West Paw - Unlocking the Power of Enrichment

If you’re looking for ways to keep your pup entertained, engaged, and mentally stimulated, West Paw’s enrichment toys are an excellent choice. Designed with durability, safety, and fun in mind, these toys provide endless entertainment while promoting problem-solving and reducing boredom. Among West Paw’s top-tier enrichment options are the Qwizl, Toppl, Tux, Rumbl, and feast mats. Let’s explore how each of these toys can elevate your dog’s playtime and overall well-being!

Especially during hot summers or cold winters, enrichment toys are excellent for keeping your dog engaged and providing an outlet for their energy. If it’s too warm or too cold for long walks, your dog still needs a way to burn off energy. Depending on the toy's difficulty, approximately 15 minutes of working on a puzzle toy can be equivalent to a 45-minute to one-hour walk in the park. It's a fantastic way to keep your dog occupied

The Advantages of Enrichment Toys

Enrichment toys offer numerous benefits for dogs, including:

1. Mental Stimulation – These toys challenge dogs to problem-solve, keeping their minds active and engaged. Dogs that frequently engage in puzzle games become better at solving everyday challenges. Their brains adapt to problem-solving, making it easier for them to find solutions in daily situations.
2. Prevents Boredom & Destructive Behavior – A busy dog is less likely to engage in unwanted behaviors like chewing furniture or excessive barking. Depending on its difficulty, spending 15 minutes working on a puzzle toy can be more exhausting than walking for an hour in the park.
3. Encourages Slow Eating & Better Digestion – Treat-dispensing and slow feeder toys prevent gulping and promote healthier digestion.
4. Provides Physical Exercise – Many enrichment toys encourage movement, helping dogs burn energy and stay fit.
5. Reduces Anxiety & Stress – Licking and foraging activities have a calming effect, making these toys great for anxious pups. Licking releases several neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. These chemicals help calm the dog and improve their mood, making them happier
6. Strengthens Bonding & Training – Interactive toys can be used as training tools, strengthening the relationship between pet and owner.
7. Pain management: For dogs in pain, play can serve as a distraction and provide a form of gentle exercise that helps manage pain and improve their quality of life.
   
   

West Paw offers a variety of enrichment toys:

1. Qwizl: The Ultimate Treat-Dispensing Chew Toy

The West Paw Qwizl is a favorite among dogs that love to chew. This interactive toy is designed to hold treats, keeping pups engaged as they work to extract their reward.

Dogs can easily hold and work on the Qwizl while gripping it between their paws. It’s perfect for senior dogs or those in pain, as they don’t need to get up and down frequently while using Qwizl.

Made from West Paw’s proprietary Zogoflex® material, the Qwizl is both durable and safe, making it a great option for tough chewers. Use it with long treats like bully sticks, jerky, or even cheese sticks to extend chewing sessions and provide mental stimulation.

Best Features:

• Holds a variety of treats securely
• Encourages problem-solving skills
• Built for tough chewers
• Dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
• Floats in water for added playtime fun

2. Toppl: A Puzzle Toy for Mealtime & Treats

The Toppl is a fantastic option for dogs who enjoy food puzzles. Its soft, rounded design allows treats or kibble to be stuffed inside, and the toy wobbles and rolls as your pup works to release their reward. For added difficulty, two Toppls (small and large or large and XL) can be connected to create an even more challenging experience. This toy is ideal for slowing down fast eaters and making mealtime more engaging.

Best Features:

• Available in different sizes and can be interlocked for added challenge
• Perfect for stuffing with wet or dry food
• It can be frozen to extend play time.
• Helps reduce gulping and improve digestion.

The Toppl large and Toppl XL are excellent toys to use as slow feeder.

• Built for medium chewers

3. Tux: The Toughest Treat-Holder

For aggressive chewers, the West Paw Tux is a must-have. This ultra-durable toy is built to withstand serious gnawing while also serving as a treat-dispensing puzzle. It has a hollow center that can be stuffed with peanut butter, yogurt, or even frozen broth for a long-lasting challenge. The Tux is perfect for dogs that tend to destroy regular toys and need something tough yet stimulating.

One of the best features of the Tux is its shape. The Tux won’t roll, making it an excellent toy for senior dogs, those with injuries or chronic pain, and high-energy dogs that need calming down. This makes the Tux a great enrichment toy.

Additionally, for dogs with short noses that get out of breath easily (such as French Bulldogs), the Tux is a safe option. Its shallower design compared to many other toys ensures these dogs can enjoy a filled Tux without getting out of breath. It is certainly one of our best toys.

Best Features:

• Extremely durable and chew-resistant
• Can be frozen for longer-lasting enjoyment
• Encourages interactive play and mental enrichment
• Built for tough chewers

4. Rumbl: The Wobbling Food Dispenser

The Rumbl is West Paw’s version of a bouncy, wobbling treat-dispensing toy. Its unique design allows kibble or small treats to dispense slowly as your dog nudges, rolls, and bounces it around. It’s a great way to turn mealtime into a fun and engaging game, while also promoting slow feeding and preventing overeating.

For dogs in pain, it is better to choose one of our other enrichment toys, as the Rumbl will force them to get up and down to chase the rolling toy. However, for high-energy dogs that love to exercise, this is the perfect toy.

Best Features:

• Soft yet durable design for a quiet play experience.
• Available in multiple sizes to suit different dog breeds
• Encourages slower eating and digestion
• Provides both mental and physical stimulation
• Built for medium chewers

5. Feast Mats: A Licking & Foraging Experience

West Paw’s feast mats are a fantastic way to engage your dog’s natural foraging instincts. These mats can be spread with soft foods like peanut butter, yogurt, or wet dog food, encouraging dogs to lick and explore different textures. Licking is a calming activity for dogs, making feast mats a great choice for anxious pups or those who need extra relaxation.

The Feast Mat has the great advantage of being a 2-in-1 accessory and enrichment toy. One side can be used as an enrichment toy for licking their favorite treats, and by turning it over, it becomes a slow feeder for their daily food.

And offering their daily food in a Feast mat (wave or bubble shape) provides mental stimulation and turns mealtime into an engaging activity. Dogs are happier to work for their food than to receive it in a regular bowl. This is called contrafreeloading.

Contrafreeloading is believed to provide mental stimulation and a sense of accomplishment, making the feeding experience more rewarding and fulfilling. Several neurotransmitters will be released, giving the dog a happy feeling. For dogs in pain this is an extra advantage because it will distract from pain. And you can easily place it on a little higher platform to eat more relaxed, because it is extremely stable. It doesn’t slip.

Best Features:

• Promotes calm behavior through licking
• Encourages slow eating and digestion
• Great for dogs of all sizes and ages
• Easy to clean and dishwasher safe
• Made of our Zogoflex material with ocean bound plastic.
• It is an accessory, so please take it away after your dog has finished their food.

Why Choose West Paw?

At West Paw, we believe that dogs bring boundless joy into our lives, and we aim to be "dog’s best friend" in return. Our mission is simple: to create products dogs love—whether it’s for jumping, running, chewing, cuddling enrichment or feeding—while keeping them safe and the planet in mind.

All of our dog toys are designed to be durable, non-toxic, and responsibly made. We manufacture everything in the United States ensuring that we have full control over the quality and safety of every product. We are proud to offer a guarantee on every item—if a product doesn’t meet your standards, we’ll replace it, no questions asked.

We’re also committed to sustainability. Our products are infinitely recyclable, made with eco-friendly materials, and crafted through zero-waste manufacturing processes. At West Paw, we care about people, dogs, and the planet.

As a certified B Corp™ company, we strive to set an example in both business and manufacturing practices, ensuring that our furry friends can enjoy their toys in a safe and sustainable world.

We're West Paw. Dog’s best friend.

Final Thoughts

Investing in high-quality enrichment toys like the West Paw Qwizl, Toppl, Tux, Rumbl, and feast mats can significantly improve your dog’s physical and mental well-being. Whether your pup loves to chew, solve puzzles, or engage in slow feeding, there’s a West Paw toy perfect for them. By incorporating these toys into your dog’s routine, you can prevent boredom, reduce anxiety, and promote a happier, healthier life for your furry friend.

All West Paw enrichment toys are is approved by the Canine Arthritis Management organization as a perfect toy for dogs with arthritis and chronic pain. It helps dogs relieve pain and improve their quality of life.

Blog has been written by Rita Viel, export manager West Paw Inc, and certified dog trainer and dog behaviour consultant in The Netherlands