The Importance of Nose Work Toys from Woof Living & Why Your Dog Needs One
Every dog parent wants the best for their fur child, so it’s no surprise that they take great pleasure in spoiling their dogs rotten with plenty of treats and toys. While most people splurge on squeaky toys, balls, and rawhides for their dogs, there’s now a fancier option on the market: interactive dog toys.
Woof Living imports chic toys from Sweden and Germany that are both aesthetically-pleasing — think minimalist, Scandinavian-inspired designs — and engaging puzzles for your dogs. These toys are not just your ordinary playthings; they are award-winning brain games that will stimulate your pooch’s brain and physical dexterity. You’ll be spoilt for choice with the 6 different international brands they carry, such as Studio Ollie from France, Nina Ottoson from Sweden, and Trixie from Germany.
Why pawrents should invest in nose work toys
Source: @boo._thefrenchie
Though “fetch” and tug-of-war are physically-engaging activities, interactive toys provide the necessary mental stimulation that dogs need to stay healthy and reduce anxiety.
Nose work toys, in particular, encourage dogs to use problem-solving in different ways to find hidden dog treats. These engaging toys require them to lift blocks, turn discs, push blocks, and more, and serve as an outlet for them to channel their innate curiosity into a safe and healthy activity, rather than unintentionally ruining your furniture.
Many of these nose work toys come with different difficulty levels, so even if you have an exceptionally bright dog on hand, you’ll be able to find a puzzle that is challenging enough to keep its interest piqued. Furthermore, these toys are also great for keeping injured or senior dogs mentally active when they are incapable of strenuous physical activity!
Testimonials from every breed
Source: @boo._thefrenchie
As someone who treats her pets like family and who always wants the best for her dog, Denise Kan, owner of @boo._thefrenchie, is a firm believer in responsible dog ownership through play. Particularly drawn to Woof Living for their authenticity and social conscience, she loves that they brought in exclusive Studio Ollie nose work toys and other award-winning interactive toys for Boo, her spunky Frenchie.
Source: @thelifeof.sofie
If you have an active and energetic dog like Gladys Chow, mummy to Sofie the beautiful Cockapoo, these mentally-activating nose work toys will be very handy for keeping your pooch occupied whenever you need to work or if it’s raining outside.
According to Gladys, Sofie often gets bored easily, but these interactive toys help to keep her mind working and tire her out in a good way. Plus, Gladys is also always satisfied with the quality of toys and loves their curated selection of interactive toys — be it plush or puzzles — which helps her make an easier decision when it comes to choosing a suitable toy for her fur baby!
Source: @thisismyeastergram
Woof Living also carries a wide range of adorable soft nose work toys. Easter, pictured above, has a soft spot for plushies, and she loves it especially when there are treats in it for her to sniff and dig out, while her owner Emilyn See thinks it’s a bonus when they’re extra cute!
Incorporating interactive toys into your daily routine
Source: @woofliving
“Sit”, “shake”, or “roll over” are typical commands that warrant a yummy treat, but once your dogs have mastered these basic tricks, it’s time to challenge them with these nose work toys that will require them to activate their senses and get their creative juices flowing to figure out how they can earn their treats.
The good thing about nose work is that your dog is never too old or too young to learn it, because using their sense of smell is an instinctive behaviour. Even if your dog is shy and wary at first, it will soon learn to trust itself and gradually develop a sense of confidence through this fun, self-rewarding sport!
These interactive nose work toys can be easily incorporated into your daily lives too, whether it’s to keep them occupied while you’re doing household chores or as a wet-weather activity. You can even bring the toys on your walks or to the park as a fun socialising activity with your dog’s furry friends!
Do note that in order to entice your dog to search, you may need to use their favourite treats if your canine companion is not food-motivated. However, if your dog is extremely play- and food-motivated, then feel free to use even your regular kibble to entice your pup — it might be a good way to slow down fast-eaters.
Mentally-engaging toys breed happier puppies
Source: @wafflebutter.thegoldendoxie
Many dog owners can attest to the effectiveness of Woof Living’s wide variety of interactive toys. Gladys has observed that these nose work toys keep Sofie’s mind working throughout the day and tires her out in a good way, while Easter loves snuffling through and finding treats in her toys.
As dogs love having a job to do, nose work gives them a sense of purpose and a large portion of their brain is exercised when they activate their sense of smell for prolonged periods of time. In fact, research has also shown that these engaging toys can help to direct your dogs away from destructive habits such as chewing and hyperactivity, especially if they’re left to their own devices during the day.
Moreover, if you have a puppy that suffers from separation anxiety, keeping it occupied with challenging games and puzzles will help to manage its anxiety in your absence.
Aesthetically-pleasing toys for doting owners and frisky fur babies
The award-winning Letto dayBed by MiaCara is available at Woof Living!
Source: @woofliving
Besides nose work toys and its health benefits, Woof Living also carries many functional pet essentials required for playing, feeding, walking, and sleeping in style. As we move towards a high-tech future, it may also be time to give your dog’s toys a major upgrade with Woof Living’s products to keep them physically and mentally-satisfied. After all, if our fur babies are happy, so will we be!
To browse more of what Woof Living has to offer, head here.
This article was written for Woof Living.
