Keeping your dog’s brain busy is just as crucial as their daily zoomies, especially when winter rolls in and those walks get shorter, plus garden playtime turns into a chilly mission!
Say goodbye to bored pups (and chewed-up shoes) by bringing some entertaining enrichment toys into the mix.
Why go for enrichment toys?
Brainy Boost: Keep your clever canine’s mind sharp as a tack
Chill Out Zone: Help your dog de-stress and relax like a pro
Training Buddy: Turn learning into playtime magic
Enrichment toys aren’t just fun, they’re a secret weapon for a happy, healthy, and well-stimulated dog.
👀 Hot Tip: Match your toy to your dog’s age, size, breed, and quirky personality for maximum tail wags.
We’ve tried out a bunch of the best enrichment toys, from tricky treat dispensers to fun snuffle mats. Let’s dive into the fun stuff and find your pup’s new favourite!
We should mention - All dog toys featured here are personally tested in real home environments with multiple dogs of varying ages and chewing habits. Safety, durability, and engagement are all documented and our recommendations are updated regularly.
⏰ UPDATED : January 2026 We've added Play9's new treat range to their Roolo review and removed the Rylo from this review due to it's high price. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Our Verdict
Winnie the Pooh would love this Honey Pot from SodaPup and we think your dog will too. It's a great alternative to the classic Kong, but don't be fooled by its simplicity!
This Honey Pot will provide a tasty and fun game for your dog as they work around the pot to seek out every last titbit with their tongue.
The benefits don't stop there. If you have a greedy guzzler that can inhale their food, you could serve their whole meal from the honey pot to provide more of a challenge and to ultimately slow them down.
We love the Honey Pot design because it is incredibly easy to clean (much easier than a Kong). You can fill it with kibble, wet or raw dog food , sticky peanut butter plus add treats and supplements, knowing it's simple to keep clean.
We've found for best results, mix some wet and dry foods. Peanut butter, Pure Paté and yoghurt act as excellent glues for dried foods and supplements.
Testing proved it's exceptionally tough. Made from PUP-X natural rubber, a proprietary eco-friendly material designed for extreme durability, it withstands aggressive chewing while remaining safe and non-toxic.
Our Verdict - We think that this Honey Pot Treat Dispenser offers a great puzzle for older dogs and the perfect distraction for young dogs and puppies. |
Reasons to Buy
+ Great Kong alternative
+ Durable
+ Easy to fill & clean
Reasons to Avoid
- Doesn't have airtube
Buying Options
Meet the Roolo, a UK-designed toy that'll have your dog chasing its tail with excitement.
This unique, pyramid-shaped toy rolls and wobbles unpredictably, just like prey. Plus, it dispenses treats as it moves, rewarding your dog for their problem-solving skills.
Food-motivated pups? A treat-dispensing toy like the Roolo is the perfect way to satisfy their natural instincts and keep them mentally stimulated during playtime.
So what did we think in testing ?
The first major surprise was the movement ! It's completely erratic and with one nudge of the nose or a paw, it tumbles and spins across the floor.
.Made from super durable TPR, the Roolo works for dogs of all sizes. In testing it handled plenty of rough play without a hitch. Its clever shape means nothing can break off or get swallowed, so it’s safe and worry-free.
However as with all dog toys, nothing is totally indestructible, so we'd always recommend monitoring their play.
We’ve put Play9’s new all-natural dog treats to the test, and they don’t disappoint. Tuki's range includes everything from longer-lasting sticks and chews to jerky that’s easy to break into smaller pieces so ideal for repeat reward training.
Our favourite, the small Ox Heart Treats slip effortlessly into the Roolo, transforming snack time into interactive play.
Completely natural and free from fillers, grains, or additives, these treats are a perfect way to keep tails wagging and minds engaged.
As the Roolo doesn't come apart for cleaning - we'd suggest sticking with dry dog food and treats and nothing too soft and crumbly. You could of course fill it with water every now and again to flush out any crumbs.
We've been using the Roolo since the first test back in April 2024 and apart from a few scrapes, it looks as good as new!
Our Verdict - A well-designed and versatile toy to keep your dog busy. |
Reasons to Buy
+ Simple treat dispenser
+ Well designed
+ Doubles as a slow feeder
+ Could make mealtimes fun
Reasons to Avoid
- Dispensing hole one size so not all treats will fit
(break treats in half if needed)
Buying Options
For 10% OFF enter coupon code: SMARTBARK10
You may be interested in our Guide to the Best Puzzle Toys
This innovative e-tray from the SodaPup range, combines the best of both worlds: a lick mat and a slow feeder.
The unique design of the Mandala eTray (short for enrichment tray) offers compartments in a range of depths and sizes to encourage your dog to forage for their food. This foraging promotes slower eating plus it provides much needed mental stimulation.
If you have a greedy guzzler, the Mandala eTray makes an excellent slow feeding bowl, so you could opt to feed your dog complete meals from this eTray.
Keeping your dog more engaged at meal times helps to prevent boredom and can motivate notoriously fussy dogs to enjoy their food more.
In testing, we found that the SodaPup e-trays were deep enough to feed kibble as well as a whole range of supplements, fruit and wet foods. We loved that you can separate the foods in different compartments for less mess.
These smaller compartments and pockets encourse repetitive licking which is known to calm dogs suffering with anxiety.
The truth is, that in testing the Mandala design was not the easiest to clean even in the dishwasher. We would recommend rinsing by hand to remove any leftover food before it dried on, before tossing it in the dishwasher.
Our Verdict - We adore this popular combination of lick mat and slow feeder. The Mandala is just one of SodaPup's gorgeous eTray designs. |
REASONS TO BUY
+ Slow Feeder/ Lick Mat combination
+ Large individual chambers
+ Dishwasher proof
+ Freezer safe
REASONS TO AVOID
- Trickier to clean
BUYING OPTIONS
It's difficult to find well-designed dog toys that look nice around your home as well as make your dog happy. The Earth Rated range is perfect.
Resembling a rubber vase, this treat dispenser wobbles and bobbles around the floor releasing a trail of treats wherever it goes.
Made from responsibly sourced rubber in two sizes, it will stand up to some serious chewing plus Earth Rated recommend sizing up to accommodate any super chewer tendencies!
The treat opening measures 2cm in diameter which is ideal for smaller treats and most brands of kibble (here we're using Scrumbles 60% Chicken dry food), or you could use Park Life's Nibbles.
You'll be glad to know it can be thrown in the dishwasher (top rack) after use and is freezer safe so could be used for frozen treats. Although you could use it with soft treats like peanut butter, we think it would be quite tricky to clean so our advice - stick with kibble or crunchy treats.
If you have a fussy pup, then this treat dispenser will liven up meal times and make the kibble far more appealing.
In tsting
Our Verdict - Beautifully designed, we love this treat dispenser from Earth Rated's new range of dog toys. |
REASONS TO BUY
+ Beautiful dog toy
+ Simple to use with dry food
+ Will stand up to some serious chewing
+ Dishwasher proof
+ Freezer safe
REASONS TO AVOID
- Trickier to clean if using with wet food
BUYING OPTIONS
Another product from the SodaPup range, this Can Toy doubles as both a chew toy and a treat dispenser.
Stuffable toys encourage sniffing & licking behaviours which have been proven to be calming to dogs and particularly useful when dealing with separation anxiety and destructive behaviour.
Simply fill the can with a paste like peanut butter, plain yoghurt or a meat paste like Arden Grange Premium Liver Paste Treat.
It's worth noting that SodaPup specialise in innovative and durable dog toys designed for power chewers. We loved that the Can Toy is super durable so can double as a chew toy.
The Can Toy is available in four different sizes to suit a range of breeds :-
Dimensions : (Diameter x Height) - Small: 3.8 cm x 6.4 cm | Medium: 4.8 cm x 8.4 cm | Large: 6.4 cm x 10.7 cm | X-Large: 7.6 cm x 12.7 cm
You'll be pleased to know that the Can Toy is dishwasher safe, simply place it in the top rack. Although from our testing results, we'd recommend a rinse out immediately after use (like the Mandala eTray), before the peanut butter or paste dries on !
The only flaw was the discoloured rubber, as shown in the photos. While this did not affect testing, I was disappointed with the appearance of the SodaPup dog toy.
Reasons to Buy
+ Simple treat-dispenser
+ Doubles as a chew toy
+ Dishwasher safe
Reasons to Avoid
- Only suited to pastes
Buying Options
If you have a biting puppy, you may be interested in our Guide to the Best Puppy Chew Toys
Love snuffle mats as much as we do? While designer options can be pricey, the Round Flower Dog Feeding Mat from Ifoyo offers fantastic value without compromising on fun.
Research has shown that sniffing for 10 minutes can equal an hour of running! Nosework is a great way to tire your pup, especially on rainy days.
Simply, hide your dog's favourite treats or kibble in the mat and watch as your dog works to forage through the strands of the mat to find their reward.
If you're looking for treats for the snuffle mat or the Roolo featured earlier, can we suggest Park Life’s Nibbles.
These little bites come in a handy bag of 100, perfectly sized for enrichment sessions. What we love most is that they’re grain-free and just 2 Kcal each, so you can spoil your pooch without any guilt.
The treats have a great texture and flavour that our dog couldn’t get enough of in testing, making them an ideal tasty reward. A brilliant addition to any dog’s enrichment snack stash!
Back to the snuffle mat.
We particularly like that this snuffle mat comes with 2 straps so you can fix it to a chair or table leg to stop it slipping across your kitchen floor.
It measures 45cm in diameter and it's worth mentioning that it can be washed in the washing machine (we'd recommend a low 30°C wash, Oh! and don't tumble dry).
Available in four different colourways and some are available on Amazon Prime if you're in a rush
We've been using ours regularly for 5 years and it looks as good as new. However, whilst these mats are strong they're not indestructible so we recommend you supervise your dog when using the mat.
Reasons to Buy
+ Simple enrichment toy
+ No prep required
+ Great value
+ Easy to keep clean
Reasons to Avoid
- Not a whole lot of challenge involved
Buying Options
Enrichment toys are a fantastic way to keep your dog happy, healthy, and mentally stimulated. By incorporating them into your dog's routine, you can provide them with hours of fun and entertainment and keep the dreaded boredom at bay.
All the enrichment toys we feature are simple to use and take minimum preparation.
Our testers had great fun with the Roolo. It works exceptionally well with both dried treats (especially their Tuki's Ox Heart treats) or kibble. If you're trying not to overfeed, simply fill it with your dog's usual kibble at mealtimes.
No matter which one you choose, we can promise your dog will thank you for the hours of fun. If you reckon we've missed an absolute blinder of a enrichment dog toy that we're crazy for leaving out, then give us a shout.
Claire is the founder of Smart Bark and a lifelong dog lover.
With a 10 year background in retail buying for one of the UK’s major retailers, she brings a keen eye for quality and value to every dog product review.
Claire personally tests every item featured on Smart Bark with her own family dog and her team of dog testers—so you get honest, expert advice (not recycled marketing blurb) from someone who truly understands what works in real life (and what doesn’t).
No gimmicks. Just trusted recommendations backed by experience.
