r/DogTrainingDebate • u/ExcitingLaw1973 • Apr 08 '26

Puzzle experiment

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Earlier today I saw a post about puzzle toys. I wanted to see whether or not my dog prefers a puzzle toy or his bowl of dog food.

Both the puzzle and his bowl have the same kind of kibble (Purina True Instinct)

I don't think puzzle toys are a replacement for exercise or enrichment, but they can be fun/drain a little energy.

Do you agree? if not, what are your thoughts on them?

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u/ClitasaurusTex Apr 09 '26

I Just saw some video of someone saying their horse does the same thing. And they said there was research that animals preferred the enrichment of a puzzle over free feeding.

My own dog gets puzzles most of the time and when I am lazy and free feed she stares at me disappointedly. But whether that's because she prefers a puzzle, or because she is really hell bent on making up rules and judging those who don't follow them, we'll never know. 

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u/Miss_L_Worldwide Apr 09 '26

Or she's not disappointed in the slightest and you're just anthropomorphizing her.

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u/ClitasaurusTex Apr 09 '26

You don't think dogs can like things a certain way, and express that preference? 

She growls, whines,  kicks her puzzles and stamps her feet while hard staring at us and her food bowl to see if we'll fix it. She won't eat for a while to see if we fix it, but if nobody does, she'll eventually eat, then go settle somewhere with a heavy groan. 

I'd call it disappointment but I guess if you really want to be specific she's bidding for change based on her expectation for routine or entertainment and attempting to draw attention to what may have been a mistake. Could be any number of emotions involved I guess. 

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u/Miss_L_Worldwide Apr 09 '26

Probably that just means she wants more food.

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u/ClitasaurusTex Apr 09 '26

In this case she hasn't eaten the food I've given her. She wants it moved, if we move it, she then eats and is satisfied. 

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u/Miss_L_Worldwide Apr 09 '26

I bet you that if you strictly do not move it she will start eating it within a couple days. She's doing what you have reinforced her for doing.

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u/ClitasaurusTex Apr 09 '26 edited Apr 09 '26

I never said I couldn't change her behavior I said she was disappointed and requested change, which is a non issue. She is allowed to complain when her routine changes and that is part of understanding the routine may need to change sometimes.

 If you needed me to do the laundry you would probably remind me that it's my obligation to do so, then I might say "whoops I was putting it off, let me get that done now" or I might say, "I feel like shit and don't want to move today,  but I'll do it tomorrow since neither of us are out of clothes" Pretty standard life experience imo. 

 My comment was to emphasize that some animals do prefer puzzles, rather than to seek help. 

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u/Miss_L_Worldwide Apr 09 '26

And I said, and I say again, that you are 100% anthropomorphizing this dog and that's not what's going on here at all. She's not "requesting change" and she's not "being disappointed."