DIY dog puzzles: six brain games from things you already own

What it does for your dog

• Problem-solving that builds focus and confidence.
• Slows down meals.
• Costs nothing and uses things you already have.
• Easy to change, so the puzzle stays new.

Which dogs and situations it suits

DIY puzzles suit most food-motivated dogs. They are less suitable for dogs that eat non-food items, because the materials aren't chew-proof. For strong chewers, a commercial food puzzle toy designed for chewing is safer.

What you need

• A muffin tin and tennis balls (or similar balls too big to swallow)
• An empty plastic bottle with the lid and ring removed
• An old towel
• Cardboard boxes and egg cartons
• Your dog's dry food or small treats

How to do it

Preparation

1. Remove lids, labels, rings, tape and staples from anything you use.
2. Choose balls large enough that they can't be swallowed.
3. Measure food from your dog's daily ration.

Step by step

1. 1Muffin tin game: drop a treat into each cup and cover each one with a tennis ball. Your dog has to lift or nudge the balls to find the food.
2. 2Towel roll: lay a towel flat, scatter food on it, roll it up loosely and let your dog unroll it.
3. 3Bottle spinner: cut two or three treat-sized holes in a clean bottle, drop in dry food, and let your dog roll it around on a hard floor to make pieces fall out. Take it away once empty.
4. 4Egg carton surprise: put a treat in a few cups of an egg carton, close it and let them open it.
5. 5Box in a box: put a treat in a small box, put that box in a bigger box with scrunched paper, and let them work through both.
6. 6Cup and towel combo: treats under cups, all covered with a towel, so they solve two puzzles in one.

Make it easier or harder

Beginner version

• Leave some treats visible.
• Use only half the muffin tin cups.
• Roll towels very loosely.

Advanced variations

• Fill every muffin tin cup but put treats in only a few.
• Tie the towel in a loose knot.
• Nest three boxes.
• Combine puzzles in a sequence: solve one to reveal the next.

For puppies

Use the simplest versions and supervise closely, as puppies love to chew cardboard and plastic. Keep sessions short.

For senior dogs and dogs with mobility issues

Choose puzzles that don't need much pawing or pushing, such as the towel roll or a loose muffin tin, and put them on a non-slip surface.

Supervision and safety

• Always supervise and put puzzles away afterwards. They are not chew toys.
• Remove bottle lids, rings and labels; take bottles away once empty, before they get chewed into sharp pieces.
• Use balls too large to swallow.
• Don't let your dog eat cardboard or paper. If they start, swap to a different puzzle.
• Use part of the daily food ration.

Common mistakes

• Leaving homemade puzzles out unsupervised.
• Making the puzzle too hard, so the dog gives up.
• Using balls small enough to swallow.
• Using the same puzzle every day until it's boring.