Snuffle Ball

Nose before paws

Sniffing is what really tires a dog out: it takes up a huge part of their brain, and using it takes real effort. It is especially useful for short-snouted breeds, which you can't keep running for long in hot weather — a bulldog gets out of breath quickly, but it can sniff forever. On rainy days, the answer is the same.

How to use it

1. Slip a few pieces of kibble or treats between the fleece strips.
2. Put the ball on the floor and let your dog search.
3. Start easy — treats in plain sight — then hide them deeper as your dog gets the hang of the game.

Ideally, use their usual food rather than extra treats: the meal becomes the activity, with no extra calories.

What it changes

• Slows down fast eaters. A dog that has to search for every piece of kibble can't wolf down its bowl.
• Keeps indoor days busy. Rain, heatwave, recovery: the game works in a living room.
• Channels boredom. A bored dog finds its own entertainment, usually at your expense.

Safety — please read

Supervised play only. The fleece tears if your dog decides to chew rather than search, and a dog that swallows a piece of fabric means a trip to the vet. Put the ball away between sessions, and retire it as soon as the strips start to fray. This is not a toy to leave lying around.

Features

• Material: fleece (polar fleece) on an open base
• No batteries, no electronic parts
• Colors: rainbow (yellow or green band) · blue · pink (pink or mint band) · green
• Use: supervised play, for dogs of all sizes

Chez Milo — Style. Scent. Dog.