Georgia Football Puzzle Toy

The idea. Foraging is what a dog's nose is for, and most dogs never get to use it. A puzzle gives them a problem worth solving, and a dog that has worked something out settles better for the rest of the evening than one that has only run about.

Making it harder. Start easy, everything loose and visible, and show your dog the first move if they have never done a puzzle before. Once they get quick at it, pack the compartments tighter. Or fill them with Bulldog Brew and something soft, put the whole board in the freezer, and a five minute job becomes a long one.

Which dogs. Room for a big nose, enough resistance for a small one. It suits a dog with more energy than the day has used up, and a dog who would rather have a job than another lap of the yard.

Being honest about durability. This is an enrichment toy, not a chew toy. A determined chewer will get through it, and it is not meant to be left with one. Stay with your dog while they play, take it away if they start chewing the board rather than working it, and put it away between sessions. Treated that way it lasts years.