Is your dog inhaling dinner in 10 seconds flat? Struggling to settle? Chewing things they definitely did not buy? Or maybe they just need more mental stimulation throughout the day?
The Toppl enrichment toy is one of my favourite ways to turn mealtimes into calm, focused enrichment. It combines licking, foraging, problem-solving, chewing, and slow feeding in one easy-to-use toy.
These kinds of dog enrichment ideas can help turn food into a calming activity rather than something your dog finishes in seconds. The Toppl works brilliantly as a slow feeder for dogs who inhale meals, and it gives them a proper job to do.
It has quickly become one of my favourite alternatives to the classic Kong because it is easy to fill, easy to clean, and does not roll around quite as dramatically. Very helpful when you want your dog to relax, not send you chasing dinner across the kitchen floor.
Best for: slow feeding, calming enrichment, mouthy puppies, dogs who struggle to settle, rainy days, busy family mornings, destructive chewing, and turning dinner into a proper job.
Why Toppl Enrichment Helps Dogs Settle
Dogs are not designed to inhale a bowl of food in a few seconds and then have nothing else to do. Many dogs need daily outlets for licking, chewing, sniffing, problem-solving, and foraging. That is where enrichment toys such as the Toppl can be so useful.
A well-filled Toppl can help channel energy into something positive. Instead of barking, mouthing, stealing socks, chewing furniture, or bouncing off the walls, your dog gets a clear, calming job to do.
Many dogs settle better after appropriate licking and chewing activities because these behaviours can naturally help lower arousal and give the dog something predictable to focus on.
This fits beautifully with the ideas in my 6 essentials before dog training works. Before we focus on formal training, we need to make sure dogs have appropriate outlets for normal dog behaviour. Licking, chewing, foraging, and working for food can make a big difference.
If your dog struggles to switch off, you may also find my guide on how to calm a hyper dog helpful, especially if your dog needs more low-arousal activities rather than more excitement.
Toppl Ideas for Dogs: 3 Easy Enrichment Recipes
There are endless ways to use a Toppl, but these are three of my favourite simple frozen setups.
1. Frozen Wet Food Toppl
This is the easiest starting point. Spoon your dog’s Pooch & Mutt Wet Food into the Toppl, smooth it down slightly, and freeze it for a longer-lasting calming activity.
You can also add a small smear of Nature’s Deli Paste, Arden Grange Liver Paste, or Purest Dog Peanut Butter to make it even more appealing.
This is great for dogs who are new to enrichment because it is not too difficult. If your dog gives up easily, start here before making it harder.
2. Soaked Kibble and Bone Broth Toppl
If your dog eats kibble such as Akela Dog Food, soak it for around 10 minutes, mash it up, and spoon it into the Toppl. You can add a few dog-safe extras such as blueberries, a small amount of Nature’s Deli Paste, Arden Grange Liver Paste, a drizzle of bone broth, or a tiny sprinkle of Fettle Pumpkin Powder before freezing.
You can also use a stopper, a piece of carrot, or a suitable chew to help keep softer food inside. I sometimes add a paddywack chew or puppy pizzle stick for extra chewing enrichment, depending on the dog.
Freezing the mixture can turn a fast meal into a much longer activity, which is useful for dogs who inhale their food or need something calming to work through.
You can also add a tiny drizzle of Bugalugs Scottish Salmon Oil for extra flavour and enrichment variety if it suits your dog’s diet.
3. Double Toppl Slow Feeder
This is the more advanced version. Spoon a little dog-safe paste or peanut butter into the holes, freeze it, then fill one Toppl with dry food and interlock it with another size. As your dog works through the frozen paste, the kibble starts to fall out gradually.
This gives your dog licking, foraging, problem-solving, and slow feeding all in one. It is brilliant mental enrichment, especially for dogs who need a bit more of a challenge.
If your dog is brand new to enrichment, make it easy first. If they are already a Toppl professional, the double Toppl setup can help stretch the activity out for longer.
Toppl vs Kong: Which Is Better for Your Dog?
The Kong Classic is still a brilliant enrichment toy, and I often recommend having a few different food toys on rotation. Variety helps keep enrichment interesting.
That said, the Toppl has some real-life advantages. It is easier to fill, easier for many dogs to access, and it does not roll around quite as much. That makes it especially useful indoors, in busy family homes, or when you want a calm activity rather than a full-scale food-chasing mission.
For dogs who get frustrated easily, the Toppl can also be a nicer starting point because the opening is wider and the food is easier to reach.
Why Toppls Are Great for Puppies
If you have a puppy and kids, a frozen Toppl can become a genuine morning routine survival tool.
Puppies often become mouthier when they are tired, frustrated, over-excited, or looking for something to do. Giving them an appropriate licking and chewing activity can help redirect that energy into something far more useful than sleeves, school shoes, or small humans trying to put coats on.
If puppy biting is becoming a big issue, have a read of my puppy mouthing and biting guide. A Toppl can help, but it works best as part of a wider plan that includes sleep, appropriate outlets, calm handling, and avoiding over-arousal.
What Can You Put in a Toppl?
Toppls are very versatile. You can keep them simple or make them more interesting depending on your dog’s experience, diet, and tolerance.
- Pooch & Mutt Wet Food
- Soaked or mashed kibble such as Akela Dog Food
- Bone broth
- Nature’s Deli Paste
- Arden Grange Liver Paste
- Purest Dog Peanut Butter
- Blueberries or other dog-safe fruit
- Fettle Pumpkin Powder
- A tiny drizzle of Bugalugs Scottish Salmon Oil
- A carrot stopper
- Paddywack chews
- Puppy pizzle sticks
Soft foods and pastes work especially well because they can be smeared, layered, frozen, or used to block the holes in a double Toppl setup. That makes products like wet food, bone broth, liver paste, dog-safe peanut butter, and soft training pastes really useful for enrichment.
Just be sensible with calories. If you are using your dog’s normal food inside the Toppl, it can replace part of their meal rather than being an extra snack on top.
Using digital scales can help you keep portions consistent, especially if you use enrichment toys regularly.
Safety Tips for Toppl Enrichment
Enrichment should make life better for your dog, not add risk or frustration. A few simple safety habits make a big difference.
- Supervise your dog while they use food toys.
- Choose a difficulty level your dog can manage.
- Pick the Toppl up after use so it does not become a chew toy.
- Wash it properly after each use.
- Avoid peanut butter containing xylitol, also listed as birch sugar.
- Introduce rich foods slowly if your dog has a sensitive stomach.
- Feed multiple dogs separately around high-value enrichment.
- Count enrichment food as part of your dog’s daily food allowance.
If you are using richer fillings such as liver paste, soft paste, or dog-safe peanut butter, start small. A little goes a long way, especially when it is being used alongside your dog’s normal food.
The goal is not to make enrichment as difficult as possible. The goal is to give your dog an achievable, enjoyable activity that helps them feel calmer and more satisfied.
Useful Enrichment Products
If you want to build a simple enrichment toolkit, these are the products I would look at first:
- Toppl Enrichment Toy for stuffing, freezing, slow feeding, and interlocking.
- Kong Classic for stuffed and frozen enrichment.
- LickiMat for calming licking enrichment.
- Bone Broth for adding moisture, flavour, and frozen enrichment options.
- Pooch & Mutt Wet Food for stuffing, spreading, freezing, and adding moisture to meals.
- Nature’s Deli Paste for smearing inside enrichment toys.
- Arden Grange Liver Paste for higher-value smearing and enrichment.
- Purest Dog Peanut Butter for dog-safe enrichment filling.
- Akela Dog Food for soaked kibble enrichment.
- Fettle Pumpkin Powder for simple frozen enrichment recipes.
- Bugalugs Scottish Salmon Oil for adding flavour and variety to enrichment toys.
- Paddywack Chews for chewing outlets.
- Puppy Pizzle Sticks for appropriate chewing enrichment.
You can also read my ultimate guide to slow feeders and enrichment toys if you want more ideas for turning food into a useful daily activity.
FAQ
What is a Toppl used for?
A Toppl is used for food enrichment, slow feeding, licking, foraging, and problem-solving. You can fill it with wet food, soaked kibble, treats, paste, peanut butter, bone broth, pumpkin powder, salmon oil, or other dog-safe fillings and freeze it for a longer-lasting activity.
Is a Toppl better than a Kong?
Both are useful. A Kong is brilliant, but a Toppl can be easier to fill, easier for many dogs to use, and less likely to roll around. For dogs who get frustrated easily, the wider opening of the Toppl can make it a great starting point.
Can puppies use a Toppl?
Yes, many puppies can use a Toppl with appropriate supervision and easy fillings. It can be especially useful for mouthy puppies, busy family mornings, calm enrichment, and helping puppies settle.
What can I put in a Toppl?
You can use wet food, soaked kibble, mashed kibble, dog-safe paste, bone broth, blueberries, carrot, suitable chews, dog-safe peanut butter, pumpkin powder, salmon oil, or other appropriate fillings. Always choose dog-safe ingredients and count the food as part of your dog’s daily allowance.
Can you freeze a Toppl?
Yes. Freezing a filled Toppl can make it last longer and create a calm licking activity. Start with easier fillings first, then gradually increase the challenge as your dog gains confidence.
Does a Toppl help with destructive behaviour?
It can help by giving your dog an appropriate job to do. Destructive behaviour often increases when dogs are bored, over-aroused, frustrated, or lacking outlets. A Toppl can help channel that energy into licking, chewing, and problem-solving.
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