14 boredom busting toys to keep dogs busy

If your furry friend suffers from separation anxiety, they're prone to destructive behaviors while you're out and occupied, or you simply want to find ways to get those canine brains ticking, how about you find a few stimulating dog toys? Having toys to keep dogs busy to hand is ideal for keeping your pooch physically, emotionally and mentally satisfied as you go about your day. Puzzle toys, plush toys, even an interactive dog toy can offer a little bit of extra fun to their day with dog play.

They're also super handy for reducing stress in dogs, or to calm their nerves in new situations. Meeting new people (no matter how much they love pets) can sometimes take a little getting used to for our furry friends. So, have a few interactive dog toys to hand when you next welcome a pet sitter to make the meet, greet and transition smooth, keeping your pup calm and collected in the process.

So naturally, we've collected a variety of stimulating dog toys that'll help to sharpen your pup's senses and keep them on their paws while you're on your. From heavy chewers to plush toy pooches, we've found the top tail toys that are budget friendly and ideal for rainy days.

14 toys to keep dogs busy

1. Kong spiral treat dispenser
2. Floppy fish interactive dog toy
3. Nina Ottosson dog puzzle - advanced challenge slider toy
4. Kong ballistic hide and treat toy
5. Sheepskin chaser tug
6. Starmark bob-a-lot interactive dog toy
7. Vivifying snuffle mat
8. Wilko interactive paw search and reward toy
9. Intelligent escaping toy
10. Rubber chew balls
11. Guu mushroom enrichment dog toy
12. Dadiy automatic ball launcher
13. Igloo house hide and seek toy
14. Nyidpsz Carrot Snuffle Mat

Kong spiral treat dispenser

If you’re a well seasoned pet parent, you’ve probably heard of Kong dog toys before - designing toys to keep dogs busy, it’s no surprise that they’ve pulled another corker with this spiral treat dispensing dog toy. Tapping into your pup’s natural foraging instincts, the toy rolls along the floor, encouraging your pup to follow and get those treats out, one way or another. The treats provide the reward (so that your pup doesn’t simply become frustrated) and the unpredictable movements of the spiral keeps your pup on their paws - perfect if you’re under the weather and can’t play, or you simply need something to keep them busy while you pop out.

Floppy fish interactive dog toy

If you’re after toys to keep dogs busy, look no further than this (rather comical) floppy fish. Its ability to keep your pup entertained is certainly no joke though - allowing for hours of fun, the fish ‘flops’ when it senses your pup touching it. Designed with your pup’s energy levels in mind, the contact motion sensor matches your dog’s energy (i.e the force and speed in which they’re touching the fish) with its flopping speed. And when your pup backs off? Well the fish flops no more, holding still until approached once again. Simply charge up with a USB between sessions, and your flopping fish is ready to go for hours more fun. And if a floppy fish doesn’t get your tail wagging, don’t worry - a floppy lobster is on the market, too.

Nina Ottosson dog puzzle - advanced challenge slider toy

If the world of canine interactive puzzle toys is one you know your way around, then you’ve probably got Nina Ottosson dog puzzles on your toy radar. Designing stimulating dog toys and dog brain games to provide intellectual stimulation while busting boredom, this advanced slider puzzle is no different. If your pooch has been through a puzzle toy or two in their time and you’re looking to step up their puzzle-busting know-how, give this slider toy a go - it’ll have noses twitching, tails wagging, and mail carriers totally ignored in no time.

Kong ballistic hide and treat toy

If you’re after something seriously durable that provides mental stimulation toys for dogs and keeps them busy while you are, simply stuff this little number with their favorite snacks and voila! Your pooch is occupied for as long as the treats stay hidden.

Sheepskin chaser tug

If it’s mentally and physically stimulating dog toys you’re looking for, then maybe a chaser tug will keep your pup on their paws. Designed to tap into your dog’s chase drive, you can entice them towards you both indoors or outdoors, so it’s ideal if you’re after a runaround yourself or you’re not able to get out for walkies. While it’s a fab toy for keeping dogs busy with minimal effort from pet parents, it can also be used for recall training, as your pooch is likely to find the fluffy end a whole lot more interesting than other distractions around them. Plus, if you’ve welcomed a nervous pooch or you’ve got a puppy, the long handle means they can play from a distance - ideal for getting to know pet sitters and new pet parents from a distance they feel comfortable with.

Starmark bob-a-lot interactive dog toy

We all know that nothing motivates our furry friends more than food, so if you’re after stimulating dog toys, then it’s probably going to involve treats in some way! This bob-a-lot toy will get your pup’s brain ticking if you’re otherwise occupied, keeping them calm, and avoiding stress and destructive behaviors.

Vivifying snuffle mat

It’s no news to us pet people that snuffle mats are seriously stimulating dog toys - waking up those foraging and hunting instincts, they’re a fab way to wake up your pup’s brain and of course, keep them busy for long periods of time. Simply hide treats throughout the mat and get your pup’s brain ticking and their nose twitching. To keep things interesting (as let’s face it, no matter how interactive dog toys are, sometimes our clever fluffy friends can still get bored), simply pull the drawstrings to create a new shape.

Wilko interactive paw search and reward toy

For toys to keep dogs busy on a budget, this interactive paw for search and reward is the ideal dog treat puzzle to keep your pooch happy and entertained. Reducing stress and increasing mental stimulation, enrichment toys for dogs like this are ideal if you need your pup to keep quiet during work meetings or to settle their nerves when you leave them alone for short periods of time. Simply fill the compartments with their favorite kibble or treats, and they’ll soon (but not too soon!) be sniffing them out for a well-earned reward.

Intelligent escaping toy

If you liked the idea of the floppy fish, this is one seriously stimulating dog toy that not only moves but escapes when it senses motion. Yup, something your pup can chase while you’re busy working, helping to keep them physically and mentally stimulated. It’s sure to get tails wagging and minds ticking - darting off when it senses your pup approaching, it activates your pup’s chase and stalk instincts in a safe and secure way.

Rubber chew balls

If you’re after toys for bored dogs, invest in a chew toy (or three) to keep dogs busy while you are. A great way to keep their teeth clean and stimulate your pup’s brain, they’re also seriously satisfying to have a chew on (so we’ve heard). Plus, these chew balls dispense treats which will keep your pooch interested, two-fold.

Guu mushroom enrichment dog toy

This is one rather stylish and smart dog toy - designed in the shape of an adorable button mushroom, your pooch is challenged to hunt out the rewards hidden in the button’s slit pockets. With its rounded shape, this little mushroom simply won’t keep still, which adds to your pup’s challenge in getting their paws on that hidden kibble! The plush fabric is nice and soft, so perfect for puppies, too.

Dadiy automatic ball launcher

Sometimes, you’re simply not feeling up to fetch, and you need something to keep your pooch happy while you sit and rest, watching them have the time of their lives, darting up and down your drive! So if you’re after toys to keep dogs busy, this automatic ball launcher will keep your pup occupied until they’re in need of a nap! Once your pooch has dropped the tennis ball back into the top, the launcher dispenses a treat which makes it so much easier for them to learn the rules.

Igloo house hide and seek toy

It wouldn’t be a blog on dog toys if we didn’t mention at least one hide and seek toy to keep dogs busy! They’re found in shapes, sizes and themes of all kinds (we’ve seen squirrels, avocados, you name it), but this cute design is an igloo house, where you can hide penguins and polar bears in its soft interior.

Nyidpsz Carrot Snuffle Mat 

We’re loving this snuffle mat’s cute carrot design, but something we love even more about this feeder puzzle for dogs is that it’s also suitable for our friends of the feline persuasion! Yup, if cats also make up your furry family, this game might be a great way to get your canine and feline pals to bond.

Stimulating dog toys: the benefits

• Keeps them busy. If you need to pop out for short periods of time and taking your pup is a no-go, then toys can keep them busy while you’re out. While it’s certainly no long term fix and pups should never be left alone for hours and hours on end, they are a great way to make sure your pooch is happy for a short time alone.
• Curbs separation anxiety. Being left alone can be disconcerting for our pooch pals, so providing a variety of stimulating dog toys distracts them from worry and the realization that they’re alone.
• Tires them out. Did you know that mentally stimulating your pup tires them out, just as walkies around the dog park does? While toys will never be a substitute for exercise, they are a fab way to make sure your pooch is spending their energy on something intellectually stimulating and fun, rather than anxiety or stress while you’re out.
• Encourages independence. Playing with stimulating dog toys helps your pup to learn that playing alone can be fun, which is a great way to avoid raising an anxious dog. Pups who realize they’re safe alone will be happier when the time come to entertain themselves.
• Avoids destructive behaviors. Chewing furniture and ripping up the nearest footwear are signs of boredom, frustration and serious anxiety in dogs. So by leaving out an array of stimulating dog toys, you’re helping to reduce their stress, boredom and worry levels to the point where destructive behaviors have no place.

Learn how to make your own stimulating dog toys in our step by step guide to DIY dog toys!

Or how about these dog treat dispensers?

As we’ve established, our furry friends are seriously motivated by food (like, seriously). So for more ways to keep your pup busy and happy while you’re out and occupied, check out these dog treat dispensers.