Shortly after I sent a bunch of puppies home years ago, a common question which popped up frequently was about treat dispensing toys. A treat dispensing toy is a toy, like a Kong chew toy, a ball or some other toy that you can put food / kibble in and the persistent pup can play with to get food. As they roll a ball around, a piece of food comes out. I thought about the qualities of a good treat dispensing toy and came up with this below.
What is the best treat dispensing toy for German Shepherds?
A good treat dispensing toy is durable, entertaining, holds your dog’s interest, challenges them mentally and dispenses food or treats slowly to keep the dog physically occupied for as much time as possible.
Since all puppies and dogs are different, there is no one best toy for all dogs. However, here are the top picks by German Shepherd owners in my life!
OurPets IQ Treat Ball Interactive Food Dispensing Dog Toy
This is easily one of the most popular treat dispensing toys. Thousands and thousands of dog owners have chimed in on Amazon to leave a review. I personally have seen these in action and have been VERY impressed. I think puppies and dogs like this toy because they can SEE the kibble bouncing around in the ball.
The Kong Wobbler
It’s a Kong, so you know it is strong. It’s dishwasher safe, too. Simply unscrew it to stick food in it or to disassemble it for cleaning. I’d get a Medium for puppies and a larger one for adults. Get it on Amazon here!
PetSafe Twist ‘n Treat Dog Toy
I have never used this one either, but you don’t need to take my word for it, close to 1,000 other people have vouched for it on Amazon. This is one of those toys that just depends on the dog. My German Shepherd Aura doesn’t chase balls but she might do fine with this thing!
Busy Buddy Waggle Buddy
I like this one for German Shepherd puppies. It’s cheap, too. I’ve never used one, so I’m not sure how long it will take them to destroy the toy. Some GSDs seem to destroy toys faster than others. Anyways, if you have a puppy with lots of energy that likes to inhale their food, this will slow them down right away!
What treat dispensing toy is best for your German Shepherd?
Please feel free to comment below and share any of your experiences with these or other toys!
