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(Last Updated On: 15th February 2023)Smart toys can keep your dog busy while you are at work or away for long periods of time and are great for the dog. Self-entertaining dog toys that challenge them can range from puzzles to electronic dog toys that provide them with endless fun.
One of the best self-entertaining dog toys is the StarMark Bob-A-Lot Interactive Dog Toy that exercises and feeds your dog treats at the same time. The dog will learn how to flick the dog toy in order for the treat to dispense.
Dogs are naturally curious creatures, and interactive toys can give them an opportunity to exercise that curiosity and be fun and challenging for them all at the same time.
Table of Contents
Best Challenging Dog Toys
Smart Toy | Type | Our Rating |
---|---|---|
StarMark Bob-A-Lot | Treat Dispenser | 4.9 |
Trixie Flip Board | Puzzle | 4.8 |
Nina Ottosson | Puzzle | 4.9 |
Petstages | Treat Dispenser | 4.3 |
SNiFFiz SmellyMatty Snuffle Mat | Snuffle Mat/Puzzle | 4.4 |
Smart toys for dogs come in all shapes and sizes but the best buys are ones that are interactive and actually challenge them. In order to get the dog to fully interact, they need to be rewarded and the best way to do this is with a treat.
Puzzle dog toys are very popular and involve a wide array of challenges. You know your pet the best of anyone, so choose a toy that will challenge but not frustrate them.
StarMark Bob A Lot Interactive Dog Toy
The StarMark Bob A Lot is an inexpensive smart toy for your dog that dispenses food once they knock it over with a certain amount of power. It’s ideal for all breeds and sizes of dogs and will keep them entertained for hours.
The Bob-A-Lot is weighted at the base with a non-slip rubber material. This has the wobbling effect that encourages your dog to play more and also enables food to fall out of the hole.
This treat dispensing toy comes in two sizes, large and small. The food exit on the toy can be adjusted to narrow the opening, making the toy a bit more challenging.
Overall, it’s a low-cost interactive dog toy that can provide exercise and fun for your playful pet. For this reason, it’s the best cheap smart toy for dogs and offers great value for money.
Trixie Pet Products Dog Flipboard
The Trixie Pet Product dog puzzle is a smart toy for dogs that is made sturdy plastic that can take the use your dog will give it
It is very similar to the other smart dog toy puzzles where you will place food in a section and the dog needs to find it and remove the block. As soon as they see this toy, they will automatically be wagging their tails with delight.
Treats in this toy will be under cones or sliding disks to give your pet a bit of a challenge. This toy is easily cleaned with soap and water.
Nina Ottosson Interactive Doy Toy Puzzle
The dog puzzle created by Nina Ottosson is very popular, has a fun design and 9 treat pegs for your dog to interact with. It’s made from a solid wood construction with a medium level of difficulty for dogs.
To play the game, you will first need to put a treat in each of the blocks and then watch the dog move them around to find the treat. It is one of the best dog games for interacting and the puzzle can give your pet the mental stimulation they need.
The Nina Ottosson Interactive Doy Toy Puzzle is a very high-quality self-entertaining toy that will surely be a favorite for your dog.
Tennis Ball Treat-Dispensing Chew Toy by Petstages
The Petstages Orka tennis ball for dogs is a smart toy that dispenses treats as the ball rolls around. The ball itself is made using a durable soft rubber that can be chewed by dogs and is non-toxic.
This ball will dispense treats whether you are tossing it for your pet, or if they roll it around themselves. This means you are able to take the Petstages smart toy anywhere with you from dog walking to indoors.
This smart toy for dogs is one of the best dog balls for interacting with your dog. It will trigger the dog’s mind to know that this is the ball that food will come out of and that they can shake it to encourage a treat to be discharged.
SNiFFiz SmellyMatty Snuffle Mat
If you really want to test your dog, you can get a snuffle mat. There are many hiding places food treats that helps train your dogs sniffing, and makes looking for food interactive and fun.
Once they have an idea of which hiding spot the food is in, they must attempt to open it up.
The SmellyMatty comes with 5 puzzle toys that you can adjust the level of difficulty offering mental stimulation and enrichment and can be used for dogs of any size and age.
Smart Toys For Your Dog Buying Guide
Smart toys for your dog are a great way to keep your pet entertained and challenged, and dogs love fun, interactive toys.
When choosing a smart toy for your pet, consider the age of your dog. Puppy’s love playing with just about anything but do not yet have the intelligence level that is needed to master some of the more complex toys. You want this to be fun, not frustrating for your pet so choose a toy according to their ability level.
Choose the smart toy according to your dog’s size, too. A Rottweiler is going to need a larger, stronger toy than a Dachshund. One breed will be more of a gentle chewer than the other. A teething puppy will also need something that does not hurt their gums.
Smart toys for your dog are a great way to keep your pet entertained and challenged, and dogs love fun, interactive toys.
Consider, too, your dog’s temperament. Some dogs are highly energetic and love toys that squeak, have flashing lights or sounds. Other pets may be sensitive to loud sounds or fast-moving toys and will shy away from ones that startle them.
Watch your dog as they play and get an idea of their preferences before purchasing a smart toy so that you will get one that will suit their personality.
Look at what the toy is made from, as you will want a toy that is easily cleaned when needed. Some smart interactive toys can be placed in the dishwasher for cleaning.
Training To Make Your Dog Smarter
Overall, dogs are smart and curious animals. Some breeds of dogs are inclined to be more intelligent than others, but any dog can be taught to use the talents they possess.
Some easy ways to keep your pet mentally challenged is by exposing them to new things and giving them the right amount of daily exercise.
Whenever your dog plays with an interactive smart toy, you are providing them with a mental challenge. Swap out the toys periodically or get more challenging ones as your pet “learns” the toys.
Working on new tricks or commands for your dog gives them the opportunity to use their minds and energy. This helps to keep them sharp and always learning.
Take your dog with you whenever you can, whether it is running errands, to the mailbox or around the block. This gives your dog a change of pace and a variety of stimulation that they don’t receive at home on the couch.
Know what your breed of dog is good at and give them an outlet for that talent. Retrievers will love to play fetch and labs will go for a swim any day of the week. You can incorporate this with what you like to do, too. A run or a game of tennis where they fetch the ball can be fun for both of you.
Which Dog Breed Is The Smartest
Roughly, there are three types of dog intelligence. The first is “instinctive” intelligence which focuses on what the dog has been bred by humans to do. The second type of intelligence is “adaptive” which is how well the dog learns from the environment that it is in to solve problems. “Work and obedience” is the third form of intelligence that indicates how willing the dog is to please its owner and to do its job.
The dog’s ability and desire to effectively communicate, through barking, actions and movement, that it understands its owners actions and commands is indicative of this intelligence.
According to Stanely Cohen who wrote The Intelligence of Dogs, most dogs can understand about 160 words. Dogs tend to be attentive, responsive and actually care about communicating with their owner.
These are the top five dog breeds that show a high level of intelligence:
Border Collie
When using the 131 ranked list of dog breeds in Stanley Cohen’s book, the Border Collie ranks as one of the smartest breeds. One especially smart Border Collie was able to recognize over 1000 words. These dogs need lots of mental and physical simulation.
- Height: 18 to 22 inches
- Weight: 30 to 55 lbs
- Life expectancy: 12 to 15 years
Poodle
Poodles are readily trainable and love to be challenged. They are good at agility sports, tracking and obedience work. In the past, Poodles were used in wartime to deliver supplies to soldiers on the battlefield.
- Height: 15 inches to 22 inches
- Weight: 50 to 70 lbs
- Life expectancy: 10 to 18 years
German Shepherd
Some shepherds can learn a new command on the first introduction of the command. They have a high level of focus and a protective instinct. Shepherds also can evaluate situations and make a decision on the best course of action. This has made them valuable as service dogs and for work with law enforcement.
- Height: 22 to 26 inches
- Weight: 50 to 90 lbs.
- Life expectancy: 7 to 10 years
Golden Retriever
These dogs love to please and will usually act consistently in a variety of situations. This trait has made them great hunting retievers and on search-and-rescue operations. The Golden retriever tends to be a dependable and loyal companion that loves having a “job.”
- Height: 21 to 24 inches
- Weight: 55 to 70 lbs
- Life expectancy: 10 to 12 years
Doberman Pinscher
Speed, stamina and a fearless nature makes thse dogs ideal as guard dogs. They can be quite gentle and readily trainable as they are always up for a challenge.
- Height: 24 to 28 inches
- Weight: 60 to 100 lbs
- Life expectancy: 10 to 12 years
In Conclusion
As a dog owner, you love your pooch and want to provide them with items that stimulate their curiosity and give them the opportunity to use skills that hone their intelligence.
Interactive smart toys for dogs can do just that and give your dog the fun and rewards that they crave.
Ian is an avid outdoorsman and dog lover. He lives in Central Florida with his wife Heather, and their 2 dogs – Panda (Purebread Rough Collie X English Golden Retriever) & Kuma (Blue Merl Purebread Rough Collie)