Ten minutes of sniffing and problem-solving tires a dog more thoroughly than twenty minutes walking the same block, which is why puzzle boards earn their keep on wet days and during crate rest. Treats go into the wells, the sliding blocks and lids go over the top, and your dog has to work out which pieces move and in which direction before anything at all is earned.

The board lies flat at 35 by 26 centimetres and only 3.8 centimetres tall, so it sits stable on the floor and does not tip when a paw comes down hard on one edge. The moving parts are the point. A bowl with dividers merely slows eating down, whereas blocks that slide and lids that lift require a decision each time. Most dogs solve their first board within a couple of sessions, so vary which wells you load to keep it worth doing.

• 35 x 26 x 3.8 cm board
• Sliding blocks and lifting lids over hidden treat wells
• Encourages sniffing, nudging and pawing
• Slows fast eaters down at mealtimes
• Suits a wide range of breeds and sizes
• Useful indoor enrichment for wet days and recovery periods

Supervise the first few goes. A determined dog will try chewing the board rather than solving it, and a puzzle feeder is not a chew toy, so sit with your dog until you know which sort you have. Wash it by hand after wet food, because residue collects in the corners of the wells and under the sliders where it is easy to miss.

Who it's for: Owners of bored, clever or fast-eating dogs who want a way of making a handful of kibble last longer than four seconds.