What I didn't expect to happen with a pet food puzzle

One way to make your dog slow down with overeating

Photo credit: Shamontiel L. Vaughn

Pet puzzles. I kept hearing suggestions to buy one, especially after my puppy repeatedly kept throwing up after she would eat. I wasn’t sure if she actually had health issues, couldn’t stomach the food or if she was just eating too fast. (It turned out to be none of the above; her body rejected Dentastix bones.)

Still, I hesitated with pet puzzles. After all, this was the same dog who ran across the room at full speed while fully zipped in a dog tent. I’ve lost count of the number of plush toys and hard rubber toys she has slashed. For a 30-pound dog, her teeth are something fierce and her strength doubles when a rabbit is nearby. So dog puzzle toys just seemed like a waste of money to me—until I realized some unexpected perks.