Canines generally love brain stimulation and challenges. Treat dispensing toys and dog puzzle toys mostly make your dog work with the toy before getting a tasty reward. The only difference between them is that puzzle games are to be used in your presence to help you and your dog achieve goals together, whereas treat-dispensing toys do not require supervision.
Having your dog work a little bit for their food is quite interesting to them, more than having them eat straight out of a bowl. Dogs like to get their hunting and pawning instincts turned on. It is not possible to spend every time of the day with your dog. However, having the best treat dispensing toys gives your dog something to do as you indulge in other tasks. In this article, we highlight some of the best options available on the market and other considerations on the dog treat-dispensing toys.
Best Treat Dispensing Dog Toys
Best Overall | Best Budget | Best For Extreme Chewer |
|---|---|---|
  |   |   |
1. Kong Wobbler Treat Dispensing Dog Toys – Best Overall
The Kong wobbler has a special ability to entertain and feed your dog simultaneously. In this Kong Wobbler review, we focus on what sets the toy apart. The toy has a great design with a hollow center for storing dry food similar to the kong classic dog toy. It has more weight at the base to ensure the toy stays upright. There is a hole at the front for dispensing treats in small bits as the dog wobbles and rolls around with it. The toy is easy to refill as it involves screwing the parts open and putting the treat in, before closing it. Finally, you are good to go. Your dog will surely enjoy chasing and pawing on this toy to get food and treats out. This toy will provide important mental stimulation and slowing down the dog's eating.
What we like
- Very easy to refill
- Rolls and stands itself upright, and hence entices your dog to play
- Does not litter the environment
- Active and highly interactive
What we did not like
- Makes noise when rolling
- The noise may mislead your dog to think there is food even when there is none
2. Ourpets IQ Treat Ball Interactive Dispensing Dog Toy – Best Budget
The toy from Ourpets is one of the best dog treat balls. It is a great toy for promoting a healthy lifestyle for your pet. It combines the features of a mentally stimulating puzzle game and easy refilling features of a treat-dispensing toy. The ball can be dissembled for a refill or cleaning. Once filled, you can use an adjustable disc in the interior to set the desired difficulty level that suits your dog's learning stage. Treats are visible from one side of the ball. The sides are transparent and rattle around to entice your pup. Your dog should continue playing with this toy until all the treats fall out. Due to its round shape, it rolls around a lot, giving your dog the much-needed workout. It is particularly efficient for a lazy overweight pup.
What we like
- Easy to refill and clean
- Adjustable difficulty level that is operable by adjusting the size of the opening
- Has a transparent side which lets your dog know there is food from the outside
- A round shape which rolls around enough to give your dog some exercise
What we did not like
- Made of a hard plastic material which is loud on floors
- Can be destroyed by a powerful dog
3. Kong Natural Rubber Extreme Dog Toy – Best for an Extreme Chewer
If your dog is a vigorous chewer and you are worried that ordinary toys will not do, then Kong Extreme dog toy is your ultimate solution. Kong Extreme is highly durable and can withstand even the most extreme and vigorous chewers. It is designed tough enough for serious chewing without yielding. The toy has a tire design which quite fun for your dog with food and treats held inside to keep your pup busy and entertained for hours. Even when the tire is empty, your dog will still enjoy chasing and rolling around with it. The treats are visible from the outside to entice and keep your dog’s interest. Emptying the tire is quite difficult and will pose a good challenge to your dog for some time.
What we like
- A tire design that is interesting to your dog
- Transparent surface to entice your dog with visible treats
- It is multi-purpose for feeding, tug toying, and playing fetch
- Toughened to accommodate vigorous chewers
- Cleans and stimulates teeth and gums
What we did not like
- Clever and determined pups easily access the treats
4. Starmark Treat Dispensing Chew Ball
This is an extremely durable chew toy for dogs. Starmark treats dispensing chew ball is perfect, particularly when you want to feed your dog a wholesome meal. It is an active toy that keeps your dog busy exercising as they work for food and other special treats. The ball has a large capacity that can accommodate up to a cupful of food, keeping your dog busy for long hours without the food running out. It is designed with prongs and a funnel. The funnel enables easy loading but leaves it still extremely challenging for the dog to make the kibble come out. The ball bounces around and floats on the water, giving your dog more excitement.
What we like
- It is bouncy and active, hence provides your dog with a lot of exercises
- Easy to refill but still quite challenging for the pup to empty
- Large capacity
- Soft and does not make noise during playtime
What we do not like
- It is green and may, therefore, get lost in the grass
5. Starmark Bob-A-Lot Interactive Dog Food Dispenser Toy
This sturdy toy is tough and can withstand a considerable amount of chewing. It is among the best of interactive dog treat toys for a destructive pup. The toy has two different food compartments with each having an independent adjustment knob for varying difficulty levels. Refilling this toy is easy as you only have to adjust a slot at the top of the bottom compartment and load it. Set the difficulty level and head to the top compartment. After loading the top compartment, set its difficulty level and close the lid by screwing on the top compartment. The treats will then be falling through the slots as the dog paws on it. The design is weighted at the bottom to ensure that the toy stays upright, preventing the treats from rolling over and spilling.
What we like
- It has two independent compartments with separate adjustment knobs to keep your dog occupied for hours
- Weighted bottom ensures the toy does not roll over and litter the house
- Loading is simple due to the compartment design
- It is tough and sturdy to withstand some level of extreme chewing
What we did not like
- Determined chewers can eventually tear it apart
- Made of a tough plastic which is hard and noisy on floors
6. Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball
This interactive dog treat dog is designed to keep your dog occupied and entertained. As the canines run around rolling and collecting the treats that have been dispensed, they get adequate exercise and also slow down their feeding. It is made with durable but yet soft vinyl material, making it quiet and gentle on collision with surfaces. Simply insert your dog’s favorite treat on the ball. As the dog plays and rolls the ball around, the treats get dispensed. The ball has dimples of different sizes which enable the ball to wobble as it rolls and entices your dog to play some more. The ball comes in three different sizes i.e. small, medium, and large. Therefore, you can choose the size that best suits your dog.
What we like
- Difficulty levels can be adjusted by varying the size of the treats you load on the ball
- Has a textured soft vinyl surface which is easy to grip
- It is quite affordable
What we did not like
- It rolls everywhere, leaving treats all over the place.
Benefits- Why Give Your Dog a Treat-Dispensing Toy?
Treat dispensing toys have a lot of benefits to your dog. They have a special way of keeping your dog occupied for very long hours. The treats satisfy their pawing instincts and urge and provide your dog with mental stimulation. These toys can keep your dog busy and allow you time to engage in other activities without constant interruptions from your dog. They are also important in giving your dog much-needed exercise. The toys also make your canine friend have to work for their food and hence maintain a healthy lifestyle for your dog.
Considerations - Buy an Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Toy
One of the basic considerations is the type of toy you want for your dog. Interactive toys come in different types, features, and operation procedures.
Size is an important factor to consider. Your dog’s mouth should be the reference point for the right toy size. You should not go for a toy that is too large for your dog to grip. Conversely, a toy that is too small may be swallowed and lead to choking.
Age, health condition, and your dog’s preferences are all key factors to consider before settling on the perfect interactive treat-dispensing toy for your pup.
How to Make a DIY Dog Treat Dispenser?
Making a homemade treat dispenser is quite simple. There are numerous directions you can take. It is possible to make an incredible toy using readily available items around your home. The most efficient material you can use is an empty plastic container such as a water bottle. All you have to do is remove stickers from the container and wash it thoroughly with water. Use a knife to puncture a small hole on the side for the treats to be falling through. Load the container with your dog’s favorite treat and close the cap. Demonstrate to your dog how to get the treats out and you are good to go.
Dog Treat Dispenser Training – How to Train a Dog?
Dogs are generally explorers and like to explore everything with their nose and mouth curiously. It is easier to train food toys to a puppy than a grown dog because puppies tend to be more curious than adults. First, you have to use high value treats to encourage and entice your dog to engage the toy. Demonstrate how to get food dispensed to your dog until it knows how to do it for itself. You can start with a simpler food dispensing toy, especially a transparent one where your dog will have a clear view of the treats to catch their attention.
Concluding Remarks
Having the best treat dispensing dog toys will spare you time, give you peace of mind, and bring a beneficial impact on your dog's general health and well-being. So, try to get the right one by means. Even if your first try does not work out, you can always move to another option until you find the perfect one.
Leave a Reply