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.
⚽🌍 This week, Sean from Mud Bay Belltown is heading to the Belltown Dog Park to ask dog owners and Mud Bay customers in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood for their World Pup Cup Predictions! 🥅
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Today’s World Pup Cup prediction comes from Dorthey and her two pups, Boba and Lychee, for the match between Belgium and Egypt.
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#mudbay #pupperdictions #worldcup #soccer #worldcup
Mud Bay Delivery offers free same-day delivery 🚚 when you order before 2 pm. From food and supplements to toys, treats, and even frozen items, we’ll bring it all right to your door. It’s available seven days a week, with free delivery on orders over $30.
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Shop anytime at MudBay.com and let Mud Bay Delivery bring your pet’s go-to items straight to you. Click the link in our bio to place your order today.
#mudbay #healthypets #mudbaydelivery #pnw #pets
When the bone broth becomes the treat.
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Turn Open Farm Homestead Turkey Bone Broth into easy, homemade frozen treats with the Messy Mutts Silicone Treat Mold this summer. Made from flexible BPA- and PVC-free, food-grade silicone, the molds feature convenient fill lines for portioning and a notched center that makes it easy to break larger treats into smaller pieces.
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Pour in the collagen-rich bone broth, freeze, and serve. Made from humanely raised turkey bones and slow-simmered with pumpkin, carrot, and turmeric, it adds flavor, hydration, and enrichment to your dog’s day.
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Minimal prep. Maximum tail wags. Shop Open Farm Homestead Turkey Bone Broth and the Messy Mutts Bake and Freeze Dog treat maker in-store or online at Mud Bay.
#mudbay #openfarm #messymutts #summer #staycool
Reduce. Reuse. Go for a walk.
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The Eco Collar and Leash Collection from RC Pets is made with REPREVE® webbing, created from 100% recycled plastic bottles. 🇨🇦 Proudly made in Vancouver, Canada, these collars and leashes are designed to be durable, comfortable, and ready for everyday adventures.
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And now you can shop RC Pets Eco Collar and Leashes for your dog in-store or online at Mud Bay.
#mudbay #dogwalk #dogs #rcpets #recycled
Starting today our friends at Fluff & Tuff are once again kicking off #IGiveAFluff to help put toys in the paws of shelter and rescue dogs who need them most.
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And we want you to be a part of it, and it couldn’t be easier to participate!
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Here’s how it works:
📸 Snap a photo or a video of your dog with their favorite Fluff & Tuff toy.
📱 Share it on social media using #IGiveAFluff.
🐾 Fluff & Tuff donates a toy to a shelter or rescue dog.
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Since 2015, with the support of pet parents like you and the generosity of Fluff & Tuff, over 22,000 toys have been donated to shelters and rescue dogs.
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Want to participate, but need a Fluff & Tuff toy? Maybe a soccer ⚽️ ball for your pup with a certain soccer tournament kicking off this week? We’ve got you covered!
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Stop by your local Mud Bay or visit us online. Click the link in our bio to learn more about #IGIVEAFLUFF
It’s never a bad time to chill. 🧘♀️ 🐾
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Swell`s My Chill Time Premium Dog Gelato is made with functional ingredients like chamomile and passion flower tea, which help your pup stay cool, calm, and collected when summer activities makes thier day-to-day a little more stressful. Plus, it includes blackberries, 🥥 coconut milk, ginger, beets, and 🍯 🐝 honey, which are great for digestion and antioxidant support.
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Swell Premium Dog Gelato is not only a tasty treat on a hot summer day, but it also helps keep your pup living their best life and staying CHILL. Shop My Chill Time from Swell in-store or online at Mud Bay this summer. 🌞
#mudbay #swelldoggelato #swell #dogs #chill
Adventure-ready and made for the water, the Ruffwear Float Coat helps keep your dog comfortable during every swim.
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The Float Coat offers a secure, telescoping neck closure that adjusts to fit a variety of dog sizes, while the lightweight foam panels support natural movement and buoyancy in the water, keeping them comfortable and safe.
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Plus, it offers a super handy, low-profile handle that makes it easy to lift your pup out of the water, and reflective accents that add extra visibility for long days at the lake, beach, or river.
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Bring your pup in-store or shop with us online for the Ruffwear Float coat today!
#mudbay #summer #adventures #ruffwear #doglife
🌞 🎆 🎉 Summer brings celebrations, late nights, travel and events that can leave your pets feeling uneasy.
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Mud Bay is here to help, offering products that bring calm and comfort to your cat or dog when things get noisy.
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We carry calming collars, tinctures, treats, and pheromones to help your pets handle everything summer brings—Shop Mud Bay in-store or online to find the right calmatives for your pets.
#mudbay #summer #keepcalm #healthypets #calming
Fluff & Tuff`s #IGIVEAFLUFF is Coming Soon!
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Starting June 8th, National Best Friends Day, our friends at Fluff & Tuff are once again kicking off #IGiveAFluff to help put toys in the paws of shelter and rescue dogs who need them most.
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And we want you to be a part of it, and it couldn`t be easier to participate!
Here`s how it works:
📸 Snap a photo of your dog with their favorite Fluff & Tuff toy.
📱 Share it on social media using #IGiveAFluff.
🐾 Fluff & Tuff donates a toy to a shelter or rescue dog.
🐾
Since 2015, with the support of pet parents like you and the generosity of Fluff & Tuff, over 22,000 toys have been donated to shelters and rescue dogs. Want to participate, but you need a Fluff & Tuff toy? Take a tip from Frank and stop by your local Mud Bay or visit us online. Click the link in our bio to learn more about #IGIVEAFLUFF
Canagan canned cat food is grain-free and made with your cat in mind, using high-quality protein from chicken, salmon, tuna, and more.
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It’s inspired by what cats are naturally built to eat, with a focus on animal protein and no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
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It’s also an easy way to add moisture to your cat’s routine—something many cats don’t get enough of—which can help support your feline friend with kidney and urinary-tract health.
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🛍️ Shop Canagan Complete Cat Food in-store or online at Mud Bay.
Summer is coming, so be like Goose 🐕 and stay cool 😎 ❄️ on every outing with the Swamp Cooler Harness from Ruffwear.
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Whether she’s out on a trail or enjoying a long walk or run, this harness is built for warm-weather adventures, offering cooling comfort and secure control in one breathable design.
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Shop in-store or online at Mud Bay.
#mudbay #adventures #pnw #dog #summeriscoming
Mud Bay Memorial Day Hours ⏰
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Today, Monday, May 25, all Mud Bay locations will be open from 10 am to 6 pm.
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Delivery orders placed after 2 pm on Sunday will arrive on Tuesday. Store pickup and Instacart will still be available. 🐈 🐕 🚚
#mudbay #holidayhours #healthypets #mudbaydelivery #pets
