Best Puzzle Toys For Your German Shepherd: Invest In Your Dog!

GSD Advisor Team

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GSD Buyer’s Guide

Puzzles are not meant for the humankind only.

Dogs are fun-loving creatures; like humans, they get bored out of their wits easily. When the dogs get bored, they invent entertainment, like barking ( this time not because their nature calls for it but because they think it’s fun), scratching, biting, running wild, etcetera. So to keep your dogs, especially big dogs like German Shepherds, well-stimulated in a healthy way that would give way to their boredom to escape, indulge them in playing games. Dog puzzle toys are great for German Shepherds; they can play with them even in water. And the best way to do so is by gaming puzzles that bring out and sharpen their mental prowess.

It sounds good when you have an overly active dog that needs to be restrained in a way that would save your house from being brought under their paws and also enrich the dog’s mental well being.

We are all for “dog empowerment” or is it “dog rights”? (can’t really tell the difference in today’s world of dog enrichment). But do we have what it takes to keep our dogs positively entertained? After all, it is nothing fun when you are bored dogs can’t solve a “puzzle” (especially when it has food hidden under it, and all you want from life, in that particular moment, is an easy, no fuss meal) and it gnaws at your brains and your hunger “from the inside”.

Don’t agree with me? Let me probe your imagination a bit. Imagine, you have had a hard day at work, your boss being an absolute…. well “boss” and all that misery has elevated your hunger pangs (because you are an “emotional eater” like i am, and YES that’s a thing!). What would you like to do in that situation? Grab whatever is at hand and shoveling it all down? OR being handed a Rubik’s cube “because it’s good for your brain enrichment” and the hunger could “stimulate” itself into solving puzzles? You get my point right?

So, what are german shepherd puzzle toys??

The German shepherd puzzle toys are designed to get your dog’s attention which wouldn’t mean for them to be bored out of their minds and be destructive.

Objectives of getting your dog puzzles:

Mental nourishment. When the dog is bored, it gets into an offensive mode where they ignore their owner’s orders, running crazy, barking, chewing on things they shouldn’t be, digging and other unpleasant stuff. In order to put a cap on this behavioural offence, get the engaged in dog games of puzzles of all kinds.

Developing close ties with their dog parents, where the dog can build a close relationship with their dog owners in a fun and interactive way.

According to Nina Ottoson, who is the brains behind and the Chief Executive Officer of Outward Hound, which is based in Sweden, it is fairly straightforward to train a dog that is “exhausted” than it is to coach a “bored” pooch. What she means by that is, a bored dog, who has had a healthy dose of cognitivestimulation from rope toy and dog games is more receptive to behave themselves than those whose focus is all over the place !For as long as the best puzzle toy and games are meant to supplement your pooch‘s mental well being, by all means invest in some of the best ones that we have reviewed for you.

On the other hand, mocking your estimable German Shepherds, or any dog for that matter, in the name of playing with them, orka bone dog is downright wicked ! We are not Squad Cruella after all, but descent human beings.

You are going to mock your dog if the puzzle game they are playing is unwinnable. Ensure their winning by directing them towards a particular conduct or practice that your dogs do which doesn’t border on destructive behavior.

Is investing in a dog puzzle toy worth your money?

The dog parents who have invested in buying their loyal pets puzzle dog toys have been more happier than letting their canines invent their own games. Trust me, you DO NOT want your dog developing a creative flair for game invention.

Keeping aside a budget friendly budget for dog puzzles will benefit the owner in two ways.

  • The dog will be trained sufficiently to avoid misbehaving by fighting boredom and be disciplined.
  • The owner will have a sure way of having a handle on situation in case the dog needs to be nudged the right way.

Despite of whatever age your dog is, introducing the puzzle toys and letting them “win their keep” can bring your dog cognitive excitement that would keep your dog happy. It is recommended that your dog-friend plays for at least 20 to 30 minutes a day.

Another good news for the dog parents is that they can stop worrying about their overweight dogs. The pudgy dogs who get no exercise and instead over eat from the bowl can now work to get their food by the fetch toy or solving the puzzle and get to eat then. This fixes their boredom and the tendency large breed dog to overeat.

To get you going, we have favored some of the best dog puzzle toys that are listed below. These fun toys will keep your big German Shepherds and smaller Chihuahuas and Poodles categorically piqued.

Let’s get right to it.

The 12 best dog puzzle toys for German shepherds. Choose your pick.

This hails from the prestigious brand of dog toys Nina Ottoson by Outward Hound.The Dog Smart is a beginner level toy which engages your dog’s mind in games that are meant to solve problems.

Dog Smart Interactive has nine sections where you hide the treats for your pooch to paw their way to uncover them. The tantalizing smell of dog treats hiding beneath the pretend bones which wafts through the bones when they try to prod them in order to uncover the actual prize, keeps the dogs well motivated.

You can adjust the level of challenge by adjusting the bones in a way that would prove challenging (by laying them flat) or easy (by standing the bones up), depending on your furry friend’s mental capacity.

Pros

  • This 11 inches by 11 inches circumference makes it a compact choice for the indoors when you obviously want to avoid too much clutter. It is completely made of food safe stuffand are, thankfully, devoid of boogie materials like Phthalate, BPA and PVC. This will safeguard your canine in case of swallowing or choking on hazardous materials in the event they chip pieces off the toy. The Dog Smart Interactive dog puzzle is very easy to clean where you can just be done by rinsing it with warm water and light soap.

Cons

  • The only bit of complain any customer has got is that the instructions for the “challenging mode” and “easy mode” are unclear. The dog parents have also found this level 1 toy to be a little too easy for their dogs as they solve the puzzle in 10 to 15 minutes and then lose interest in it all together.

But at $14.99, this is the best choice you can present to your tyke !

Second on our list is from Nina Ottoson, again. Like the previous puzzle game, listed above, this also aims at introducing your dog to problem solving games and then honing their problem solving skills.

This also has nine chambers with dog treats the are hidden by placing spigot on top of them. The spigots have a small hole on top which releases the delicious smell of tasty treats from underneath. This keep the dogs well stimulated into solving the puzzle in order to get their paws on the drool worthy morsels.

More than the bigger dogs, the ease of solving this single-step action Dog Smart Composite is ideal for pups that are just beginning to explore their little world.

Pros

  • Like every Nina Ottoson product, Dog Smart Composite is made from food safe materials that are free from harmful chemicals like PVC, Phthalates and BPA. When in need, simply wash it with warm water and mild detergent. Introduces your pup early on to mind boggling food games (in a good way) which nourishes your favourite pet into developing healthy and pleasant physical activities. The dogs tend to be less destructive and more disciplined.

Cons

  • For an absolutely beginners level game treat toy, it is a little expensive at $19.90. Compared to other puzzle games out there, these are very basic and too costly. The price outweighs thediminishing rate of stimulation for more active and intelligent dogs ( German Shepherds) that get bored easily. Some bigger and sturdier dogs like the bulldogs have found a way around the game where they don’t solve it like the Dog Smart Composite are. Instead they paw the flaps open, kick or paw it on the side and get their treats the easy way! If you are parents to bigger more intelligent and aggressive dogs, we have more suitable options in the list that follows below.

Unlike other puzzle toys good enough. Nina Ottoson’s range of dog puzzle toys, Kong Wobbler comes from Kong. You can have easy access to it by visiting the Pet Supplies of any departmental store or order it through amazon.

This puzzle toy is meant to dispense the treats by “wobbling” it around. Kong- Wobbler’s heavy base and beehive like formation lets the toy move slowly in circles where the dog doesn’t have to move too much to solve it.

The large belly of the Kong-Wobbler makes for an interesting feature where the cavity can be filled with larger objects, or other toys rather than the treat. This proves a little more challenging if your canine is getting a hang of it too easily.

Kong- Wobbler is well suited for dogs who are aggressive chewers (as the hard plastic body makes it hard to chew), like to eat their wet food, hide treats that are portioned too big ( the hole ensures smaller sized treat dispensing , reducing the risk of choking) and the lazy kind who doesn’t mind getting fed without having to work for it ( this kind has all the tricks under their paws and learn early on how to solve a puzzle to get their treats).

Pros

  • The easy to remove bottom of the Kong-Wobbler makes it fuss-free to be filled with treats. The way the hole is positioned on the Kong-Wobble, (to the side), the food has lesser chance of falling out and littering the place and also destroying the whole point of getting this dog puzzle in the first place ! The hard-core plastic body packs on the durability of the product and lasts for at least 5 to 7 years even after extensive use. It can conveniently survive a good hard wash in the dishwasher, as after all, “dishwasher safe” is its highlighting feature. The small sized Wobbler will cost you $14.95 and larger ones offer you their price tag in two ranges,$18.39 and on to about $21 (there are no specifics about this). You can chose your pick depending on the age and size of your pooch.

Cons

  • The relatively larger size of the dispensing hole proves hard to keep the kibble inside the Kong-Wobbler‘s belly. You can make it smaller by covering it with clay dough or scotch tape, though. The superiority of the plastic, if on one hand makes it ultra durable, on the other makes it extremely damaging for your exquisite and costly floors. For example, a tumble down the stairs and the landing on the floor can cause severe scraping, scratches and scuffles. It can crack the floor in extreme cases, incase your floors are tiled with delicate flooring.

When it comes to nailing enrichment toys for the dogs, Nina Ottoson by Outward Hound has outdone themselves again, as a company of course.

Outward Hound’s Hide and seek toy is a Squirrel is thought of as yet another engaging puzzle game for your dog’s cognitive stimulation and entertainment. Like every other puzzle toy by the Outward Hound’s, this plush Hide and Seek game is aimed at discouraging destructive tendencies in your pet and encouraging him to indulge in positive recreation instead.

Because you basically hide a squeaky cute plushie squirrel inthe holes of the “tree trunk” and your dog has to “seek” and fetch the squirrel, it nourishes for the hunting skills of your dog that comes instinctively to them. The seek and fetch also makes it a dual purpose inter-active game of dog play.

Pros

  • The ginormous size makes it enjoyable for even the larger dogs like German Shepherds and Labradors, establishing the Hide A Squirrel Squeaky Puzzle toy a multi-pedigree puzzle game. The Hide A Squirrel puzzle game caters for you pup’s innate affinity to chase and track, grooming them to be the best at their natural self. The toy’s soft exterior makes it gentle on teeth and gums, making it ideal for the absolute puppies, although, these are NOT meant to be chew toys.

Cons

  • Although the trunk of the tree is big, the plush squirrels are too small for the overall toy. This naturally makes it less understandable for the bigger dogs who have a natural affinity to be aggressive rippers. Because of the plush design of the toy, these are more suitable for puppies and other smaller kind of dogs than they are for the larger ones. Many dog parents complained that their dogs have ripped the poor squirrels to shreds in as less as 10 minutes of play time with the plush toy. The insides of the squirrels have squeakers fit into them which makes it overly noisome if your dog is having too much fun with it. It can also be a little noisy for some dogs who are not too much into “squeaky-sonic” assault on their eardrums. But if you don’t want to get it wasted on your dog, get it for your baby, because come on, we have all experienced kids who love their squeaky shoes! Lastly, the squirrels don’t have any place or cavity where you can hide the treats in for your fursome buddy to find. The log will get stained and contaminated in case you decide to hide the treats inside them. But then this specific toy is not meant to be a treatinduced puzzle game but a simple play thing. This is how it ismeant to be, just in case you are thinking about improvising. For a toy that is easily tattered and not very durable, costing a whopping $22.76 even after saving $7.23, is a little more than you would want to pay for it. But please, go on and buy it if you think the cuteness of the Hide A Squirrel Squeaky Puzzle Dog Toy is worth the price !

There is a reason that Nina Ottoson puzzle toys keep gracing our list of the “best dog puzzle toys “.

From the best toys to the easiest dog puzzle the best interactive toys to the most interactive toys to levels bordering on genius, she has covered it all. Sometimes i wonder if she is the legit Dog Whisperer and not Cesar Millan !

Anyway, moving forward with our fifth best dog puzzle toy is the Nina Ottoson by Outward Hound’s Treat Tumble Interactive Dog Puzzle. This one is from the preliminary toy range by Outward Hound and is ideal for the cute little fur balls called pups !

The Treat Tumble is a great toy for a treat dispenser that is sure to keep your your dog interested and engrossed in letting the treat “tumble out” by tumbling it around. It has two holes that you can easily fill with kibbles and is absolutely food safe.

Pros

  • Although the trunk of the tree is big, the plush squirrels are too small for the overall toy. This naturally makes it less understandable for the bigger dogs who have a natural affinity to be aggressive rippers. Because of the plush design of the toy, these are more suitable for puppies and other smaller kind of dogs than they are for the larger ones. Many dog parents complained that their dogs have ripped the poor squirrels to shreds in as less as 10 minutes of play time with the plush toy. The insides of the squirrels have squeakers fit into them which makes it overly noisome if your dog is having too much fun with it. It can also be a little noisy for some dogs who are not too much into “squeaky-sonic” assault on their eardrums. But if you don’t want to get it wasted on your dog, get it for your baby, because come on, we have all experienced kids who love their squeaky shoes! Lastly, the squirrels don’t have any place or cavity where you can hide the treats in for your fursome buddy to find. The log will get stained and contaminated in case you decide to hide the treats inside them. But then this specific toy is not meant to be a treatinduced puzzle game but a simple play thing. This is how it ismeant to be, just in case you are thinking about improvising. For a toy that is easily tattered and not very durable, costing a whopping $22.76 even after saving $7.23, is a little more than you would want to pay for it. But please, go on and buy it if you think the cuteness of the Hide A Squirrel Squeaky Puzzle Dog Toy is worth the price !

Cons

  • Although the size of the toy makes it impossible to swallow, it must be given in the presence of parents’ supervision. Nothing lasts forever and so won’t this which is why be watchful if your dig is an avid chewer as it could manage to chip pieces off the Treat Tumble, causing choking hazard.

Like with the Kong Wobbler, the Treat Tumble is made of high-quality plastic which makes it supremely very durable toys, but also very hard. Big dogs like German Shepherds could get aggressive when trying to tumble the treat out where they can throw the ball hard on the floor, repeatedly. Itcan risk damaging the floors, and anything less delicate like glass coffee tables if the dog becomes over zealous and whacks the toy in the wrong direction.

Trixie Dog Activity level 2 is a flip board game from NOT NINA OTTOSON but TRIXIE. This game has several compartments which has hidden treats inside. When opened correctly with a combination of different flaps and dials (not unlike bone shaped joy sticks), your dog is introduced to its delicious rewards.

Compared to all the other interactive puzzle toys listed above, this requires a little more than basically training your dog, although the gaming level is intermediate just a tad bit more advanced then the beginner. If the dog manages to move the flaps, covers and the joy sticks like cones, your pooch can finally access the treats. Compared to Dog Smart Interactive Puzzle by Nina Ottoson, the Trixie doesn’t make it easy for your dog to just knock the “bones” over to reveal the food. Instead, the “cones” have to be detached by taking them off in a straight position. Now that’s something that will come with practice. Read the guiding booklet and train your pooch accordingly.

Pros

  • Trixie Flip Board Strategy Game comes with instructions booklet that facilitates its readers with easy to follow directions and 3 different languages English, German and French. This board game teaches your dog how the combination of two different gestures wins you your tasty treat. As it is a level 2 game, it is best suited to the small digs who have got the hang of level 1 games of Trixie’s. Trixie’s Flip Board Strategy game has a rubber ring running around the base that is non slip keeping the game in place for your dog to play with for hours. As with any other game, train your dog to not chew on the pieces after they eat their kibble. With a variety of options for arranging the pieces on the Board Game, the Board Game stays interesting and mentally stimulating for your dog for ages as you can choose to either place the treats inside the disks, flaps or the cones. Very easy to wash with tepid and soapy water. Dogs are not the only kind of pets that enjoy these puzzles. Cats love them equally, may be more than the dogs. The cats being intelligent creatures, figure these out as quick as the dogs. One of the dog parents have had success introducing it to her blind dog. The dog can move the different placements with its muzzle to get the treat and stay motivated to be mentally active and cognitively occupied. The level of mental stimulation that it provides your pooch, $13.44 seems almost “free of cost”.

Cons

  • It is recommended for dogs that are 10 or above. The dog needs to be trained in level 1 of the Trixie Board Strategy in order for it to fully grasp level. On its own, your dog may find it difficult to accomplish the objective of the game in the first place. The other side to it is that the placements have too little cavities to hold the kibble. It might not me enough for your larger dogs to keep them interested for long or the lingering hunger could make them aggressive and destructive, if you refuse to refill the slots.

The Tornado Puzzle Stimulating Dog Toy from Nina Ottoson is a 2nd level toy designed specifically for dogs that loses focus quickly.

It has three decks and 12 cavities for the dog’s favorite treats and treats to be hidden.

You put the kibble in the cavities on each deck , leave some holes uncovered and cover the rest with placement bones. For easy understanding, only cover two or three compartments and leave the others as it is. You also don’t have to fill all the uncovered compartments with kibble as train your dog in a way that it knows that eventually the hidden treats needs to be uncovered.

As your dog grasps the basics, move on to covering more area. The more cavities that are covered, the more challenging the game will be.

Pros

  • You have the option of filling the 12 cavities with dry or wet treats for your dog. Because all the compartments move in circles, this spinning engages your dog for a longer period of time. The manner that the Tornado Puzzle is built, the dog has no choice but to learn to incorporate different steps to reach to the treats hidden inside. This mental stimulation enables your tyke to develop “problem solving” aptitude early on and incorporates it into its daily dog life routine. A positively mentally active dog is a happy dog and doesn’t develop damaging behaviour that is unpleasant to the dog owner as well as the entire household and the neighbours.

Cons

  • The Tornado Puzzle Stimulating Interactive Dog Toy is an intermediate level toy which is why some dogs find it hard to understand that they have to shift the bone which open the deck or the tier and only then is the treat is released. Some dogs, the aggressive ones have chewed on the the pieces after they have had their treats, causing the pieces to chip. Some times the products are not all the same in quality, but then i guess , there are bad pieces in every lot. The bottoms of these Tornado Puzzles are NOT non slip which is why many dogs just flip the whole thing over, causing the kibble to drop out anyway. The dogs don’t feel the need to use it the it should be rendering the puzzle toy useless !

Owing to the playful and intelligent nature of dogs, Trixie has launched yet another intelligent Box based game, Trixie’s Activity Poker Box Activity Level 2. It has 4 niches and every niche has a different way of opening it. It has drawers, flaps, lids knobs and ropes. It is up to you, keeping in mind your dog’s mental capacity, to differ the amount and position of dog treats in every compartment, making it more or less challenging.

Pros

  • This puzzle game has a rubber base, making it non slip and less frustrating for your dog’s enjoyment.
  • As with every Trixie product, Trixie Activity Poker Box Game Toy is facilitated with a user guide, furnished with easy to follow instructionsand 2foreign languages in addition to English, German and French.
  • It is dishwasher safe.

Cons

  • The size of the compartments is unsuitable for some dogs like bull dogs
  • Not a lot of kibble can be placed in the compartments as those dogs that live to eat or a big dog, for instance, may find the portions not filling enough.
  • Some parents don’t find the logic of “ teaching” their dogs how to solve a puzzle as it defies the very “objective of puzzle solving” in the first place.

Another on our list is, once again, from Nina Ottoson. It is a level 2 puzzle game ideal for dog parents who are in absolute need of controlling boredom and destructive behaviour in their dogs.

As a level 2 game, it suits those dogs well who have had their training in level 1 and are ready to take on a more challenging gaming approach.

The bright green and purple colors of the Treat Maze makes it a pleasant looking addition to your living area.

Pros

  • If the dogs get bored, they get naughty, and by that i mean not in a cute way.They are more prone to destruction and inorder to avoid that, engaging them in this Interactive Maze Puzzle game is just oh-so rewarding.
  • Treat Maze Interactive Puzzle Game is a 1 part game where the dog just has move the toy in a way so that the kibble dispenses through the hole. This keeps the dog busy until the treats fall out.
  • The Treat Maze doesn’t make any clutter as it comes with no extra parts. You don’t have to worry about attaching multiple attachments to assemble or disassemble it. Also stowing it away wont be a hassle.
  • All you have to do it to fill it and shake it to get your dog’s attention. The smell of dog’s treat will interest him enough to play with it just so it gets him his favourite treats. And also because he may be hungry.

Cons

  • It is a little frustrating when the dog keeps rolling the Treat Maze and the treats misses the dispensing hole. This could happen if the belly if filled chock full of treats. Consequently, the treats could just tumble and gather on top of each other, making the kibble a little compact to pass through the hole.
  • For a toy that is a little too simple for intermediate level, paying $28.95 is overkill.

Of all the dog puzzle toys that have been listed above, Dog Worker Interactive Treat Puzzle is an advance level puzzle game.

Using their natural inclination towards hunting and finding hidden things, this challenging level 3 puzzle game will keep your furry friends occupied for hours on end.

It is solved in three steps

  • Rotate the wings,
  • Dash the cone like pieces, and
  • Swivel the big disc in the center.

The dog’s favorite treat holding cavities are under the wings and the disc in the middle. Saving you the hassle of picking pieces from all over the place after your dog is done with it, the Dog Worker has no detachable segments.

Pros

  • It has no sections that needs to be detached and reattached.
  • Helps in curtailing the destructive tendencies of your dog, making the activity more fun.
  • You dog will learn three different actions that he can add to its repertoire and use in daily life rotate, dash and nudge along and swivel.
  • True to any Outward Hound products, it’s free of Phthalates, BPA and PVC.
  • The price range is perfectly acceptable at $29.99 for something so mentally challenging.

Cons

  • The central disc of the Dog Worker proves a little challenging for smaller dogs like Chihuahua and Pomeranians to move and pull for the treats to show.

The Outward Hound boasts the Multi Puzzle to their most challenging puzzle game ever.

It has 28 niches that are concealed by the sliders, which if moved in the right sequence, will give away the hidden treats.

This level 4 puzzle game is only played if your dog has completed levels 1-3 of puzzle games. Readjust the level of complication as your dog learns.

Pros

  • The MultiPuzzle has a square shape in which the sliders are place all across the four corners. The treats are place beneath the smaller square blocks and in the round cavity in the middle. This keeps the dog so well engrossed in the activity that he may forever forget to be ruinous.
  • MultiPuzzle is one compact puzzle toy worth four different ones. At $34.99, you are getting a variety of four puzzles for the price of one ! Now ain’t that a deal saver!
  • The material that the MultiPuzzle is built of is, once again, food safe and free of hazardous stuff.

Cons

  • Dogs with a naturally low attention span and minimum tolerance level, may lose interest and reject the idea of the whole thing, causing all that money you spent on it, going to waste. At least, now your cranky dog will appreciate to eat straight from the bowl and be thankful.

A level 3 puzzle game from Nina Ottosonthat is perfect for sluggish dogs. This puzzle game characterise 6 jackets that you put the dog treats in, push them back inside and twist the bone shaped lock in the opposite direction of unlocking it. The dog should be trained to twist back the locks in a way that would “unlock” the drawers where the treats were locked away.

The drawers are positioned on the outside of the Nina Ottoson Dog Casino Interactive.

Pros

  • Dog Casino Interactive teaches your dog to learn important to-do steps which has a specific sequence. This helps the dog align their cognitive functioning and sharpens it.
  • This is used by the dog training facilities where the dogs are trained as special Training dogs for K-9 units or other investigative and law based agencies. In such facilities, the dogs are assigned important tasks for which different obstacles have to be solved.

Cons

    Now that we have a hefty list of the Best Puzzle Toys for your German Shepherds or any dog of whichever breed, let’s answer a few quick questions that you may have been nagging you all the while that you have been reading this.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the best way to introduce your dog to the treat based puzzle toys?

    Keep it simple. Because your pooch is going to be new to this world of complications based eating, make sure the first puzzle toys are absolutely beginner level. This whole new idea if food puzzle should be entertaining for the dog, not daunting.

    What is the best way to use dog food puzzles when you have multiple pets at home.?

    Givethem equal rights ! This one is a no brainer. No single pet should have to worry about fighting for any morsel.

    Dog puzzles are not only the for dogs’ enjoyment.The cats, for example,love them too. The pets should each have food puzzles of their own and in case they have their eyes set on the other’s, separate them. Put them in different rooms or sections of the house, if you have to.

    What are the best treat puzzle games for your dog friend?

    Well, the entire article is about answering this very question. Please read on and make the best choice based on your dog’s likings and disliking, and of course your wallet. Happy shopping !

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