Transform This Common Kitchen Tool Into A Toy For Your Dog

Dog toys don't need to be anything fancy. In fact, you most likely already have this canine enrichment tool waiting in your kitchen. A muffin tin and tennis balls can actually be used as a simple and cost-effective dog puzzle to work your pup's mind. Here's how you can transform the ordinary kitchen tool into your pooch's new favorite toy.

The first step in creating your pup's new toy is grabbing a muffin tin and filling each slot with some treats or dog food. After it's all filled up, place a tennis ball or other small ball on top of each opening. With the balls on top, your dog will have to use their nose to smell out the yummy goods underneath. Once the tin toy is constructed, let your dog go at it. After they get the tennis balls off, they'll have to use their brains to figure out how to get the treats or kibble out.

If your pooch is struggling at first, remove a couple of the tennis balls for them so they can learn that they have to get the treats beneath. If your pup is dominating this game, you can leave some of the tins empty, that way they can use their noses to discern which balls have goodies underneath. This process of sniffing out and retrieving the treats is a fantastic way to get mental stimulation and exercise for your dog's brain.

Many dog parents are aware that their pup needs a certain amount of physical exercise each day. However, if you've ever noticed your dog still has a lot of energy even after they've had plenty of physical activity, the issue could be that they aren't getting enough mental stimulation. Mental stimulation activities — such as the muffin tin toy — get your pup's brain working, and can even tucker them out as much as exercise.

If dogs don't get enough mental stimulation, they can become bored, which can lead to them becoming destructive, especially with some of the more high-energy breeds, like Australian Shepherds. Because of this, it's important you provide your pup with enough mental stimulation to reduce boredom and bad behavior. It can also be a way for your pooch to get some mental exercise when the weather is bad.

Aside from tiring them out and reducing boredom, partaking in mental enrichment activities can also lower your dog's stress levels and improve their brain function. Registered Veterinary Technician Jenna Stregowski told Daily Paws that activities like these that incorporate food benefit pups not just because of the mental stimulation aspect, but also because it allows them to use their natural instincts. "Food enrichment is a wonderful way to provide mental stimulation and light exercise that mimics instinctive behaviors like sniffing and working for food," Stregowski said.