Puzzle and treat toys give dogs an opportunity to work for a portion of their meals or extra snacks. For dogs who need to lose weight and are eating smaller-than-normal portions, these toys are a way to extend mealtimes while encouraging exercise.
To learn about the best possible treat toys for dogs, we talked to Alicia McCusker. As the Greenway store manager, she’s helped a lot of customers find the very best toys for their pets. And with two dogs and a cat at home, she’s also familiar with using treat toys and puzzle toys as a pet owner.
AM: When we talk about puzzle toys, we’re actually talking about two options: puzzle toys and slow feeders. Both toys provide excellent mental stimulation, but they also can make dogs work for their food and eat more slowly.
If you want to encourage more exercise, you want to find a puzzle toy that can hold a larger portion of food or treats. When you use these toys, you can put a portion of your dog’s daily food into the puzzle or treat toy. Then they can slowly work for that food. Some dogs like to throw these toys around the room and chase them. I’ve also seen some dogs push food-dispensing toys around the room, so they’re going to burn calories while eating.
Using a toy to dispense part of a meal isn’t just about maintaining a healthy weight; this type of work can be incredibly rewarding for the dog and provides plenty of mental stimulation.
AM: Well, if you want to maintain the same type of diet, we do have freeze-dried raw that you can use a partial substitute for frozen raw. And a lot of the brands we carry in frozen raw, also have a freeze-dried raw option. The formulas are similar, so your dog should be able to adjust easily.
AM: My first suggestion is to consider your dog’s breed and prey drive. These traits may give you clues to help you decide how your dog likes to play. For example, my dog Jodie is a border collie, which is a type of herding dog. And we have a toy that she can guide around the house with her nose, and she herds the toy around the house in that way. I think the reason she enjoys that particular toy because it plays to her natural instincts. She’ll even roll it around when there aren’t any treats inside.
Mixed breed dogs may have several different interests. In that case, it’s just about watching how your dog likes to play. Do they like to use their paws when playing? Do they try to pull on things? Then, you can look for a toy that uses that existing instinct to make that toy work.
Mud Bay has ten to fifteen completely different puzzle or treat toys. And once you know the play style your dog likes, we’ll be able to find the right toy for your dog.
AM: A lot of dogs are really food driven, but they’re not willing to work hard for their normal kibble or a biscuit. So, start by finding a treat or food that is highly palatable to use with the toy. Most toys work with smaller treats, so freeze-dried treats tend to be a great option.
You might also want to choose easier toys at first. For example, we have the Pet Rageous Thinkrageous puzzles, and each toy has one of three difficulty ratings. So starting with easy toys can help set your dog up for success.
The other option is to start by playing with your dog with the toy. Then they can mimic your behavior, and see how you’re able to get a treat out of the toy. It’s crazy how intelligent dogs can be, and by mimicking you, they can learn a new skill.
This can be a helpful technique if your dog likes to chew and you’re concerned that she’s going to chew the toy to get the treats inside. By demonstrating how the toy works for your dog, you can show her that there’s a better way. And lots of dogs are receptive to that coaching.
AM: I really think that the Pet Rageous Thinkrageous toys are really appealing to a lot of different dogs. They are floor puzzles that your dogs can either nose or paw at to move the little pieces. And people really enjoy being able to see how intelligent their dogs are.
The other popular toy at the store is the Starmark Pickle Pocket. You can create varying levels of difficulty by how far you push the treats into the pickle. And then, the Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Snoop is great because it can hold larger portions. So, if you wanted to put a portion of your dog’s meal into a puzzle toy, that’s the one I recommend.
I do want to mention that many people with both cats and dogs will buy puzzle toys for their dogs but forget their cats. Cats are just as likely to reap the benefits of both exercise and mental stimulation from puzzle toys as dogs are. Cats are hunters and so chasing/batting a toy around, such as the Pet Safe Egg-Cercizer, is going to play into their natural cycle of hunt, eat, groom, sleep.
AM: Stacking and wedging biscuits inside the Kong can make them harder to remove. But the other option is to freeze softer treats inside the Kong. You can fill the Kong with nut butter, yogurt or pumpkin, and let the toy freeze overnight. Then when you give your dog the toy, it will take a lot longer to eat.
Greenway Store Manager Alicia McCusker spends her workdays helping customers in Tigard, Oregon. She’d love to talk to you about what toys make sense for your dog or cat. When she’s not a work, she’s playing with the family pets, who include Jodie, a border collie and whippet mix, Arlo, a malamute, and Loki, a cuddly, part Norwegian forest cat.
Furvor bone broth is made with 100% human-grade ingredients and is up to 30 times more concentrated than regular broths. It provides protein, collagen, amino acids, and important nutrients to help your dog’s gut, joints, skin, coat, and overall health.
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The 20 oz bottle provides more than 20 servings, making it an easy way to add beneficial nutrition to your dog’s daily routine at home.
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If you’re out and about, Furvor’s single-serve pouches will help keep your dog hydrated, with a pep in their step wherever you go. They’re great for summer, hikes, walks, or days by the water.
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Just tear open, squeeze, and serve. You can mix it with water, pour it over kibble, or give it on its own. You can buy them one at a time or in a pack of six.
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Shop Furvor Bone Broth in-store or online today! 🛍️ 🐾
#mudbay #furvor #healthypets #pnwpets #bonebroth
Capstar Oral Flea & Tick Treatment
🐾When fleas show up, it helps to act quickly. Capstar is an easy-to-use oral treatment that starts working in about 30 minutes and can kill most fleas within the first few hours. It’s a simple way to bring fast relief and can be used alongside your dog’s regular flea and tick routine.
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Vetality Flea & Tick Monthly Topical Treatment
🐾 For ongoing protection, Vetality Avantect offers vet-quality coverage at a great value.
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These broad-spectrum topicals kill and repel fleas, flea eggs, ticks, and mosquitoes, while also targeting all stages of the flea life cycle. It also helps repel biting flies and kill lice. Available in four weight ranges and a four-month supply for continued protection.
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🛍️ Shop in-store or online today.
#mudbay #fleaandtickseason #healthypets #dogs #fleafree
We have all the treats, toys, and zoomie-inducing catnip options for your cat, both in-store and online at Mud Bay.
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So whether you have a cat who likes to bite, rabbit-kick, or lie back and relax with a nice treat and some catnip, we have what your feline friend needs to keep them happy, healthy, and engaged.🐈
#mudbay #cats #cattreats #catnip #cattoys
Oven-fresh meals straight to your dog’s bowl.
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Nulo Culinary Harvest is a high-protein, oven-baked dog food, basted in bone broth to support your dog’s digestion and joint health.
Nulo only uses high-quality proteins like turkey, herring, chicken, pork, lamb, and beef, then bakes each formula slowly at low temperatures to retain nutrients and make meals easier to digest.
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Choose from Adult recipes such as Chicken & Whitefish, Turkey & Herring, or Pork & Lamb, available in 4-lb or 25-lb bags. For small breeds, Beef & Lamb comes in 4-lb and 10-lb bags.
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Shop Nulo Culinary Harvest Oven-Baked Dog Food in stores or order online today!
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Did you know that Mud Bay now has sushi 🍣 for cats?
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Thanks to our friends at Fabcat, your cat can now enjoy a 5-piece sushi combo platter at Mud Bay. Each piece is not only fun to play with, but also filled with North American-grown catnip that will get your cat excited to bite, swat, and zoom around.
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Check out the Fabcat Sushi Combo Platter and treat your cat to something special. Available in-store or online.
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Looking for a simple way to slow things down at mealtime or keep your dog busy?🤔
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The Walkabout from Woof is a multi-purpose enrichment toy that can hold up to 2 cups of food or treats. Just twist it open, fill it up, and rotate the inner dial to adjust how quickly food is released.
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It’s designed for quieter play, gentle on teeth, and safe for your floors—no marks, no noise, just steady engagement.
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A great option for busy days, working from home, or dogs that need a little extra enrichment. 🛒 🛍️ Shop the Walkabout in-store or online at Mud Bay.
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You heard us, now we want to hear from you! 📣 👂
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We want to know your dog’s favorite woof Pupsicle recipe. Let us know what your pup loves most in their Pupsicle. We’d love to share your recipes with our followers, too.
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Send us a DM, leave a comment, share photos, or tag us in your favorite woof recipe. We might even make your recipe in-store and give you a shout-out! We can’t wait to hear from you.
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Stay tuned, because we’ll be sharing some of your recipes 🧑🍳 in the coming weeks!
#mudbay #woof #letusknow #healthypets #pupsicle
Nulo Culinary Harvest coming soon at Mud Bay!
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This new option from Nulo is an oven-baked, high-protein dog food basted in bone broth. And because it’s oven-baked, that means it’s cooked at a lower temperature, so your dog can absorb more nutrients and get the most out of each meal. The bone broth also adds extra flavor, perfect for dogs who appreciate something extra at mealtime that also has functional benefits to their overall health.
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Nulo Culinary Harvest for Adult and Small Breed dogs, will soon be available both in-store and online at Mud Bay.
#mudbay #healthypets #nulo #dogfood
🐝 🌷 🌈 Spring is here, and that means fleas and ticks are back. To help protect your cat, we’re excited to offer new TropiClean 🌴 options designed to make care simple and effective.
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TropiClean Laundry Additive helps tackle fleas, ticks, eggs, and larvae right in your wash. Just add half a cup with your regular detergent, let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes, and use it on bedding, towels, blankets, rugs, and toys. Plus, it’s safe for use with your dog!
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TropiClean Gentle No-Rinse Cat Shampoo offers an easy way to clean and protect without the hassle. It helps eliminate fleas, ticks, and mites, protects against mosquitoes, and is safe for pets and kids.
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TropiClean Gentle Mist for Cats is a quick, on-the-go option for added protection. Just spray and go for an easy way to help protect against fleas, ticks, mites, and mosquitoes.
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You can shop TropiClean products for your cat in-store and online at Mud Bay.
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Furvor bone 🦴 broth for dogs is made with 100% human-grade ingredients and is highly concentrated, so every squeeze adds real nutrition to your dog’s routine.
🐕 It’s packed with protein, amino acids, and nutrients that can support gut health, mobility, skin and coat, and overall wellness.
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It’s also an easy way to boost hydration and bring a little excitement back to the bowl—especially for picky eaters. Just mix it with water, pour it over kibble, or serve it on its own.
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Shop Furvor 🛒 🛍️ 🐕 Bone Broth in-store or online at Mud Bay!
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Weruva WX Phos Focused Freeze-Dried Chicken and Tilapia is a low-phosphorus, high-protein supplement made from 93% boneless, skinless chicken breast, tilapia, and egg white. It has no grains, fillers, bones, or organs.
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Due to its naturally low phosphorus content, this food is suitable for cats requiring phosphorus management, particularly those with kidney conditions. Additionally, it’s highly digestible protein helps maintain lean muscle mass.
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You can serve it dry or add water to soften the texture. Adding water can help your cat digest it more easily and boost their daily water intake. This recipe is meant as a supplement and works well as a topper or treat alongside a complete, balanced diet.
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If you want help figuring out if this is right for your cat, visit your local Mud Bay and speak with a Muddy, or shop with us online today.
#mudbay #healthypets #kidneyhealth #cats #catfood
If your pup brings the energy indoors, meet their new favorite toy. The ultra plush Fluff & Tuff Soccer Ball is designed for fetch, toss, and all-out play.
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With a strong inner mesh liner and concealed double stitching, it delivers the durability Fluff & Tuff is known for in a soft, soccer-inspired design.
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Kick off the fun and shop the Fluff & Tuff Soccer Ball in-store or online at Mud Bay.
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