Are you looking for the best intelligence toy? With such a toy, you can mentally stimulate and engage your dog. We tested 5 intelligence toys for this review, incorporating expert opinions. The results are now revealed to you 🙂

Our Top Picks

[table id=27 cache_table_output=false /]

Buying Guide

Dogs naturally engage with intelligence toys. They’re playful, curious, and clever. They love to search and find things.

It’s no wonder that the police or drug enforcement agencies use them. After all, they possess a keen and superbly developed sense of smell.

An appropriate toy for playtime keeps your dog mentally fit. Additionally, it allows them to indulge their hunting instincts while playing. Your furry friend will greatly enjoy mentally engaging and unfolding.

Therefore, you don’t need to constantly change their toys. They’ll want to keep it around. This way, they won’t lose their touch.

Unfortunately, many dog ​​owners approach with false expectations. They feel especially disappointed when their pet immediately figures out the intelligence toy. However, that’s usually normal.

Dogs are very creative and always find solutions. However, the goal is actually to have them use multiple solutions. This way, they train their creativity.

What to consider with an intelligence toy. You’ll learn about that in the following 3 points:

1. How does an intelligence toy work?

How it works depends on the model.

The possibilities are very diverse, with different objects coming into play:

These various elements are combined in an intelligence toy.

Goal: Show your dog how to get his reward.

Some exercises may be quite simple. Others, on the other hand, can be very challenging. Through regular repetitions, your dog learns to efficiently access his snacks.

Important: Don’t overtrain him, but do it consciously. Quality is more important here. This way, you strengthen the bond with your furry friend.

The intelligence toy has the advantage that you can mentally stimulate him. You also foster the relationship with him. You have a good pastime and playmate in bad weather.

Your dog may be a bit frustrated at first attempts. So accompany him. Until he becomes more independent.

You may be wondering why you need dog toys. After all, your pet should be outside and play there.

Certainly, that’s not wrong. However, you also have to train his mind. Out in nature, he’s only physically active.

Your dog loves to do smaller exercises. This way, he can use his nose and do a lot of mental work at the same time.

Here we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of mental stimulation:

2. Buying Criteria

The intelligence toy must suit you and your dog. Otherwise, it will miss its effectiveness.

Therefore, pay attention to the following criteria, which we have described in more detail below:

Construction

The intelligence toy should not only look visually appealing. Rather, it should function well and, if possible, be of high-quality construction. When making a purchase, ensure that it has no sharp edges, as otherwise, your dog could get injured.

Stability

Your furry friend will use the toys multiple times. They will move blocks, lids, and cones back and forth. Therefore, these objects must be able to withstand a lot. When making a purchase, ensure that your desired product is stable and robustly constructed. This way, it can withstand your four-legged friend’s bumps and nibbles.

Difficulty Level

An intelligence toy is sold in different difficulty levels, each defined by the manufacturer. In general, it can’t hurt to raise the difficulty level a bit. This way, your dog will always have enough activity. Alternatively, you can, of course, buy a second toy for playtime.

3. Which toy is suitable for my dog?

You want to delight your friend with the right product? Then you must first know how clever he is.

Unfortunately, there is no IQ test for animals. However, there are some exercises. With these, you can find out how smart he is.

Below, we’d like to show you some exercises. They will help you determine the right difficulty level:

Blanket Test:

For this test, you need a blanket. Your dog should already recognize it by smell.

Now let him sniff the blanket extensively. Then, loosely throw the blanket over his shoulders and head.

Have a stopwatch ready. Measure the time. How long does he take to shake off the blanket? If he takes less than 15 seconds, then he is very intelligent.

If he takes up to 60 seconds, you can classify his intelligence as normal. But if he takes over 60 seconds, then he is not so intelligent. However, it could also be that he is not motivated enough.

Furniture Test:

This test is not suitable for all dogs. Some simply do not react to this exercise. If your sweetheart shows no reaction, then he is very intelligent.

For this test, send him out of the room. It’s best to lock the door. Now, rearrange two or three pieces of furniture.

Call him in now and see where he goes. If he walks directly toward you, then he seems very obedient. At the same time, he doesn’t seem confused by the fact that certain pieces of furniture are in a different place.

A dog with a high level of comprehension would immediately recognize that something has changed. So he would go to the affected furniture first. Only then would he come to you.

Treat Test:

For this exercise, you need a few treats and a cup. Now, place your treat under the cup.

Let your furry friend watch. Give him the command to search for the treat.

Does your dog know that the treat is under the right cup? This indicates a very high intelligence. Does he walk around aimlessly? Then he is less intelligent.

In general, a very intelligent dog can remember things for a few seconds. If he’s not too intelligent, he’ll quickly forget what he saw.

A variation of this exercise is to place the treat without the cup further away.

Does he now walk directly to the treat? Or does he start sniffing first and find the snack some time later?

Product Reviews in Detail

🥇 Top Recommendation

This intelligence toy is something special. It is made of soft wood and is of high quality. Furthermore, it is very motivating for your dog. You play together, strengthening your bond. During the game, you have to put treats or other snacks into the openings, which you then cover with sliders.

Your dog’s task is now to lift the cones or open the sliding compartments with its nose or paws. This product is also suitable for dogs that are ill or older. With this intelligence toy, animal and human work closely together, greatly enhancing their bond. Furthermore, this product immensely promotes development.

Price Performance Recommendation

This game is excellent for smaller dogs. It is made of plastic and impresses with its strong price-performance ratio. It is a level 2 strategy game. Your dog must use various opening techniques to lift the cones. If successful, it will get its snacks. The product is also very easy to clean. You can simply put it in the dishwasher, saving you a lot of time.

Furthermore, the package includes instructions with many tips and tricks for playing. This way, you can start playing right away. While playing, your dog will discover many functions that will bring it great joy. So you’ll have a lot of fun at home during rainy days.

Snuffle Mat

With its 10 different hiding places, the XXL dog snuffle blanket offers your dog many new challenges and a lot of fun.

The 3 different difficulty levels ensure that your dog is always newly motivated and challenged.

Dog experts recommend search games to promote your dog’s hunting instinct and nose work.
The XXL snuffle mat is suitable for small and large dogs and can easily be cleaned in the washing machine at 30° when needed.

The Ball

This Pet IQ Treat Ball has a special tumbler design that helps increase your dog’s IQ and slow down eating. You can also use it as a treat dispenser and fill the adjustable container with treats or dry food. It is perfect for small and medium-sized dogs but not suitable for large dogs. The high-quality materials are safe for all pets and easy to clean. The top lid can be easily unscrewed to clean the food ball and refill food.

2 in 1 Alternative

The toy is a strategy game aimed at beginners. Your dog must try to reach its reward with its paw or nose. The special labyrinth shape prevents gulping, allowing you to use the toy for daily feeding as well. The toy is easy to clean and can be washed in the dishwasher.

Conclusion

Your dog is more than just a pet – he is your loyal companion and best friend. And what could be better than stimulating and engaging him mentally? Intelligence toys are perfect for this purpose!

Your dog will be delighted to figure out how to get his reward, and the more he plays with it, the more skillful and clever he will become. The many different elements like cups, lids, and drawers ensure that the toy remains exciting.

And the best part: Intelligence toys are suitable for dogs of all ages, even for sick dogs. With this great toy, you can strengthen your bond with your dog and provide him with meaningful entertainment, especially when the weather outside isn’t cooperative.

Of course, it may be frustrating at first if your dog doesn’t understand how the toy works, but with a little support, he will quickly learn and become more independent.

So what are you waiting for? Let your dog unleash his mental abilities, and you’ll have an unforgettable time full of fun and adventure together!

Frequently Asked Questions

Which manufacturers are there?

Here is a list of manufacturers and brands:

Has Consumer Reports already conducted a test?

Consumer Reports has not yet conducted a test for intelligence toys. Nothing has been found in the English-speaking area regarding this.

How do I get my dog to play?

You have to constantly enthuse your dog for the intelligence toy. He will not engage with this object on his own. If you just place it there and wait for something to happen.

You should rather give him some tips and accompany him in the first exercises.

What to do if my dog quickly finds the solution?

If you have a very intelligent dog, easy toys may not challenge him. Therefore, you should try a higher difficulty level.

But if he is average intelligence, he will surely find the solution faster. That’s not a problem.

He always has a certain challenge because he will try to become even more efficient and faster. This, in turn, challenges his mental abilities.

Are there special toys for large dogs?

The majority of toys are lying on the floor and simply need to be solved.

But a large dog will have problems constantly bending his head down. If he is large, you certainly do not want him to forego mental exercises.

Intelligence toys for large dogs are built vertically instead of horizontally.

A clear example is a toy consisting of rotating tubes. Your furry friend does not have to constantly bend down here.

A good tip is to buy several toys. This guarantees him successful variety. There is no boredom, and he has to prove his skills anew each time.

Does an intelligence toy make my dog smarter?

In short: Yes, it makes him smarter.

He can train his intelligence and thinking through the many repetitions and variations.

Dogs are much more intelligent than we think. Even if they mostly just look cute and frolic in the meadow.

Where do I buy an intelligence toy for my dog?

You can get the suitable product in a pet store. But there are also many good online shops.

The prices are usually lower there. You also don’t have to go to a store separately. You save a lot of time and can buy the product directly at home.