Does your dog chew things up when you’re not looking? Does he whine and bark all day, driving you and your neighbors crazy? Or, does he follow you from room to room, begging for attention? Boredom busters for dogs are toys that are specifically designed to keep your dog occupied and mentally stimulated, allowing you the freedom you need to go about your day.
To help pet parents looking for safe ways to keep their dogs busy, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite boredom busters for dogs, proven to take your dog from bored to ready for a nap in no time! After all, a tired dog is a well-behaved dog. 😉
When compiling our list, we looked at several factors as we searched for the best boredom busters. Size differentiation, price, availability for use indoors and out, as well as how consumers rated each product, were all taken into account as we brought together these top products for you. Hopefully, this list will be a helpful tool in finding the perfect boredom buster for your best friend!
By filling the hollow center of this durable toy with a variety of treats you can increase the mental challenge presented to your dog. Dog kibble or training treats offer an easy task while Kong Ziggie’s or small bully sticks take longer to wiggle free. Need something a bit more challenging for your pup to figure out? Freeze the treats in dog safe (check the label for artificial sweeteners) peanut butter the night before!
Playay IQ Treat Ball
When it comes to boredom busters for dogs, this toy is genius! It has durable, rubber teeth to hold treats and kibble in hard to reach places so your dog has to work to get his reward. While your dog chomps away at hidden kibble, the IQ Ball carries out the second function of cleaning his teeth! A boredom buster that keeps your dog busy while fighting dental disease? Sign us up!
StarMark Everlasting Treat Ball
This treat ball’s unique design provides a long-lasting chewing challenge for the most hyperactive canines. By placing Everlasting Treats in a variety of places, you can switch up the level of difficulty for your dog.
The charm of the Tug-A-Jug is its recurring difficulty. By blocking a durable bottle with a knotted rope, your dog must nudge and toss the Tug-A-Jug to get its kibble. This design helps slow each feeding while it stimulates your dog’s foraging instincts as they scrounge for loose kibble.
This toy helps scratch that foraging itch and keeps your dog mentally stimulated with its hide and seek design. The fabric acts as grass to hide loose bits of food that your dog must then sniff out. Velcro attachments on the bottom of each mat leave room for expansion to increase the level of challenge as needed.
StarMark Bob-A-Lot
The Bob-A-Lot is a boredom buster for dogs that can be used easily with treats and meals. The adjustable inner and outer openings can be used to increase how hard it is for your dog to shake treats out of the roller, as well as help you change the pace to keep your dog guessing.
Trixie Mad Scientist, Level 2
The Trixie Level 2 is an interactive treat game for dogs that need a little bit more of a challenge. Three beakers, that your dog can rotate, deposit treats once they are tipped over far enough. The toy comes with two different tops that can be mixed and matched to add more of a challenge.
Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel Plush Puzzle
This boredom buster is perfect for any avid hunter. These cute, squeaky, little squirrels tease a dog’s basic prey instincts with a plush version of hide and seek. Simply stuff the squirrels into their hideaway, and your dog will have a blast ‘hunting’ the plush animals!
Ethical Pets Seek-a-Treat Flip ’N Slide
If your dog is more of an intermediate gamer, then the Flip ‘N Slide puzzle could be the perfect game for you! With a variety of flip and slide covers to stash treats under this puzzle shaped game keeps your dog guessing. The game also has the ability to connect to different Seek-a-Treat puzzle pieces for larger challenges.
Indoor Tether Tug or Outdoor Tether Tug
Though simple in design the Indoor Tether Tug is the perfect boredom buster for dogs! The Indoor Tether Tug works by placing a metal plate underneath a heavy piece of furniture before letting your dog tug away at the attached toy for hours on end. The flexible pole fights back against your determined hound, impersonating a playmate who is tugging back! The only drawback is that the Indoor Tether Tug is for dogs under thirty pounds, but this problem is fixed with the Outdoor Tether Tug, which can withstand dogs that weigh one hundred pounds!
ifetch Small or ifetch too Large
What dog doesn’t love a game of fetch? And what dog owner doesn’t love an automatic fetch machine? The ifetch and ifetch too are two automatic fetch machines that you can train your dog to use to play fetch by themselves! Pet owners can adjust the range of the ball throw so each machine can be used indoors and out for double the fun!
Tumbo Tugger Large or Tumbo Tugger Small
This boredom buster is great for those dog owners who have fenced-in yards. The Tumbo Tugger is a hanging bungee toy that attaches to a deck post or tree limb and allows your dog to play a solo game of tug-of-war outside. The Tumbo Tugger comes in both small and large sizes, so all types of dog breeds can enjoy their own personal bungee toy!
For more creative ways to keep your dog entertained, be sure to read 13 Ways to Occupy Your Working Dog While You’re Away.
