How to Choose the Right Sniffing Toy for Your Dog
Just like people, every dog has their own experience, skills, play style, energy level, and favorite way to explore the world. Choosing the right toy isn’t just about fun it’s about helping your dog succeed, build confidence and feel fulfilled and calm afterwards.
At The Woof Toys, we design and create handmade enrichment toys that turn playtime into purpose. Each toy encourages your dog’s natural foraging instincts, builds confidence, and keeps them busy.
Here’s how to choose the best one to start with
Sniffing Mats - the easiest start!
Perfect for puppies, fearful dogs, beginners or dogs new to enrichment.
Mats are also a great choice for dogs who like to tear apart soft toys and get easily frustrated. The treats are easy to access, helping your dog build confidence, concentration, impulse control, and initiative in a calm and rewarding way.
Just sprinkle some dry treats between the fabric layers and let your dog use their nose to find them.
Sniffing Balls - for curious explorers!
A step up from mats! Treats are hidden deeper inside and are harder to access, so your dog needs to move and roll the ball to get the reward. The treats are still quite accessible, but it requires a bit more thinking and persistence.
Whether your dog prefers to roll and paw the ball or take a slower, more thoughtful approach, this toy offers the perfect balance of active fun and calm enrichment.
And you’ll love how easy it is to take along on walks, road trips, or travels together and use it whenever you need.
Sniffing Snakes - for patient problem solvers!
This one’s for the true enrichment pros. The snake hides treats along its long body, between the fabric layers encouraging your dog to search slowly and carefully.
It’s NOT recommended for dogs who get easily frustrated, tend to tear fabric toys, or lose patience quickly. The process takes longer and requires focus, so it’s perfect for dogs who already enjoy sniffing games and can handle a little challenge calmly.
Trainer’s tip: Start simple, build confidence, and let your dog enjoy it.
You’ll find all these toys and more at thewooftoys.com - handmade from pet safe materials, with love and tested by real dogs and trainers.
