Unique Toys for Intelligent Dogs

If you are like me, you are tired of the Petco toy aisle. Even more so, your dog is bored with the same old squeakies and stuffed animals.

If your dog is intelligent, like mine, he may enjoy some of the not-so-typical toys on the market, some that are not even sold in the dog toy market, specifically.

So, it is time to get creative with your dog toy shopping. There are some great toys out there that challenge your dog, stimulate their brain activity and crtical thinking and give them more to do than squeak and shake.

Anyone who has kids can tell you that childrens' toys can be a lot more interesting to their dogs than the toys that are actually meant for the dogs are and why wouldn't they be?

There is a tremedous market for kids' toys with lots of competition to satisfy the demand. Surprisingly, some childrens' toys can be perfectly suitable and stimulating for your dog, too.

One of my favorites, right now, are the Aurora brand talking toys. Although these toys are only suitable for gentle, smaller dogs that will not destroy toys on contact, they are sets with little animals (about 4" each) that "talk" or make noise with little voice boxes inside.

Aurora talking toys are a huge hit with my mom's smaller size dog, and at around $20 each, they are somewhat affordable.

As usual, these should only be played with under DIRECT supervision, as there are no safetly regulations for dogs to play with this toy.

Also, I take no responsibility for the repetive noise your dog will enjoy making when squeezing these little creatures!

These dogs by Nina Ottossen are like the "Milton Bradley" of dog toys. They are high quality wooden puzzle toys, made in Sweden, for the most inquisitive and focused dogs.

These toys have familiar names like "Twister", "Memory", even "Treat Fighter" and are meant to stimulate your dogs brain power and critical thinking by challenging them to do complex tasks and be rewarded with a treat.

There are over a dozen different games , but this kind of canine energy channelling does not come cheap. Each puzzle averages at about $50, but the enjoyment and satisfaction your dog gets could be pretty priceless.

If you have read my article The Best Toys for the Destructive Dog, you will know that I am a big fan of the Kyjen brand dog toys.

These toys are meant for dogs. Like the Nina Ottosson toy, they are also considered puzzles, but they can be found for as low as $7.

The theme of these toys is mostly removing small plush squeaky toys or eggs from another plush toy through little holes in the larger plush. It is a way for your dog to enjoy pulling a toy apart without destroying it.

What I really love about them is that some of them come in different sizes, like the Squirrell House in "gignormous" size, to make it even more interesting and engaging for your dog.