If you want your pup to stay sharp and engaged, a mental stimulation toy is a perfect choice. Mental stimulation toys provide an interactive way of keeping your dog entertained, promoting problem-solving skills, boosting their confidence, and helping them become more independent thinkers.
With so many options now available on the market, it can be difficult to choose which is best for your pup. To make it easier, we’ve compiled a list of the eight best mental stimulation toys for dogs in 2022. Keep reading to find out which will be the perfect fit for your furry friend.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Frisco Volcano Hide & Seek Puzzle Plush Squeaky Dog Toy
Fun design
Budget-friendly
Suitable for dogs of all ages
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Best Value
fouFIT Mini Bumper Treat Dispensing Ball Dog Toy
Ideal for treat-rewards
Fun for chasing and fetching
Durable
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Premium Choice
iFetch iDig Stay Dog Toy
Suitable for breeds of all sizes
Can be used with small toys and treats
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Best for Puppies
Pet Zone Treat Dispenser
Adjustable difficulty for customized challenge
Treat reward is an added incentive
Durable plastic construction
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Potaroma Flopping Fish
Soft and durable material
Catnip and silvervine included
Keeps both cats and dogs entertained
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The 8 Best Mental Stimulation Toys for Dogs
If your dog is a heavy chewer, this toy might not be the best thing for them. You can buy plush replacements, but if your dog just destroys them, it will cost a lot overall.
Our choice for the best overall mental stimulation toy for your dog is Frisco’s Volcano Hide & Seek Puzzle Plush Squeaky Dog Toy. Hide-n-sneak is a fantastic way to get your dog excited and use its memory to find things. This volcano toy has several plush dinosaurs that squeak when gently chewed, encouraging play. And since the toys are made with soft material, they are easy on your dog’s teeth, whether puppies or seniors.
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Pros
Fun design
Budget-friendly
Suitable for dogs of all ages
Cons
Not suitable for dogs that like to chew and destroy
fouFIT Mini Bumper Treat Dispensing Ball Dog Toy also doubles as an ordinary chew toy for those times when your pup just needs some good ol’ fashioned distraction.
Fun design
Budget-friendly
Suitable for dogs of all ages
- Fun design
- Budget-friendly
- Suitable for dogs of all ages
Not suitable for dogs that like to chew and destroy
- Not suitable for dogs that like to chew and destroy
If your dog responds best to the treat-reward system, fouFIT Mini Bumper Treat Dispensing Ball Dog Toy is sure to be a hit. This interactive puzzle toy is designed to promote mental stimulation in your pup while they seek out treats or kibble inside. The durable material is designed to withstand rough play from the most active of dogs.
Pros
Ideal for treat-rewards
Fun for chasing and fetching
Durable
Cons
Snout shape may not be suitable for all breeds
Something to keep in mind, though, is if your dog gets a bit overexcited and is a heavy chewer, this toy might not last very long. Some people pointed out that it got ripped a bit easily when their dogs played roughly with it.
Ideal for treat-rewards
Fun for chasing and fetching
Durable
- Ideal for treat-rewards
- Fun for chasing and fetching
- Durable
Snout shape may not be suitable for all breeds
- Snout shape may not be suitable for all breeds
Does your dog like digging? Most dogs do! However, we really do not want them digging in our yards or gardens. If you want your dog to get out some energy by digging, we recommend the iFetch iDig Stay Dog Toy as our premium choice. This fabric toy has layers and pockets where you can hide some toys or treats and let your dog go nuts by digging around to find them. This encourages a healthy digging habit that will not destroy your property and provide a good time for your canine.
Pros
Suitable for breeds of all sizes
Can be used with small toys and treats
Cons
It’s pricey
The adjustable difficulty allows you to customize the level of challenge depending on your pup’s intelligence and skill levels while satisfying their natural instinct to hunt and forage.
Suitable for breeds of all sizes
Can be used with small toys and treats
- Suitable for breeds of all sizes
- Can be used with small toys and treats
It’s pricey
- It’s pricey
The Pet Zone IQ Treat Dispenser Ball is a great choice for dogs of all sizes. This interactive treat dispenser will keep your pup engaged and mentally stimulated as they paw and push the ball to get a treat reward from inside.
Constructed with a durable plastic material that is designed to withstand rough play, this toy will keep your pup entertained for hours. The treat dispenser ball comes apart easily, so you can wash it in the sink.
Pros
Adjustable difficulty for customized challenge
Treat reward is an added incentive
Durable plastic construction
Cons
Some dogs may get frustrated with the difficulty of getting treats out
- Potaroma Flopping Fish
Check Latest PriceIt moves. It chews. And it’s perfect for keeping your pup entertained with a variety of activities. Potaroma’s Flopping Fish is an interactive toy that charges via micro-USB. It comes with catnip and silvervine, so you might be misled to think this toy is solely for cats. While it’s certainly geared toward felines, the Flopping Fish does a really fine job of keeping Fido entertained, as well.
The toy is soft and durable, and the material is warm and comfortable, so your pup can chew on it or wait for its flopping movement to surprise them. The Flopping Fish is a great choice if you’re looking for an interactive toy that will keep your pup engaged and active. And if you happen to have any cats, the catnip and silvervine are sure to attract them. Just be ready to referee some disputes! Just avoid giving this toy to heavy chewers.
Adjustable difficulty for customized challenge
Treat reward is an added incentive
Durable plastic construction
- Adjustable difficulty for customized challenge
- Treat reward is an added incentive
- Durable plastic construction
Some dogs may get frustrated with the difficulty of getting treats out
- Some dogs may get frustrated with the difficulty of getting treats out
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It moves. It chews. And it’s perfect for keeping your pup entertained with a variety of activities. Potaroma’s Flopping Fish is an interactive toy that charges via micro-USB. It comes with catnip and silvervine, so you might be misled to think this toy is solely for cats. While it’s certainly geared toward felines, the Flopping Fish does a really fine job of keeping Fido entertained, as well.
Pros
Soft and durable material
Catnip and silvervine included
Keeps both cats and dogs entertained
Cons
Not suitable for heavy chewers
In short, KONG’s toys are virtually indestructible. So it only made sense that the company would create another version of its beloved ball toy, this time designed for canines that respond to treat-rewarding activities.
Soft and durable material
Catnip and silvervine included
Keeps both cats and dogs entertained
- Soft and durable material
- Catnip and silvervine included
- Keeps both cats and dogs entertained
Not suitable for heavy chewers
- Not suitable for heavy chewers
Most dog owners know that KONG ball toys are some of the most iconic and popular dog toys on the market. They’re strong, tough, durable, long-lasting, and perfect for dogs that like to chew and destroy things.
Simply fill the ball with dog paste and let your pup do the rest. They’ll lick, chew, and gnaw away at the tasty treat until it’s all gone. Not only is this toy a great way to keep your pup mentally stimulated, but it helps keep their teeth clean, thanks to the Denta-Ridges design.
Pros
Super durable and long-lasting
Works with or without treats
Cleans teeth
Cons
Treat paste sold separately
The pet-safe construction works via a simple button press—when your dog places its paw on it, a door slides open to reveal a treat.
Super durable and long-lasting
Works with or without treats
Cleans teeth
- Super durable and long-lasting
- Works with or without treats
- Cleans teeth
Treat paste sold separately
- Treat paste sold separately
Let’s be honest; most dogs find interest in things that involve food. Outward Hound’s Hide N Slide fulfills the latter, offering an interactive toy that gives out treats for dogs that can figure out the clever design.
It’s a great way to keep your pooch mentally stimulated and occupy its time. Plus, the Hide N Slide is nicely sized, measuring just under 12 x 12 inches. So there’s plenty of surface area for your dog to interact with.
Pros
Plenty of area to explore and interact with
Durable ABS plastic construction
Easy-to-use design
Cons
Only small treats accepted
Your pup needs to figure out how to turn each vial in order to reveal the treat inside. The challenging Level 2 game requires your pup to use their problem-solving skills to turn the vials in order to get their rewards.
Plenty of area to explore and interact with
Durable ABS plastic construction
Easy-to-use design
- Plenty of area to explore and interact with
- Durable ABS plastic construction
- Easy-to-use design
Only small treats accepted
- Only small treats accepted
This fun, interactive game is perfect for keeping your pup engaged and mentally stimulated. The TRIXIE Mad Scientist features three pet-safe vials with treats hidden inside them.
We like that the vials are blue, as that’s the color dogs see most clearly. This one’s a breeze to set up, so your pup can be playing in no time.
Pros
Challenge requires problem-solving skills
Blue vials are easy for dogs to see
Pet-safe materials and design
Cons
Might be too challenging for some dog
Buyer’s Guide for the Best Mental Stimulation Toys for Dogs
Mental stimulation toys for dogs can help keep your pup entertained and engaged while providing much-needed mental exercise. But it’s crucial to know what to look for in these toys. So before buying a mental stimulation toy for your canine companion, consider the following factors:
Challenge requires problem-solving skills
Blue vials are easy for dogs to see
Pet-safe materials and design
- Challenge requires problem-solving skills
- Blue vials are easy for dogs to see
- Pet-safe materials and design
Might be too challenging for some dog
- Might be too challenging for some dog
Your Dog’s Personality: Does your pup prefer to play alone or with other pets? Some toys are designed for solo play, while others encourage social interaction.
Size and Weight of Your Dog: Not all mental stimulation toys are suitable for all sizes of dogs. Make sure you select a toy that is appropriate for your dog’s size and weight.
Materials: Check the materials used to make the toy. Look for non-toxic, durable materials that are designed to stand up to your pet’s chewing and playing style.
Interactive Elements: Many mental stimulation toys offer interactive elements like treat dispensers, squeakers, or puzzles. Consider how your pup will respond to each of these features when selecting a toy for him.
Price Point: Mental stimulation toys come in a variety of price points, so make sure to shop around and compare prices.
Editor’s Note: All toys featured in this guide are non-toxic and pet-safe.
Your Dog’s Personality: Does your pup prefer to play alone or with other pets? Some toys are designed for solo play, while others encourage social interaction.
Size and Weight of Your Dog: Not all mental stimulation toys are suitable for all sizes of dogs. Make sure you select a toy that is appropriate for your dog’s size and weight.
Materials: Check the materials used to make the toy. Look for non-toxic, durable materials that are designed to stand up to your pet’s chewing and playing style.
Interactive Elements: Many mental stimulation toys offer interactive elements like treat dispensers, squeakers, or puzzles. Consider how your pup will respond to each of these features when selecting a toy for him.
Price Point: Mental stimulation toys come in a variety of price points, so make sure to shop around and compare prices.
- Your Dog’s Personality: Does your pup prefer to play alone or with other pets? Some toys are designed for solo play, while others encourage social interaction.
- Size and Weight of Your Dog: Not all mental stimulation toys are suitable for all sizes of dogs. Make sure you select a toy that is appropriate for your dog’s size and weight.
- Materials: Check the materials used to make the toy. Look for non-toxic, durable materials that are designed to stand up to your pet’s chewing and playing style.
- Interactive Elements: Many mental stimulation toys offer interactive elements like treat dispensers, squeakers, or puzzles. Consider how your pup will respond to each of these features when selecting a toy for him.
- Price Point: Mental stimulation toys come in a variety of price points, so make sure to shop around and compare prices.
Now that you know what to look for in a mental stimulation toy, you can be sure to invest in the most suitable one for your beloved pup.
Conclusion
We hope our top picks for 2022 helped you determine which mental stimulation toy you want to get for your dog.
Our top choice is Frisco’s Volcano Hide & Seek Puzzle Plush Squeaky Dog Toy. It is great for all dogs and helps encourage play. The fouFIT Mini Bumper Treat Dispensing Ball Dog Toy is a top budget-friendly choice for your pooch. And if you have a bit more money to spend, think about getting the iFetch iDig Stay Dog Toy. For the puppy-owners, we recommend Pet Zone IQ Treat Dispenser Ball because your pooch will love a toy that gives treats.
All these toys are designed for safety and provide plenty of mental stimulation—so there’s something for every budget!
Featured Image Credit: alexei_tm, Shutterstock
