Brain toys for young collie

[Knitterknatter]

Hi I’m overwhelmed by the vast range of puzzle/brain toys so I’m hoping others might be able to help me narrow it down. My dog likes sniffing and searching. She’s 9 months, collie. All suggestions gratefully received!

We have a 10 month old golden retriever! Loves a good sniffy/searching activity and we love it too as it tires her out 🙈 I like to set out a ‘treasure hunt’ for her in the garden of different pieces of kibble/cheese/treats hidden and scattered around the place. Can increase difficulty by hiding under plastic plant pots etc.

Snuffle mats are fab as well as Kongs

They can be really hit and miss, some my dog figured out in seconds, others took longer. A lot of the moving shapes type games she wasn't bothered with once she solved it.

The commercial things she really likes
Trixie turn around
Starmark Bob a lot
Kong wobbler
Snuffle mat
9 carrot plush mat

Homemade
Muffin tin game - put a ball in each hole with treats under each one.
Ball pit ball box, 6 inch deep large plastic storage box with a set of kids ball pit balls in. Scatter treats inside. They are flimsy and some get crushed but largely ok.
Scrunched up paper box, 12 inch deep plastic crate filled with scrunched up newspaper/tissue paper and treats scattered inside.
Rolled up knotted towel with treats in

The most popular thing was a baby toy from Aldi, it was a fabric tree trunk with 3 holes in and 3 small squeaky birds inside. I think they also did an apple with squeaky caterpillars. I fill it with more small toys and pop a few small treats in. She spends ages removing all the toys.

We also have a small kids basketball hoop placed low enough for her to reach and that gets played with a lot.

She also enjoys a sniff trail. I put her in the garden while I leave a trail of small treats around the house. Some easy to find, some harder. You can hear her nose in overdrive while she looks.

I joined a canine enrichment group on Facebook for a while and got some great ideas there.

Thanks @FortunaMajor @MaloneMeadow for those great suggestions. I’ll check out the facebook group you mentioned too. Meantime I’ve got some old towels so will give that a go!

We have a border collie and, like yours, loves searching. We hide toys around the garden and in the house. In the garden we put him in the shed so he can’t see where we’re hiding the toy the. He comes out and finds the toy by scent alone. It’s amazing to see how he sniffs the air and the ground… he find the toy within a couple of minutes. Even if said toy is in the hedge or bushes he finds it. He absolutely loves it.

We don’t buy ‘special’ toys, we just use his regular ones.

Like others, I don't use specific toys, I just re-use delivery boxes, egg boxes, wrapping paper, newspapers, eviscerated stuffed toys, rolled up tea towel, and I hide those everywhere in my flat.
The dog stays on his bed when I hide them, and then I just say "find!" and off he goes on a very important mission and I have peace for 30 mins.

It takes a bit of time to set it up and tidy up afterwards but he loves it so much I don't mind at all.

Sorry for the slow thank you @Petrine and @FastFood - great suggestions I’ve got lots of ideas now.

And Thanks for the FB recommendation! 🙏👍