Treat Toy for Dogs: Top Picks to Stop Boredom for Your dog!

Okay, so I've been trying to keep my super energetic Labrador, Buddy, entertained lately. He's a chewing machine, and I needed something to occupy him that wasn't my furniture! I decided to try making a "treat toy" – basically, a DIY puzzle to make him work for his snacks. Here's how it went down:

Gathering Supplies

First, I raided my recycling bin. I found an empty plastic water bottle and an old cardboard box that was about to be tossed. I also grabbed:

• Buddy's favorite small, dry treats (the ones that stink, you know?)
• A pair of scissors (kept those away from Buddy, obviously!)
• Some non-toxic glue, just in case.

Building the Bottle Treat Dispenser

This was super simple. I took the plastic bottle, made sure it was clean and dry, and then poked a few holes in it. The holes needed to be big enough for the treats to fall out sometimes, but not so big that they'd all spill out at once. It took a couple of tries to get the size right – I started small and made them a tiny bit bigger until a few treats would jiggle out with a good shake.

The Cardboard Challenge (Optional)

I wanted to make it a little more challenging, so I used the cardboard box. I basically cut some flaps and folded them in a way that created little compartments inside. I placed the treat-filled bottle inside one of these compartments and then loosely closed the box. The idea was that Buddy would have to figure out how to open the box AND THEN work on getting the treats out of the bottle.

The Test Run

Buddy was immediately interested. He sniffed at the box, then the bottle, and started pawing and nudging. It was hilarious to watch! He figured out how to get the box open pretty quickly (he's a smart cookie, even if he does eat socks sometimes). Then, the real fun began. He rolled the bottle around, batted at it, and eventually, the treats started to spill out. Success!

My Thoughts

It kept him busy for a good 20 minutes, which is a win in my book.

It was basically free to make, using stuff I already had.

I can easily refill the bottle or make a new one when this one gets too chewed up.

It was a little messy, with treat crumbs all over the place, but hey, that's what vacuums are for, right? If you've got a dog who loves to chew and needs a bit of mental stimulation, I definitely recommend giving this a try. It's a fun, cheap way to keep them entertained!