DIY Puzzle Feeders

One of the easiest and most impactful enrichment changes you can make is to stop feeding your pet from a plain bowl. In nature, animals spend a significant portion of their day finding and working for food. Handing it over in a bowl that takes 30 seconds to empty removes all of that natural challenge.

Puzzle feeders slow down eating, reduce gulping (which can contribute to bloat in dogs), and give your pet a satisfying mental workout. Best of all, you do not need to spend $30-$50 on a commercial puzzle toy. Your recycling bin is full of potential enrichment tools.

Safety first: always supervise your pet with any DIY feeder the first few times, and remove it once the food is gone. Avoid items with sharp edges, staples, or small parts that could be swallowed.

Here are some simple puzzle feeders you can make at home:

• Muffin tin puzzle: Place kibble or treats in the cups of a muffin tin and cover each cup with a tennis ball. Your dog must nudge or lift each ball to reach the food.

• Towel roll-up: Sprinkle kibble across a flat towel, then roll it up loosely. Your dog unrolls it with their nose and paws to find the food. Increase difficulty by folding the towel before rolling.

• Cardboard box dig: Fill a cardboard box with scrunched newspaper or old fabric scraps and scatter kibble throughout. Your dog rummages through the box to find every piece.

• Plastic bottle spinner: Cut holes slightly larger than a piece of kibble in a clean, dry plastic bottle. Fill with kibble and replace the cap. Your dog rolls the bottle to release food. Remove the cap if your dog seems frustrated initially.

• Egg carton feeder: Place treats in an empty egg carton and close the lid. Your dog must figure out how to open or destroy the carton to reach the food. Best for dogs who will not eat large pieces of cardboard.