural foraging instincts, making it one of the best interactive dog toys. The mat is available in small and medium, so it’s not ideal for larger dogs, but it is a great way to keep your small and medium-sized dogs busy, and it’s a fabulous training tool, too!

Brick Treat Puzzle Dog Toy

Price: $10.71
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And yet another puzzle toy from Outward Hound, this board has removable bone pieces as well as flip-open sections that can be used to hide away those delicious treats. You definitely can’t leave your pup to play alone with this toy, but it is a great tool to stimulate your dog mentally by using those scent and problem-solving skills.

Bentopal Interactive Dog Toy

Price: $25
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This is just another interactive toy. It comes with several unique features that make this toy more enjoyable to play with. t comes with two modes. The ball will jump on Mode 2 and roll on the floor when in Mode 1. It's one of the few toys with an active bouncing mode in the market that's equipped with LED lights. It's also a motion-activated toy that works for 10 minutes and automatically turns off when idle. Your dog just needs to touch it to turn it on. This toy comes with a battery of 180mAh that can work for 8 long hours.

SNiFFiz SmellyMatty Dog Food Puzzle Mat

Price: $53.99
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One of the few snuffle mats available that is suitable for all-sized dogs and can be ranked among the other best interactive dog toys, this is an incredible way to provide mental stimulation for your dog. Hide treats or kibble around the mat features and let your pup work out how to find them. This isn’t just a game, though; it’s the perfect tool for training a scent work dog, too.

StarMark Bob-A-Lot Interactive Dog Toy

Price: $19.01
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This toy is like the Kong Wobbler; it has a weighted bottom and a screw-off top. You just unscrew the top and drop in a few small treats and then set it on the floor and watch as your dog bumps the toy around to work their treats right out of it. The bottom of the toy can hold up to 3 cups of food to really slow down mealtime for your speedy eater. It's not only one of the best interactive dog toys on here, but Samantha has rated it as her favorite dog toy of all time.

 

KADTC Brain Stimulation Dog Toy

Price: $36.90
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A fan favorite among dog parents, this is another treat-dispensing puzzle that can help stimulate your fur buddies at home. This dog toy has 3 difficulty levels that can be an exciting training tool to stabilize their temperament and mood. What's more, it can be used as a slow-feeding utensil as well.

Titan Busy Bounce

Price: $8.94
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The Titan Busy Bounce comes in medium (2.7 x 4.5 x 7 in) and large (3.25 x 5 x 7.5 in) sizes, and it’s guaranteed to be an FDA-safe toy. Like many other similar pet toys on this list of best interactive dog toys, this is a treat-dispensing toy, but the unique shape means that it bounces all over the place and encourages sessions of “the zoomies.”

Fluffy Paws Rubber Treat Toy

Price: $6.50
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The Fluffy Paws treat toy is a non-toxic rubber toy with nooks and crannies that are perfect for hiding your pup’s favorite treats. Different-sized holes make it challenging for your pup to pull treats loose, and the rubber design makes sure that your dog’s teeth and gums stay stimulated too, a great alternative that's much cheaper than a few other similar best interactive dog toys listed above.

PetSafe Twist ‘n Treat Dog Toy

Price: $5.95
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We are generally not huge fans of PetSafe products, but the Twist ‘n Treat is a good interactive toy to keep your pup busy when you’re distracted. Just slip some treats or kibble inside the two natural rubber pieces and fit them together, and your dog will keep itself busy trying to knock the treats free. While it's similar in design to many other best interactive dog toys I've already mentioned, this one is simply cheaper.

Trixie Pet Products Snack Roll

Price: $8.70
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If your pup is new to interactive toys for dogs, the Trixie Snack Roll is a great place to get started. A capped tube with 3 rods inside and holes along the body, just slip some treats inside and your pup just has to roll the tube around to get those treats to drop through. This is a pretty simple dog toy, so if you have a working breed dog (even if they have no experience with interactive toys for dogs), this isn’t likely to keep them entertained for more than a couple of minutes, and maybe another option of best interactive dog toys listed above would be better.

Busy Buddy Barnacle Treat Dispensing Dog Toy

Price: $8.95
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Named after its barnacle-like design, this Busy Buddy toy is similar to other treat dispensing toys on our best interactive dog toys list, but it has an added element of fun. The three sections of the barnacle mean that your dog can’t predict which section will release its treat.  We like the durability of this toy and that it’s recommended for aggressive chewers, unlike some other toys on the list of best interactive dog toys.

Nina Ottosson Dog Worker Puzzle Toy

Price: $23.98
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When it comes to puzzle toys for dogs, this is one of the more complex puzzles you can get. With pegs to slide and circles to twist, your dog has to work pretty hard to get to those tasty treats. What we love most about this one, aside from how much brainpower it requires from your pup, is that it has no removable pieces to worry about. Among the rest of the best interactive dog toys listed, it's definitely one that will keep your dog's brain stimulated the most.

Idepet Dog Toy Ball

Price: $8.99
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Made from extra-tough, non-toxic rubber, this ball dog toy encourages your dog to use their problem-solving skills. Just slip some kibble, chews, or treats inside the toothed slots around the ball and watch your dog work to get them out. We don’t just love this ball for the busy factor, though; we also love it for how well it stimulates teeth and gums to promote dental health in dogs, unlike many other best interactive dog toys listed.

West Paw Zogoflex Tux

Price: $19.95
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West Paw is one of the newer toy companies on the market, and so far, we have to say that we’re impressed. The Tux is approved for aggressive chewers, 100% guaranteed, and better still (at least if you have a Lab), it floats. The inner T-shaped hole lets you wedge a treat inside, too, encouraging your pup to use their foraging skills and scenting ability to get what they want.

Hatchables Interactive Hide and Seek Puzzle

Price: $9.99
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Hatchables are a plush interactive toy line designed to give your dog something plush to cuddle and something interesting to interact with. Great for hiding snacks or for just “investigating”, each Hatchable toy turns inside out from an egg to a hatched creature. There are more designs to choose from, but we’re quite partial to the turtle and the butterfly. Just keep in mind this won’t hold up to aggressive chewers.

Petcube Play Pet Camera Interactive Laser Toy

Price: $199
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As a great alternative to the majority of the best interactive dog toys listed here is a pet camera. We've tested a number of them, and we know they’re expensive, but we can’t help but love anything that lets you play with your pup when you’re still stuck at work on a Friday afternoon. Not only does the Petcube have a 1080p camera to check in on your pup, but there’s also a laser that you can control from your phone and a built-in Alexa. If you’re having trouble affording this one, you can also pick up used Petcubes from various sellers on Amazon.

iDogmate Tennis Ball Launcher Automatic

Price: $105
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Another expensive option among these best interactive dog toys that's worth the price tag. If you’ve ever been owned by a Labrador then you know all about “throwing arm fatigue”. Tennis ball launchers are a fabulous way to avoid this while still indulging your pup’s need to fetch and the iDogmate launcher is a great option. We’ve been tricked before by “launchers” that do nothing but roll the ball across the floor, but this launcher can throw a ball up to 35 feet and comes with remote control.

OurPets Atomic Treat Ball Interactive Dog Toy

Price: $14.99
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The Atomic Treat Ball is one of those interactive toys that your dog will either love or hate, depending on their tolerance for noise and their level of patience. The ATB is made from hard resin that makes a lot of noise when your dog bats it across the floor so it’s not ideal for timid pups. The ATB is a great toy for keeping your pup busy, though, because its unique shape makes it hard to force treats out of the ball.

Furbo Dog Camera

Price: $194
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If you're still into dog cameras but the above Petcube isn't for you, the Furbo pet camera is an alternative interactive pet camera that lets you watch your pet when you’re not home, but it also has a built-in treat tossing ability. All you have to do is control the Furbo from your phone and you can 2-way chat as well as throw treats for your pup while you’re still out at the office. This is an expensive interactive toy option but if you’re a clingy pet parent or if you have a “Velcro” pup then the price is worth it for peace of mind.

Outward Hound Nina Ottosson Dog Casino

Price: $15.74
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If you have your very own furry Einstein, who is easily bored and quickly figures out traditional puzzle toys, many of which we've mentioned on this best interactive dog toys list, pay attention. This advanced-level 3 puzzle really tests your pup’s IQ. Side drawers hide treats but for your pup to get to them, they have to figure out how to twist the bone locks on the top of the puzzle. This isn’t ideal for the slower pups out there, but if you’re facing a bored Border Collie, this is a great boredom buster!

LumoLeaf Dog Treat Ball

Price: $24.99
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The LumoLeaf treat ball isn’t your average treat dispensing dog ball because it allows you to set the difficulty level. Just fill the inner ball with treats or kibble, then adjust the size of the dispensing hole to make it easier or harder for your dog to get the treats out. You don’t have to worry about the safety of this puppy toy either because it’s made from non-toxic thermoplastic rubber.

ZippyPaws Zoo Friends

Price: $8.69
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If your pup is a fan of the “Hide-a-Squirrel” type toy but already has the variations offered by Kyjen or some of those best interactive dog toys I mentioned above, take a look at the ZippyPaws Zoo Friends as an alternative. Using the same concept of hiding smaller squeaky stuffed animals inside a larger plush “house”, ZippyPaws gives you a different variety of hiding animals to choose from, including polar bears, elephants, giraffes, meerkats, monkeys, pandas, and penguins.

PetSafe Busy Buddy Squeak N Treat Toy

Price: $12.99
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The Busy Buddy Booya is another treat-dispensing toy for dogs, but unlike others, this one includes a squeaker. We love that the Booya is dishwasher safe (top rack only!) and that it’s a durable treat dispenser for pet parents on a budget. You should know, though, that this is another scented treat-dispensing toy, so if your pup is sensitive to smells, this is one to avoid, and I recommend choosing something similar from the above-mentioned best interactive dog toys.

Ruffwear Gnawt-a-Rock Durable Dog Toy

Price: $19.95
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We LOVE Ruffwear products (check out their harnesses if you have a chance), and the Gnawt-a-Rock is one more reason why we love them. Made from chew-resistant natural latex rubber, the Gnawt-a-Rock has an angled surface and a series of treat-dispensing holes. Just fill the ball with your favorite treats or kibble and let your pup work out how to get them out from a ball that isn’t as easy to roll.

Aelflane Treat Dispensing Puzzle Toys

Price: $12.99
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The Aelflane Treat Dispensing Puzzle Toys are a great way to attract your dog's attention. This toy is great for your dog's digestion as the inner structure of the toy controls your dog's eating speed. This interactive toy can also increase your dog's intelligence. It is easy to use as you can add treats easily.

Kong Biscuit Ball Dog Toy

Price: $10.99
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You can probably tell by now that Kong is a name we trust, and they’re a fabulous choice if you’re looking for the best interactive dog toys. The Biscuit Ball toy is a tough rubber ball with four bone-shaped holes around it. These holes are great for dispensing kibble if you want to sprinkle your dog’s dinner inside, but they’re also perfect for helping your dog grip while holding larger treats!

Ruffwear Turnup Durable Dog Toy

Price: $9.95
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The Turnup from Ruffwear is similar to their Gnawt-a-Rock, but its unique rounded cone shape makes for added variety and a slightly different option to the best interactive dog toys I mentioned before. Just slip your dog’s favorite treats or their kibble inside the hole of the Turnup and let your dog work on rolling, chasing, and batting the toy around to get those tasty morsels out.

Kong Stuff-A-Ball Dog Toy

Price: $14.99
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Another interactive Kong toy for dogs, the Stuff-A-Ball is made from puncture-resistant, non-toxic rubber and doubles as a fetch toy and treat dispenser. Not only can you slip larger treats inside the central core of the toy, but you can also use the side slots to hold all-natural peanut butter to keep your pup busy for long periods. We love this one for keeping anxious dogs occupied when storms roll through or when you have to head out for a while.

Bojafa Dog Puzzle Teething Toy

Price: $10.99
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The Bojafa Dog Puzzle Teething Toy is great for your dog's teeth health. It can help with cleaning, chewing, or playing. As the dog attempts to get the treats out, the toy can massage their gums and help clean their teeth. It is a multifunctional dog puzzle teething toy that can reduce bad behaviors, reduce boredom, and dispense dog food.

Dog Nosework Training Snuffle IQ Treat Ball

Price: $12.99
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If your pup is a scent hound or if you just want to encourage them to rely more on their sense of smell, this snuggle IQ treat bone for dogs is a good option for play. The small pockets on the outside of the ball are perfect for hiding treats or small pieces of kibble, and as your dog snuffles around to find them, the pieces slip out a few at a time. This is a great QUIET toy for play, but it is going to require frequent washing to keep it clean.

BecoBone Small Dog Toy

Price: $12.86
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The BecoBone is one for our small pup parents out there who want something a little more size-appropriate. Made from durable natural rubber, this treat-dispensing toy for dogs is a longer, bone-shaped toy with holes on either end. Just fill the center with kibble pieces and let your small pups work them out as they play.

Nerf Dog 5-inch Exo Ball

Price: $9.99
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This Nerf Exo Ball is NOT for the aggressive chewer in your home, but it is a fun and gentle toy for the older pup who craves interactive play. The larger holes around the ball let you slip bigger treats inside, and as your pup rolls it around, the treats start to poke out so your dog can pull them out.

OurPets IQ Treat Ball Interactive Dog Toy

Price: $14.99
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Another treat ball that's similar to many other best interactive dog toys I've mentioned, but this one has an unusual shape and a variety of treat-dispensing slots. We like that the toy is made from environmentally friendly materials and that it’s not so hard that it will damage your pups’ teeth. We also like that it’s a unique shape and a change from the traditional ball option.

BSMTech Food Dispenser Treat Ball

Price: $12.99
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A puppy toy that offers versions for dogs and cats, this gourd-shaped treat-dispensing toy is durable, non-toxic, and poses a little more challenge than other more traditional treat-dispensing toys. Just unscrew the end cap, put treats inside, and screw it back together, and your pup is ready to play. There’s even a bell for added (but noisy) fun.

Ethical Pets Spot Seek-a-Treat Treat Dispenser

Price: $14.94
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This fun interactive puzzle toy is one of our favorite interactive dog toys because it incorporates a variety of tasks into one puzzle board.  Spinning and sliding give your pup access to treats, and if your dog easily solves puzzles, you can pick up multiple puzzle boards and fit them together for long-lasting fun.

Petper CW-0042 Dog Chew Toy

Price: $18.53
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The Petper CW-0042 Dog Chew Toy is durable for long-term use, non-toxic, and healthy for your dogs. The bone massage particle design can clean their teeth and massage their gums while playing. These kinds of toys can easily reduce boredom and can even lessen anxiety. The toy's measure is 6.4 inches long, making it suitable for small- to medium-sized dogs.

READ NEXT: 12 Tips on How to Mentally Stimulate a Dog (Based on Science)

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