Golden retrievers crave the attention and company of humans and other dogs. They are fun, playful creatures that like to be involved in engaging activities. They don’t like to sit around in the corner all by themselves, doing nothing. So, if you have to leave your golden retriever alone at home for hours on end, you can probably imagine how bored it may feel. Interactive games, like puzzles and fun toys, can help alleviate this boredom and give your dog some mental stimulation.
In a Hurry? Here are Our Top Choices
Image | Title | Buy |
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Top![]() | Outward Hound Hide-A-Hedgie Puzzle Plush Interactive Dog Toy – Plush Hide and Seek Activity - Strong Durable Fluffy | Check Today's Price |
![]() | OurPets IQ Treat Ball Interactive Food Dispensing Dog Toy , Assorted Colors | Check Today's Price |
![]() | PetSafe Busy Buddy Tug-A-Jug Meal-Dispensing Dog Toy Use with Kibble or Treats | Check Today's Price |
![]() | Outward Hound Nina Ottosson Puzzle Toy for Dogs - Stimulating Interactive Dog Game for Dispensing Treats | Check Today's Price |
![]() | Trixie Mad Scientist for Dogs, Level 2 | Check Today's Price |
The 5 Best Puzzle and Boredom Toys for Golden Retrievers
This blog post reviews the best puzzle and boredom toys for golden retrievers that every golden retriever owner should consider getting if they have to leave their golden retrievers by themselves for extended periods of time.
1. Outward Hound Interactive Puzzle Toy
- HIDE & SQUEAK FUN: Fill the Hide A Hedgie dog activity puzzle tree trunk with Hedgiez stuffed dog toys and let your dog sniff, hunt and fetch them.
- CUTE ANIMAL PLUSH: The Hide & Squeak dog puzzle game comes with two hedgehogs with hidden squeakers your dog won’t be able to resist!
- CHALLENGING PUZZLE: An attached trunk top makes it trickier for your dog to remove the plush stuffed toys from their home. Watch as your dog learns to nuzzle its way in to reach the prize!
- BOREDOM BUSTER: Bored dogs can become chewers – however indestructible your home. This hide and seek game challenges your dog’s brain, keeping bored dogs occupied for hours!
- INTERACTIVE PLAY: Great for solo play, this plush squeaky dog toy puzzle is also ideal for interactive dog games with you – get your pet to retrieve the stuffed Hedgiez, and start again!
Say goodbye to hide and seek and say hello to the new game in town – hide and squeak by Outward Hound. This is a fun puzzle game that will keep your goldie busy for hours. The game features a stuffed tree trunk with squishy squirrels in the body of the trunk. Your golden retriever will have to pull the squirrels out one by one. Keep stuffing them back in and watch your pet fetch them again and again.
This boredom-buster is available in three major sizes – small, large, and extra-large, making it the perfect boredom toy for puppies as well as older dogs.
Pros
- Provides mental stimulation to pets
- Fun, challenging game
- Made from soft, squishy material
- Available in three sizes
Cons
- Excessive chewing might cause the toy to tear
2. OurPets IQ Treat Ball
- MENTALLY STIMULATE YOUR DOG: This food-dispensing dog toy keeps dogs mentally and physically active while they play. Available in two sizes – 3 inches for smaller dogs and 4 inches for larger dogs.
- CUSTOMIZABLE IQ TREAT BALL: Your furry friend gets smarter as they play with this interactive dog toy ball, learning how to roll the ball to get treats to fall out. Adjust the desired difficulty level using the ball’s adjustable interior disc.
- EASY TO USE AND CLEAN: Our interactive treat dispensing dog toys conveniently uses your dogs favorite dry treats or kibble. It is made from hard plastic that disassembles for easy cleaning. Rinse in warm soapy water and dry after use.
- PROLONGED PLAY: This dog treat dispensing ball is designed to limit the amount of treats your dog gets while encouraging more extended playtime. Supervised play recommended.
- SLOWER HEALTHIER FEEDING: Slower active eating with this dog treat dispensing ball reduces bloating and helps digestion.
OurPets IQ Treat Ball is a puzzle game made for smarter dogs like golden retrievers. To encourage your pet to play with this puzzle, you need to fill the ball with kibble or some other treats. Your dog will have to roll the ball around and figure out the best way to get it to dispense the treats. As your dog gets smarter and finds it easier to get at the treats, you can tighten the ball to make it more difficult for your golden retriever.
Made from hard plastic, the ball is incredibly sturdy and can withstand rough and tough play. It also comes with a customizable interior disc that allows you to tighten or loosen the ball to adjust the difficulty level of this puzzle toy. Plus, cleaning the toy becomes a lot easier since the ball can easily twist apart.
Pros
- Promotes active feeding and a healthy lifestyle
- Made from strong, non-toxic plastic
- A customizable IQ ball
- Easy to use and clean
- Mentally stimulating for dogs of all ages
Cons
- Small dogs may get their mouths stuck in the treat dispenser’s opening
3. PetSafe Tug-A-Jug Meal-Dispensing Dog Toy
- SUSTAINED PLAY: Interactive dog toy provides multi-sensory stimulation to keep your pet engaged for longer
- LONG-LASTING: Durable non-toxic materials withstand prolonged use
- PROMOTES DENTAL HEALTH: Textured natural rubber wrap cleans teeth and gums
- EXTEND MEALTIME: Perfect for overly eager eaters; use as a kibble-dispensing feeder to make dinnertime fun while encouraging a better meal pace for your dog
- ADD TREATS, ADD FUN: Add a variety of tasty treats (sold separately) for hours of fun
- SIZE INFORMATION: For dogs weighing over 40 lb.
- HERE TO HELP: Call, email, or chat with our expert U.S.-based customer care specialists Monday through Saturday at 1-800-845-3274 or [email protected]; they are ready to assist you and your pet
- EXPERIENCE: PetSafe has been an industry leading U.S. manufacturer of pet behavior, containment and lifestyle products since 1991, helping millions of people and pets each year
If you’re looking for one of the best puzzle and boredom toys for golden retrievers, then the Tug-A-Jug Meal-Dispensing Dog Toy is a toy that you need to consider. The toy is made from a long-lasting, non-toxic material that can withstand prolonged use. The sustainable plastic bottle comes with a rubber wrap that slides up and down with ease. As an added bonus, it’s made from nubs and braided with cotton ropes, all of which promote the dental health of your dog.
What makes this toy one of the best puzzle and boredom toys for golden retrievers, you ask? Well, you can fill this toy with your pet’s favorite treats, and your golden retriever will have to figure out how tugging on the rope can cause the toy to release the treats. Not only is this great mental stimulation for your dog, but it also encourages healthy eating habits.
Pros
- Promotes multi-sensory stimulation
- Made from durable and non-toxic components
- Promotes canine dental health
- Available in three sizes – extra small, small, and medium/large
- Fun and enjoyable
Cons
- Only small treats can fit through the neck of the toy
4. Hide and Slide Puzzle
- CHALLENGING DOG PUZZLE: The interactive Hide N Slide dog puzzle toy is an entertaining and engaging dog treat dispenser toy that will exercise your dog’s mind and strengthen the dog/owner bond.
- REAL WOOD APPEAL: Made to look like real wood, the dog treat puzzle toy is a unique composite material, making the durable dog toy tough and easy to clean – a must for any dog toy box.
- NO REMOVABLE PARTS: Built so play pieces don’t come out when your dog plays. This puzzle feeder dog toy stays intact, making it your new go-to dog enrichment toy.
- HOW TO PLAY: Place dog treats in the dog activity toy’s blocks and compartments. Swivel flippers to cover the food puzzle’s tracks and lock the spinning top. Let the dog games begin!
- INTERACTIVE FUN: Nina Ottosson Dog Puzzle Games are smart, stimulating, and challenging for your dog’s brain. Place the dog board game on the floor and encourage your pet to seek treats.
This puzzle and boredom toy for golden retrievers will help keep your dog mentally stimulated for a long time. The invigorating puzzle features sliding blocks and flippers with hidden compartments that store treats for the dog. When your pet manages to open up one of these hidden compartments, they’re rewarded with their favorite treats.
This dog puzzle is made from wood, which means that it’s sturdy and durable and withstand prolonged playtime. With seven different compartments, you can store different kinds of treats to keep your pet thoroughly entertained.
Pros
- Has no removable parts
- Made from real wood
- Fun and interactive
- Easy to clean
- Mentally stimulating puzzle
Cons
- Available in only one size
- May not be suitable for golden retriever pups
5. Trixie Mad Scientist Turn Around Interactive Dog Toy
- Set includes a base with frame and 3 beakers and 2 sets of patterned lids
- Step 1: place treats in beakers
- Step 2: leave lids off until flipping and then balancing beakers is mastered
- Step 3: place lids with patterned holes on beakers
- Step 4: mix and match lids for an added challenge
The Trixie Mad Scientist Turn Around Interactive Dog Toy is a toy that comes with three beakers and lids with holes. Each bottle is filled with small treats that your pet has to retrieve by flipping and balancing the bottle. With this game, you’ll get a chance to uncover the playful and intelligent side of your pet.
The set comes with a base and frames that are easy to set up. It also comes with a set of lids that can be mixed and matched to increase the difficulty level of the puzzle.
Pros
- Fun and tricky
- Best for playful, intelligent dogs
- Made from a non-slip rubber material that keeps the puzzle in place
- Comes with one year warranty
- Safe and reliable
Cons
- May not be suitable for golden retriever pups
What to Look for When Buying Puzzle Toys for Your Dog
1. Interactive and Challenging
A good puzzle and boredom toy for golden retrievers should be tricky and challenging enough to keep your goldie interested in it for extended periods of time. Because golden retrievers are clever and highly intelligent, a game that promotes their mental stimulation is the best option.
2. Durable and High Quality
Dogs love to chew and carry around their toys, which means that they’re eventually going to break down due to the extended wear and tear. If you want your golden’s puzzle and boredom toy to last for a long time, you need to ensure that it’s made with sturdy and durable materials. Also, ensure that the toy is safe to play with. The toy shouldn’t be made from toxic or hazardous materials.
3. Sets Up and Packs Up Easily
Look for a toy/puzzle that is easy to set up and pack away. Games that are hard to assemble may waste a lot of your time. Such games are also difficult to travel with. Therefore, it’s best to go for compact and portable puzzles/toys for your golden retriever.
Our Final Thoughts
Experts are of the view that mentally stimulating games are key to a dog’s happiness, and rightly so. Both indoor and outdoor games help keep your furry friend active. Various studies also show that less playtime leads to uncontrollable or destructive behavior. Therefore, every pet owner must consider keeping their pets engaged and mentally stimulated with various puzzles and boredom toys. Puzzles are highly recommended as they keep your pet mentally fit and stop the onset of boredom.
Image | Title | Buy |
---|---|---|
Top![]() | Outward Hound Hide-A-Hedgie Puzzle Plush Interactive Dog Toy – Plush Hide and Seek Activity - Strong Durable Fluffy | Check Today's Price |
![]() | OurPets IQ Treat Ball Interactive Food Dispensing Dog Toy , Assorted Colors | Check Today's Price |
![]() | PetSafe Busy Buddy Tug-A-Jug Meal-Dispensing Dog Toy Use with Kibble or Treats | Check Today's Price |
![]() | Outward Hound Nina Ottosson Puzzle Toy for Dogs - Stimulating Interactive Dog Game for Dispensing Treats | Check Today's Price |
![]() | Trixie Mad Scientist for Dogs, Level 2 | Check Today's Price |