Muffin-tin puzzle for dogs: how to play

Treats hide in a muffin tin under balls. Your dog works out how to lift each ball off to find the food.

You'll need

Pick balls too big to swallow and soft enough to grab. Put the tin on a towel so it doesn't slide or clang.

Drop a treat in every cup, with no balls. Put the tin down and let your dog eat. This teaches that the tin pays.
Fill the cups again and cover just two or three with balls. Leave the rest open.
Wait quietly. Let your dog nose, paw or lift the balls off. Don't help unless they walk away.
When they get the hang of it, cover every cup.
Next level: put treats in only some cups and cover all of them, so your dog has to sniff before lifting.
Pick the tin up when it's empty so it stays a special game.

Make it easier: Use a tin with fewer cups and cover only one or two, or use light paper cupcake cases instead of balls.
Make it harder: Treats in 3 of 12 cups, all covered; or stack a second layer, like a lid of crumpled paper, on top of the balls.

Busy nose, tail wagging, flipping balls out with confidence and checking every cup.

Your dog chews the balls instead of lifting them, barks or paws hard at the tin in frustration, or walks away. Make it easier next time.

Balls must be bigger than your dog's mouth can swallow. If a ball fits fully behind the back teeth, it's too small.
Skip if your dog chews tennis balls apart; use sturdy rubber balls or rolled socks.
Supervise until you know your dog won't chew or swallow the toy itself.
Use part of the daily food allowance so treats don't add extra calories.

Written from these sources and checked against vet and trainer guidance. General guidance, not veterinary advice.

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