Last Monday I wrote how puzzle toys, like the BUSTERActivityMat by Kruuse, are a great way to keep your senior dog’s mind healthy. While puzzle toys are great for senior dogs, many of you pointed out that they are also a wonderful way to keep your puppy or adult dog active as well. I agree that it is never too late to start engaging your dog’s mind with these types of games.
The BUSTER ActivityMat can be used by all ages and breed of dog. I like it for Oz, and Terriers in general, because it allows for safe “digging” action with its softer material. Whenever Oz tries to “dig” at a plastic puzzle toy I get nervous that he will hurt his paw but there are no worries with the ActivityMat. Oz does also use his nose and his mouth to open the task and recently he has figured out how to lift the entire mat and give it a rightful Terrier shakedown to get the treats out. He has a blast with this toy!
One commenter on last week’s post asked “How was Oz the first time you tried the mat and do you have any tips for helping beginner level dogs figure it out?” It seems he bought the BUSTER ActivityMat for his dog but his dog didn’t really get it. To the commenter I first want to say, don’t worry…some dogs take a bit longer to get into puzzle toys than others.
The BUSTER ActivityMat is Oz’s third or fourth puzzle toy, so introducing him to it was quite easy but here are some tips I have learned along the way for introducing a new puzzle toy to your dog.
6 Tips to Introduce BUSTER ActivityMat to Your Dog
1. It is important to use “stinky” treats! When introducing Oz to new toys, I always use treats made from fish because the strong aroma makes them easier to find. My favorite treats to use are Bravo Bonus Bites Freeze-Dried Salmon, the Honest Kitchen Quickies Icelandic haddock, Dr. Harvey’s le dogue bites freeze-dried Fish and HALO Liv-a-Littles Salmon.
2. Let your dog watch you hide the treats in the toy from a sit-stay. If your dog comes out of the sit-stay, put him/her back into that position until you are finished hiding all the treats. When you are done hiding the treats, give your dog one of the treats as a reward for waiting (and to whet his/her appetite).
3. Place a treat in every compartment! When introducing any new puzzle toy, I always place one treat in every available compartment. Why? Because I never know which compartment will be the first one opened by Oz and I want that first attempt to have a reward.
4. Be excited and use commands your dog already knows to assist in solving the task. I use “Find it”, “Get it”, “Good boy” and a high five when playing puzzle toys – Oz knows these commands from other games we play like Hide ‘n Seek and Tug-of-War.
5. Don’t be afraid to play and find the treats yourself! Yes, I play with Oz’s toy and sometimes I find the treat and I get to keep it (of course, I save it for hiding the next time around). It is great for bonding as well as showing your dog how to solve the puzzle.
6. Don’t get frustrated. Some dogs are just better than others at figuring out a puzzle. It is important to remember that puzzle toys are FUN! It doesn’t matter if your dog needs help solving the puzzle. What matters is that you are working on it together.
My friends at Kruuse were so happy with everyone’s response on last week’s post that they are offering one (1) lucky Oz the Terrier reader a chance to win a BUSTER ActivityMat for their dog. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents until Sunday, May 22 at 11:59 PM EST. Good luck!
What a great toy...I is sending Mum to Pets R Pups tonight to see if she can find one fur me!
ReplyDeleteLoves and licky kisses
Princess Leah xxx
We've used many of those methods for getting our dogs to play with their puzzle toys. I think our treats need to be stinkier though.
ReplyDeleteI like this activity mat very much... but the mama is afraid I could use it the wrong way and it ends as a jigsaw mat :o)
ReplyDeletethat sounds like a great puzzle for a doggie that is on restricted exercise too - gotta keep that brain busy
ReplyDeleteKali needs a hyperactivity mat.
ReplyDeleteTHOSE are EXCELLENT suggestions fur how to introduce the new puzzle toy !!!
ReplyDeleteI put in some tasty treats and then *I* play with it very excitedly in front of her to catch her interest.
ReplyDeleteI put in some tasty treats and then *I* play with it very excitedly in front of her to catch her interest.
ReplyDeleteI haven't really tried any puzzle toys for my dogs, but I think they are ready for them. I think I would give them each a treat first and then put some of that same treat in the puzzle toy. I would probably have to work with them one at a time (don't want any fights over the puzzle toy or the treats, not to mention being able to keep their attention better).
ReplyDeleteHaving a Shetland Sheepdog I am blessed that I don't have to do much. They are in the top percentile for intelligence and Dakota has been known to figure a puzzle out within 30 seconds. Would love to see if that is the case with this one. DakotasDen
ReplyDeleteNow that is one fine K9 activity mat!!
ReplyDeleteI have a much smaller activity kitty mat with fun stuff like fevvers, mices stuck in pockes and a curly string that bounces back when you pull at it.
Hugs madi your bfff
Great suggestions for introducing a new puzzle toy. We try to help our dog figure out new puzzle toys too.
ReplyDeleteThose are great tips! With multiple dogs, it's harder to use toys like this, but I always just separate them and let them each get a chance to try it out on their own. I'll sometimes open compartments just a little bit to help them to catch on, but I think using stinky treats is an even better idea.
ReplyDeleteJan, Wag 'n Woof Pets
Oh my dawg I wanna win. I love toys like this
ReplyDeleteLily (& Edward)
Thanks for the lesson on how to get dogs to play with toys.
ReplyDeleteIf I put a new toy into a gift bag, my dog will beg for it. Come Christmas time, she thinks all the gift bags belong to her and will try and get into them!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like fun, Oz!
ReplyDeleteCammie!
We had to physically show our foster dog how to do the wobbler about a dozen times before he got the hang of it.
ReplyDeleteWhat great suggestions! We're going to be talking about cat puzzles next week, and we never thought about showing a cat how to solve the puzzle if they weren't "getting" it at first. It makes a lot of sense!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a really great interactive toy. We have never had an activity may before but I think it would be perfect for Charlie! Great tips on introducing it to your dog!
ReplyDeleteThese are great tips, what a fun puzzle toy!
ReplyDeleteI've never tried an activity toy like this with my dog. She's an intelligent rescue so we do play other type games. They are constantly evolving because she learns so quickly.
ReplyDelete"Find it" is my favorite word in the whole wide world! I love to show off finding treats - the "stinkier" the better!
ReplyDeleteLove and licks,
Cupcake
I tell him to "look" then I add treats to the toy and let him check it out. He catches on quick and he likes puzzles.
ReplyDeleteThank Cod our activity is napping! :) Good luck to the woofies!
ReplyDeleteI usually let them see me hide the treats and then I sit on the floor with them while they inspect it. It is always fun to play with them.
ReplyDeletei just give my dog a new puzzle and she usually has it figured out before I would.. shes pretty clever
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool mat! When using our puzzle toy I sit on the floor with it, let my dog inspect it, hide the treats and tell her to find it. It took her some time to learn but she really thinks it's fun. I think she would love this mat!
ReplyDeleteMy dogs are used to interactive toys so don't need much of an introduction. But I do usually start at the easiest option and work up.
ReplyDeleteI have never tried a puzzle with my dog. I think she would love it. I'd probably introduce it to her with some hidden treats.
ReplyDelete