Our Favorite Enrichment Toys Ranked by How Long They Actually Keep Dodo Busy

I timed exactly how long our favorite puzzle toys actually keep my puppy busy. Here are our honest rankings, from the quickest solve to the ultimate babysitter.

Maggie here. If you have a puppy, you know the drill. You sit down at your desk with a fresh cup of coffee, ready to tackle your inbox, and suddenly there are sharp little teeth on your ankle. Dodo, my mini chowdoodle (born December 2025), is a bundle of fluff, teeth, and endless energy. She is smart, stubborn, and constantly looking for a job to do. If I don't give her a job, she will invent one, and her chosen jobs usually involve shredding cardboard boxes or stealing my socks.

On the other end of the spectrum is Alice, my chow shepherd (born September 2016). Alice is a senior now. She is perfectly happy to snooze on the couch all day, occasionally opening one eye to judge Dodo’s frantic zooming. But just because Alice is older doesn't mean she doesn't need mental stimulation. Keeping a senior dog's brain sharp is just as important as keeping a puppy out of trouble.

I’ve spent an embarrassing amount of money on enrichment toys to buy myself some quiet time and keep both dogs happy. But I quickly realized that not all puzzles are created equal. Some are solved in thirty seconds, leaving me with a smug puppy asking for more. Others are so hard she just barks at them in frustration, which defeats the purpose of a quiet activity.

So, I decided to do a highly unscientific experiment. I timed exactly how long our favorite toys actually keep Dodo busy. I also tested them on Alice, because I wanted to see which ones hold up for a smart, older dog who prefers her snacks served with minimal physical effort.

Here are our honest rankings, from the quickest solve to the ultimate babysitter.

5. Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel XL

Time it keeps Dodo busy: 10 minutes of intense extraction, plus random squeaking throughout the day. Difficulty: Easy Mess factor: Low, unless your dog is a shredder.

This is a classic for a reason, and it was one of the first toys I bought for Dodo. The concept is simple: you stuff the little plush squeaky squirrels into the holes of a soft tree trunk, and your dog pulls them out. Dodo absolutely loves the satisfaction of ripping a squirrel out of its hiding spot. She will grab one by the tail, shake it vigorously, and then dive back in for the next one.

It doesn't take her long to empty the trunk—maybe ten minutes if I really pack them in tight and hide a few treats at the bottom. But the beauty of the Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel XL is the replay value. Once the squirrels are out, she runs around squeaking them for another half hour. It’s great for redirecting her when she gets bitey.

Alice’s take: Alice is nine. She does not care about plush squirrels. She will occasionally pick one up, give it a single squeak, and drop it, just to remind Dodo who is actually in charge of the house.

4. Treat Tumble

Time it keeps Dodo busy: 12 minutes Difficulty: Easy to Medium Mess factor: Medium (crumbs everywhere).

The Treat Tumble is a hard plastic ball with holes in it. You put kibble or small treats inside, and the dog has to roll it around to make the food fall out. It’s a very active toy. Dodo bats it around the living room like a soccer player, chasing it as it bounces off the baseboards.

It keeps her moving and thinking, but once she gets the hang of the angle, she empties it pretty fast. The main downside to this one is the noise. It is loud on hardwood floors. If you have downstairs neighbors, they will hate you. I only bring this out when I don't mind a little chaos in the background.

Alice’s take: Alice will push it exactly once with her nose. If food falls out, great. If not, she looks at me with deep disappointment until I walk over and dispense the food for her. She refuses to chase a plastic ball.

3. Nina Ottosson Dog Brick Level 2

Time it keeps Dodo busy: 15 minutes Difficulty: Medium Mess factor: Low, easy to wash.

This is where we get into actual puzzle territory. The Nina Ottosson Dog Brick Level 2 is a staple in our house. It has compartments to slide, lids to flip open, and removable plastic bones that hide even more treats.

The first time I gave this to Dodo, it took her twenty minutes and a lot of frustrated pawing. She tried to force the sliding pieces and chewed on the removable bones. Now that she knows the mechanics, she can clear it in about fifteen minutes. To make it last longer, I like to mix her kibble with a little water or plain yogurt, put it in the compartments, and freeze the whole puzzle. That easily doubles the time it takes her to finish.

Alice’s take: Alice is a pro at this one. She doesn't use her paws at all; she delicately uses her nose to flip the lids open and slide the blocks. She clears it in about three minutes, but she genuinely enjoys the process. It’s a great low-impact brain game for a senior dog who already knows all the tricks.

2. FOXMM Interactive Treat Puzzle

Time it keeps Dodo busy: 20 minutes Difficulty: Hard Mess factor: Low.

This one requires some serious brainpower and coordination. The FOXMM Interactive Treat Puzzle has multiple layers. The dog has to press a clear center button to release food into the outer ring, and then they have to slide the covers open to get the food.

Dodo did not understand the center button at first. I had to show her a few times by pressing it myself, and she still sometimes resorts to just whacking the entire toy with both paws until something falls out. But it holds a good amount of food—almost a full meal—and the two-step process definitely tires her out. It’s heavy enough that she can't easily flip it over, which is a huge plus.

Alice’s take: Alice figured out the button immediately, but she thinks pressing it repeatedly is manual labor and beneath her dignity. She will do it if I put high-value treats inside, but if it's just regular kibble, she walks away.

1. CHEWFFON Snuffle Sandwich

Time it keeps Dodo busy: 25 to 30 minutes Difficulty: Easy but time-consuming Mess factor: Low, and it's machine washable.

The absolute winner for engagement time isn't a hard plastic puzzle at all. It’s the CHEWFFON Snuffle Sandwich.

If you haven't used a snuffle toy before, you need one. Sniffing is incredibly tiring for dogs—ten minutes of intense sniffing is equivalent to a short walk. This toy is shaped like a giant sandwich and has so many little pockets, flaps, and layers of fleece to hide kibble in. I bury her entire breakfast in here, and she will spend nearly half an hour meticulously sniffing out every single piece.

It’s quiet, it doesn't bang against the walls, and it knocks her out for a solid nap right after. Plus, when it gets gross from dog slobber, I just throw it in the washing machine.

Alice’s take: Alice loves snuffle toys. She has a great nose, and since it doesn't require any physical exertion beyond breathing, it’s her favorite way to eat. I highly recommend this for older dogs who need mental enrichment without stressing their joints.

The Bottom Line

Finding the right enrichment toy is all about knowing your dog's play style and frustration tolerance. If you just want something quick and fun to redirect a bitey puppy, the Hide-A-Squirrel is a classic. If you want to challenge a smart dog who needs to use their brain, go for the FOXMM puzzle.

But if you need a solid half-hour of peace and quiet so you can take a Zoom call without a puppy attacking your toes, the Snuffle Sandwich is the best money you’ll spend.

Just remember to supervise your dogs with these, especially the plush ones. Dodo hasn't destroyed the snuffle sandwich yet, but I always put it away as soon as she finds the last piece of kibble so she doesn't start chewing on the fleece.

Bonus: The Woof Pupsicle

I started using the Woof Pupsicle recently and it deserves a mention here. It's a rubber ball that unscrews in the middle, so you drop a treat inside and your dog has to work to get it out through a small hole. The genius of it is how easy it is to clean — you just unscrew it, rinse, and refill. I've been freezing peanut butter and bone broth inside it for Dodo, and it keeps her busy for a solid 25-30 minutes depending on what I pack in there. It's quieter than the Treat Tumble on hardwood floors, which is a huge win for my sanity. Alice likes it too because she can hold it between her paws and lick at it without having to chase anything around the room.

Use code DODO for 15% off at mywoof.com.

What keeps your dog busy? Let me know if there’s a puzzle we need to try next.