12 Interactive Dog Toys and Puzzles for the Smartest Pets of Them All

According to Stanley Coren, PhD, from the University of British Columbia, the average dog has the same level of intelligence as a two-year-old human child. At a 2009 convention, Coren spoke at an American Psychological Association (APA) convention and explained that household pups have the ability to understand more than 150 words. "There are three types of dog intelligence: instinctive (what the dog is bred to do), adaptive (how well the dog learns from its environment to solve problems), and working and obedience (the equivalent of 'school learning')," he said at the time. Different breeds of dogs show varying levels of intelligence, but his research concludes that the smartest dogs compare to the intelligence of human toddlers.

Based on other research from 2016, our canine companions have a cognitive structure similar to us. Dogs learn by example, like we do, but they can figure out problems on their own as well. Most of us know that our dogs are more likely to get into trouble when they're unoccupied with nothing to do. Walking our dogs is a good daily regimen, but that's not the only thing we should be doing to keep our pups healthy. "Dogs need mental exercise," says Brian Kilcommons, dog trainer and owner of Great Pets Resort. We can enrich their lives by providing toys that offer interactive play or require problem solving.

Puzzle toys have enclaves to hide toys or homemade treats, allowing your dog to "hunt" for the item. Other games allow your dog to play fetch or "chase" games all by themselves. Of course, you still want to spend play time with your canine pal, but these toys give your dogs the opportunity to solve problems on their own. You'll have the smartest dog in the neighborhood.