Are burrowing dog toys good for puppies? Find out why these engaging toys are perfect for young energetic dogs.

Okay, let me tell you about my little project with burrowing dog toys. My dog, Max, he's a good boy, but man, does he love to dig. Blankets, the sofa cushions, even the carpet sometimes. I figured he needed something better to get that digging urge out.

Getting the Idea

I was just scrolling online, you know, looking at dog stuff, and saw these things called 'burrow toys'. Looked like a plush base, like a log or a house, with little squeaky toys stuffed inside. The idea is the dog has to figure out how to pull the little toys out. Seemed perfect for Max's digging habit. Instead of buying one right away, I thought, hey, maybe I can whip something up myself first, just to see if he'd even like it.

Putting It Together

So, I went looking around the house. Found an old, small fabric storage bin, the soft kind. Perfect! It was like a little den already. Then I gathered up some of Max's smaller plush toys – the ones he doesn’t play with much anymore but are still in one piece. I also grabbed a couple of old socks, balled them up tight. Variety, right?

Making it was super simple, really. I just took the fabric bin and stuffed the small plushies and sock balls inside. I didn't pack them too tight at first, wanted to make it a bit easy for him to start. I made sure a little bit of a toy was peeking out, just to give him a clue.

Showtime for Max

Alright, time for the big reveal. I put the bin down on the floor. Max trotted over, gave it a good sniff. He looked at me, then back at the bin, like, "What's this now?" He pawed at it a bit. Then he spotted the little bit of plushie sticking out.

That's when the magic happened. He started using his nose, nudging and pushing, trying to get at that toy. Then he started using his paws, digging into the bin, pulling at the toys inside. It took him a few minutes, but he managed to pull out the first toy! He was so proud, ran off with it for a quick victory lap.

Then he went straight back to the bin, digging for the next one. It was pretty fun to watch, honestly. He wasn't just chewing; he was actually working for his toys, figuring out the puzzle.

• He sniffed around the bin.
• He used his paws to dig inside.
• He pulled out the small toys one by one.
• He seemed really engaged, focused on the task.

Was It Worth It?

Totally! This kept him busy for a good 15-20 minutes, which is ages in dog time. And the best part? He was using his brain and satisfying that digging instinct without tearing up my furniture. He seemed genuinely happy doing it. After he got all the toys out, he was pretty tuckered out.

Since that first try, I've made it a regular thing. Sometimes I use the same bin, sometimes I just hide toys under a blanket he's allowed to dig at. It's a great way to give him some mental exercise, especially on rainy days when we can't go out much. If your dog's a digger or just needs something new to keep them busy, I'd say give a burrow toy a try. Making one yourself is easy peasy too.