Enrichment toys for Shih Tzu in a multi-dog home

Having a Shih Tzu and a Boxer under the same roof is a fun combo — but it does create a real sizing problem with enrichment toys. Anything big enough to challenge your Boxer is basically a piece of furniture for a Shih Tzu, and anything sized right for the small dog can be a choking hazard or just gets bulldozed by the bigger one. Mental stimulation is genuinely as important as physical exercise for most dogs — and for an 8-year-old Shih Tzu especially, a good puzzle toy can do wonders for keeping their mind sharp as they age. To point you to exactly the right thing: what's the main problem you're trying to solve with your Shih Tzu — boredom, anxious behaviour when the Boxer gets more attention, destructive chewing? And have you tried any enrichment toys with them before?

That makes complete sense — Shih Tzus are actually quite bright but they don't have that stubborn, won't-give-up drive that some working breeds do. A classic Kong with no guidance on how to fill it is honestly a bit dull for a dog like that. What you want is something that rewards interaction quickly and often, so she gets that little dopamine hit that keeps her going. A flat snuffle mat or a lick mat gives fast, consistent feedback — but given she needs genuine mental engagement rather than just sensory stimulation, I'd actually steer you toward a puzzle feeder with multiple compartments she has to slide or lift. Can I ask — does she eat wet or dry food, and are you open to using part of her daily meal in the toy rather than buying separate treats?

Perfect — kibble in a puzzle feeder is ideal because it slows her down, makes mealtime feel like an event, and you're not adding extra calories. Given she's a lower-persistence dog, you want something with a beginner-to-intermediate difficulty level so she actually finishes it and feels successful rather than walking away frustrated. My clear recommendation is the Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Dog Brick Puzzle Feeder. It's a Level 2 puzzle — dogs slide and flip compartments to uncover kibble — which is genuinely engaging without being so hard it causes her to disengage. Critically for your situation, it's compact and flat, so it's easy to use in a separate room or up on a surface away from the Boxer. It's widely available on Amazon UK, very well made, and Shih Tzus tend to do really well with it. Start with the compartments only half-filled so she gets wins early and builds confidence with it.

Separate them for enrichment time — full stop. It's the cleanest solution and it actually benefits both dogs. Your Boxer can have their own thing going on (a stuffed Kong or a chew), and your Shih Tzu gets uninterrupted, stress-free puzzle time. Even if your Boxer isn't aggressive about it, hovering creates low-level stress that stops the smaller dog from really settling into the activity. Ten to fifteen minutes of solo puzzle time for your Shih Tzu a couple of times a day will make a real difference to that moping you're noticing. Once she's confident with the Dog Brick, you can look at Level 3 puzzles — but honestly, for most Shih Tzus, Level 2 stays engaging for a long time if you vary what you put in it.

Great choice — I think you'll notice a difference quickly. Vary the treats you hide in it occasionally (a few small soft pieces mixed with kibble works well) and let her 'find' it rather than placing it in front of her — that seeking behaviour before she even starts the puzzle adds another layer of stimulation. Enjoy watching her figure it out!