[Elizabeth_grace]

Hi everyone!
We brought home our golden boy, Kona, yesterday. Kona is 8 weeks old, and has already mastered his first puzzle!
The puzzle in question:

https://www.chewy.com/nina-ottosson-by-outward-hound-puppy/dp/175429?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12651121862&utm_content=Nina%20Ottosson&utm_term=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIn4vlgZ_Z_QIVMERyCh15hQmwEAQYASABEgI_TPD_BwE

It is clear that he loves this kind of activity, so we are looking for recommendations that are appropriate for a young puppy!

 

[ScoutTheGolden]

Cardboard is your best friend here! If he swallows a little, no big deal, and puppy can chew it (or tear it up) without you needing to worry.
My favorites:

• empty cardboard Egg Cartons: put kibble in where the eggs were, and close the lid. If this gets too easy for puppy, tape the lid closed. (Blue painter's tape is my go-to, but duct tape and packing tape work too).
• Toilet Paper/Paper Towel rolls: pinch one end closed, fill with kibble, pinch other end closed. Can mix peanut butter with kibble to make it stick the the tube if you need to make it harder, and can mix with peanut butter, pumpkin, wet food, yogurt, etc and freeze if you need to make it much harder. Similar to stuffing a Kong
• Not cardboard, but Kongs are the best! there's lots of videos on Youtube of ways to occupy your dog with one.
• Cardboard boxes: put puppy's dinner in a box and tape it closed. You'd be surprised at how long this takes them to tear a hole big enough to get their head in to the food.

These are puzzles I still use with my 3yr old, but a puppy can manage them, especially if you make them easy at first. You can look up mental enrichment for puppies for more ideas... I find more stuff all the time!

 

[GoldenRetieverL0ver08]

My puppy can figure every puzzle toy out. The first puzzle toy he figured how to flip it, he loves his kong and its just enough to occupy him. Then he loves bully sticks to. I got him a tricky feeder and he figured it out right away. I have tried the cardboard toilet paper rolls he figured them out, but i used a empty shoe box and he sst there for 30 minutes trying to get the treats out!

 

[bitsybama]

West Paw makes some good treat-dispensing toys if you’d also be into that (not necessarily a puzzle, but piques curiousity). I prefer the West Paw ones because they are made of a soft rubber that is quieter when it’s rolling around on the floor. The CLANKITY CLANK SMACK noises of the hard plastic ones drove me bonkers.

This one is a fave in our household. We got two that fit into each other and make one unit.

 

[Ginams]

My three love their snuffle mats. They’re a great part of the puzzle feeder rotation if you find one that is washable.

 

[GoldenRetieverL0ver08]

My three love their snuffle mats. They’re a great part of the puzzle feeder rotation if you find one that is washable.

I made my own snuffle mat all they do it fling it in the air and i use it for their meal times so food goes flying.