I'm trying to find some type of toy to mentally stimulate Jasper and keep him from getting bored on days where it's horrible weather or when he's left alone. I've tried a Kong and Nylabones and he hates both, I've decided he hates chewing on rubber because if I stuff a hollow  femur bone he goes nuts for it (weird dog lol). However he loves batting his antlers/bones across the floor and chasing them and trying to get them when they slide under furniture so I'm thinking he'd like a type of puzzle toy since he wouldn't actually be chewing on the rubber like in a Kong.

As of right now, I'm debating between a puzzle toy similar in concept to this one

a Kong wobbler


or a treat dispensing ball similar to this one


I'm open to any more suggestions anyone else may have
I'm leaning towards a Kong wobbler so if anyone has had any experience with this I'd love your input!

I have the Kong Wobbler, and the orange ball and I like them both. If you are going to be doing a real puzzle toy, then look for one that really hard. Because I've bought puzzle toy after puzzle toy, that I think is going to be pretty difficult and they figure it out so fast its a waste of money. So if possible don't buy the cheap puzzle toys and go for the more complex expensive ones because it will save you money in the long run, because they are way to smart!

Oh, and I do like the wobbler better than the ball because for convenience reasons its easier to get the food out of the wobbler!

I have the first one and the last one there, and have seen the wobbler used at our store.
My opinions/experience with them:

The puzzle is a cool idea, only really takes them a second and once they have it figured out they can do it pretty quick. Some dogs also just grab and shake it haha. Korra did it properly a few times, but then chewed the doors (and ONLY the doors/hinges on it)..I think so I couldn't close them and it made the game way easier for her. (She has also gotten her cone off before and chewed and spit out the little plastic clips so I couldn't secure it. The rest was untouched, smartass.)

The Wobbler is nice as a slow feeder but, again once they have it figured out that's that.

Same with the ball.

One thing I will say is it's really good to switch it up so they don't get stuck in the mindset of only rolling/lifting panels/batting things to get treats. This happened to Korra when se was little because I only owned the omega ball.

Hope that helps a little, on my phone so sorry for any possible typos.

Also, just my opinion on the really fancy expensive puzzle balls, some may disagree. Don't waste the cash for the stupid price of plastic. Yes, some dogs will really work at it. With huskies I've found that, like the cheap ones they remember how to work it as soon as they do it once. OR, especially with my little one, if it's too hard they get frustrated and will just leave it (or restort to the lab tactic or shaking all the pieces off).

Thanks for your input!
Yeah that's what I was thinking about anything extremely hard because I've seen him just destroy toys to get the squeakers out. But then again I don't think I'll get anything too easy cause he is a husky and we al l know how quickly the figure things out haha!

I'd agree with all the comments here.  The puzzles are far too easy.  The wobblers work great as slow food dispensers.  You can get some better use by adding a treat that barely fits out the hole so they really have to work at it.

One addition to the list is this

I usually fold up a rawhide and jam it inside the ball.  It makes the rawhides last 3-4 times longer.

ChillyBeach wrote:

I'd agree with all the comments here.  The puzzles are far too easy.  The wobblers work great as slow food dispensers.  You can get some better use by adding a treat that barely fits out the hole so they really have to work at it.

One addition to the list is this

I usually fold up a rawhide and jam it inside the ball.  It makes the rawhides last 3-4 times longer.

I think I also saw something like this on pPntrest, where they would put scraps of fleece frabric or a t-shirt (if your dog doesn't eat that of course) and would stuff a bunch of strips into the ball with super yummy treats inside and they have to find them all while taking the strips out or something like that. I haven't tried it yet, because I would only be able to do it with one dog, but it seems like that could be exhausting for them.

I've been eyeing this one on Amazon for a while now. Not sure how difficult it would be but it looks relatively challenging, and Layla's still a puppy so it might take her a little longer to get it ... or not, since she's shown she is pretty smart already! What does everyone else think?
Ethical Pet Seek-a-Treat Shuffle Bone Puzzle

This one also looks somewhat challenging ...
Ethical Pet Seek-a-Treat Flip 'n' Flap Dog Puzzle

Gotta love pinterest, so many good doggy ideas!

ChillyBeach wrote:

I usually fold up a rawhide and jam it inside the ball.  It makes the rawhides last 3-4 times longer.

I've never considered stuffing a hollow ball like that. I've been stuck on the idea that it has to be kibble or small treats, but that would definitely work for Jasper since he loves rawhide more than anything and it gets sticky when wet so I'm betting it'll be even harder to get out.

capellalayla wrote:

I've been eyeing this one on Amazon for a while now. Not sure how difficult it would be but it looks relatively challenging, and Layla's still a puppy so it might take her a little longer to get it ... or not, since she's shown she is pretty smart already! What does everyone else think?
Ethical Pet Seek-a-Treat Shuffle Bone Puzzle

This one also looks somewhat challenging ...
Ethical Pet Seek-a-Treat Flip 'n' Flap Dog Puzzle

I haven't bought any puzzle toys yet, but just from looking at the pics I'd say go with the second one. Huskies are super smart and even as a puppy I think they'd figure out the first one easy.

I have a feeling Layla may find the Flip 'n' Flap Dog Puzzle toy under our Christmas tree or in her stocking this year ...

capellalayla wrote:

I have a feeling Layla may find the Flip 'n' Flap Dog Puzzle toy under our Christmas tree or in her stocking this year ...

I'm too impatient to see him play to wait til christmas  


Also I wanted to update in case anyone else has this dilemma and comes across this thread, I bought the Kong Wobbler today and after about 20 minutes of trying to chew his way through the thing it's a huge hit. He just spent and hour batting it around getting his supper out and now he's pooped. Best toy investment yet I believe  

Wobblers are fun. I have a regular small Kong and usually have it in the freezer filled with a mixture of Layla's regular dry food, hot dog pieces and Red Barn and peanut butter covering each end. It usually lasts a good 30 to 40 minutes before she either gets tired of it or has licked it clean. Today she did the latter!

Glad to hear the Kong Wobbler is such a hit for you!

I have the hollee roller ball, and will put a bully stick or himalyan through it which keeps her occupied for a little bit. I also have this ball that I will sometimes put her dinner in that works pretty well for occupying her.

nichole.1990 wrote:

capellalayla wrote:

I have a feeling Layla may find the Flip 'n' Flap Dog Puzzle toy under our Christmas tree or in her stocking this year ...

I'm too impatient to see him play to wait til christmas  


Also I wanted to update in case anyone else has this dilemma and comes across this thread, I bought the Kong Wobbler today and after about 20 minutes of trying to chew his way through the thing it's a huge hit. He just spent and hour batting it around getting his supper out and now he's pooped. Best toy investment yet I believe  

If you haven't been already, or have a fast eater. Put him meals in the wobbler. That way it prolongs dinner, and it tires them out! We do dinner a lot of the times, so it takes some of his evening energy out of him.

Thanks for the tip! Will definitely try tonight

I've had all 3, and here are my opinions.

1. Jax figured out it would be much faster to pick up the entire toy and flip it over to get everything out. Fail. 0/10
2. The wobbler worked really well for about a month, but he figured out he could bite at the opening to enlarge it. Food came out much quicker. 5/10
3. The ball works pretty well. He's got it down to about 20 minutes of rolling it around constantly before all of the kibble is out. Only pain is getting the food into the thing. 6/10


I've got several more, and but they dont last or work too well. This will be my next big purchase i think.
http://www.nina-ottosson.com/MixMax-Puzzle-for-dogs.php

Wow, I would be worried about me being smart enough to get the food in it much less Kenzi being able to get it out. I would love to get her some puzzles, but she has no patience to actually fool with something that might take her more than a few minutes. She just walks off if it's too hard. Quitter.

LittleHouse wrote:

I've had all 3, and here are my opinions.

1. Jax figured out it would be much faster to pick up the entire toy and flip it over to get everything out. Fail. 0/10
2. The wobbler worked really well for about a month, but he figured out he could bite at the opening to enlarge it.  Food came out much quicker. 5/10
3. The ball works pretty well.  He's got it down to about 20 minutes of rolling it around constantly before all of the kibble is out.  Only pain is getting the food into the thing. 6/10


I've got several more, and but they dont last or work too well.  This will be my next big purchase i think.
http://www.nina-ottosson.com/MixMax-Puzzle-for-dogs.php

Yeah we tried the puzzle after, and like you said he just flipped the whole thing to get the food out haha. Wobbler has been going good so far, he's figured it out but it still usually takes him a half hour to get all the kibble out.

I have the Kong Wobbler. It took him about 40 minutes to figure it out, he just smacks it around with his paw. It really only works for his kibble, anything larger than that gets stuck.

I'm looking into getting the Kong Satellite for his Christmas present, I read a lot of reviews and everybody seems to like how difficult (and durable) it is.



I guess, if you wanted to make it harder for your dog, you can paint or put something over the transparent top so they can't see the treats moving around inside.

i bought the treat wheel today. my puppy eats really really fast and i decided to go ahead and instead of buying the slow feeder bowl i would just feed her out of a treat puzzle thingy. i'm sure she'll figure it out fast but it'll slow her down a little bit while eating hopefully so she doesn't get bloat or something can't wait to use it at her next meal