Dog enrichment toys for under-stimulated dogs

That's a really useful vet observation — under-stimulation showing up as repetitive behaviour like ear scratching is more common than people realise, especially in high-drive breeds like Flat-Coated Retrievers. Mental stimulation is genuinely as important as physical exercise for most dogs, and the right enrichment toy depends on your dog's intelligence level, persistence, and the specific problem you're solving — in your case, it sounds like boredom-driven anxiety. To point you in the right direction: what enrichment have you tried with them before, and is the scratching mostly happening at particular times of day — like when you're busy, or when they're left alone?

That tells me a lot — Monty sounds like a dog who needs genuine cognitive challenge, not just sensory engagement. Snuffle mats and stuffed Kongs are great for some dogs but they're essentially one-step problems, and a smart, motivated Retriever will burn through them before they've had a chance to properly switch off. The evening timing also makes sense: he's been doing physical stuff during the day and now his brain is revving with nothing to focus on. What I'd want for Monty is something that requires sequencing — tasks he has to work through in stages, so the reward keeps coming and the engagement window is longer. Has he ever had any puzzle-style toys where he has to move pieces or lift compartments?

For a persistent, intelligent dog like Monty, a multi-stage puzzle is exactly the right fit. My recommendation is the Nina Ottosson Dog Tornado by Outward Hound — it's a rotating, layered puzzle where he has to spin compartments on three tiers to uncover hidden treats. It's rated at a level 2 difficulty which hits the sweet spot for dogs who've had no puzzle experience but are clearly sharp: easy enough that he won't give up in frustration, complex enough that it takes real focus and keeps him engaged for 10–20 minutes rather than 90 seconds. You load each compartment with kibble or small treats, and the act of problem-solving — spinning, sniffing, sequencing — is genuinely mentally tiring in a way that should help him settle in the evenings. It's also robust enough for a dog with drive; the base is weighted and it doesn't slide around. Widely available on Amazon UK, around £15–20, and it's one of the most vet-recommended puzzle feeders precisely because it addresses boredom-driven behaviour rather than just hunger.

Start with his normal kibble — it means you can use it at mealtimes and replace his bowl entirely, which adds a daily routine around it rather than it being an occasional novelty. That consistency is actually better for anxiety-driven behaviour because he starts to associate that settling evening period with a predictable, rewarding task. Once he's confident with the puzzle, you can occasionally load one or two compartments with something higher-value like small training treats to keep it interesting — but honestly, most dogs stay highly motivated with kibble alone when the challenge is genuine. Give it a couple of weeks as part of the evening routine and I'd expect you to see a real difference in that scratching.

Great — Monty sounds like exactly the kind of dog who'll take to it immediately. If after a few weeks he's flying through it too quickly, Nina Ottosson do a level 3 version called the Dog Brick that's a natural next step. Good luck, and I hope those evenings get a lot calmer soon.