Puzzle Toy Fill Activity for Kids and Dogs

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If your kids love helping in the kitchen, this activity is for you! Let them play “chef” while preparing puzzle toys. Kids learn about what types of foods are safe for dogs, practice measuring and mixing, and your dog gets an enrichment activity that keeps them busy and happy. It’s simple and fun.

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WHAT YOU NEED:

• Puzzle toys with wider openings: Toppl, Yoggie Pot, Snoop, Kong, Honeypot and Flowerpot, Woof, Gnawt-a-Cone

• Dry ingredients: treats or kibble

• Wet ingredients: canned dog food, pureed pumpkin, apple sauce, rice, plain yogurt, or veggies (choose one or more)

• Peanut butter, cheese spray, or cream cheese - to seal the food inside 

• Spoons and bowls

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For the widest selection of products and great discounts, buy directly from their websites:

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1. Sodapup - HoneyPot, Flowerpot, Honeycomb lickmat | Get 10% off with code DGMEETSBABY
2. ‍Woof Pupsicle Starter Pack | Get 10% off with code DOGMEETSBABY10
3. ‍Westpaw - Toppl, Bubble feast mat | Get 10% off with code DOGMEETSBABY‍
4. Pupford - Treats (our favorite - small, simple ingredients, low-calorie) | Get 10% off with code DMB10

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Insights from Dominika: The puzzle toys mentioned above are some of my favorite, tried and tested. You can see how I used them in this blog post.

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HOW TO PLAY

‍Step 1: Gather your Ingredients and Toys

Pick dog-friendly ingredients and set out all the puzzle toys.

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‍Step 2: Mix It Up 

Let the kids combine the ingredients in a bowl (extra spoons help avoid disagreements!).

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Step 3: Fill the Toys

Kids can use spoons, their hands, or even a pastry bag to pack the food inside. Make sure to pack the filling in well.

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‍‍‍Insights from Emme: Use a food storage bag as a DIY pastry bag for less mess and easier filling. I recommend these heavy-duty Ziploc bags, depending on your ingredients.

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‍Step 4: Chill or Serve 

Freeze for a long-lasting challenge or hand it over right away for instant tail wags.

Reminder to appropriately manage child and dog spaces while the dog’s food and toys are present. 

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Insights from Dominika: If there’s a chance your child might eat the food, avoid using kibble or dog treats. My children loved adding A LOT of peanut butter. To keep things safe and controlled, don’t hand your child the entire peanut butter jar. Instead, put a smaller, pre-measured amount in a separate container. 

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More Fun Activities

After stuffing puzzle toys, try Cleaning Dog Toys (kids get to wash what they filled) or Frozen Feast (another food-prep project with a cooling twist).

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This game is part of our Kids & Dogs Activity Series.

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Grab our FREE Puzzle Toys and Chews Handout, featuring our favorites with recommendations for different types of dogs. Plus, the treats we get for our dogs, the electronic dispensers we have tested, and safety tips for families with young children.

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