Indoor Play Days: Dog Puzzles!

 Here in southern Maine, during the third week in January, an Arctic outbreak brought high daytime temperatures in the teens with daytime windchills in the single numbers, and actual night-time temperatures near zero!!! Although the dogs have coats with hoods, they need physical activity in place of walking... so we have games, and I do indoor agility with the dogs. That's today's blog.

GAME 1 -  Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Dog Hide N Slide Dog Toy, Purple - this has cylindrical pieces that slide, and plastic leaf shaped tabs that also slide and cover a treat. In the first picture, Cody, far back, is playing with this toy. It's available on Chewy for about $15.00.  

• Level 2 intermediate dog puzzle is paw-fect for pets with little to no puzzle experience. 
• 
  Your dog will slide blocks and swivel flippers to find hidden treats–holds a quarter cup of dog food.

GAME 2 - YELLOW FLIPPERS - This game is round, and has 8 circular storage containers. (Photo: above and right)  It has 4 big yellow hand flippers that dogs can spin around to access all 8 treat holders. Dogs use their nose to flip open the "flippers" to get the treat. Tyler and Cody love this puzzle. Photo is Tyler sniffing out a treat by nudging the yellow flipper with his nose.

VOLCANO PUZZLE  -  This plastic toy has four "legs" and looks like a volcano with an opening where you can drop treats in the center, and the treats roll down into the ends of the legs. At the end of the "legs" dogs use their noses to lift the plastic door to get to the treat. Dash (above)  loves this toy!!  Cody  (right) also likes to play with it.