Enrichment toys for a Lhasa Apso and Husky

A senior Lhasa Apso and a young Husky under the same roof — that's about as far apart as dogs get on the energy spectrum, and trying to find one enrichment solution for both is a recipe for frustration. Mental stimulation matters just as much as physical exercise for most dogs, but what that looks like for a calm, clever 8-year-old lap dog versus a high-drive working breed at peak energy is completely different. To point you in the right direction, it'd help to know: what problems are you actually seeing — is one of them destructive, anxious, bored? And have you tried any enrichment toys before with either dog?

That surface licking in older dogs is really common when they're under-stimulated — the Lhasa needs something that engages his nose and slows him down, which is a snuffle mat situation all the way. But let's focus on the Husky first because she sounds like the more urgent problem. Huskies are working dogs who genuinely need mental effort, not just physical outlets — a Kong losing her interest quickly tells me the challenge level was too low or the reward too predictable. Can I ask: how long is she alone each day, and does the destructive behaviour happen mainly when you're out or when you're home too?

That's a really useful distinction — food motivation varies massively in Huskies and it does affect which toys land. For a dog who isn't treat-crazy but is destructive and high-energy, I'd actually steer away from more food puzzles and towards the Kong Wobbler. It's a standing food-dispensing toy but the movement and noise engage a different instinct — it's almost prey-like in how it behaves when she knocks it, which tends to hook dogs who aren't fussed about sitting still to earn a treat. Fill it with her actual kibble so it replaces part of her meal, meaning she has to work for food she'd eat anyway. It's robust enough for a Husky, which matters. Pair it with a snuffle mat for the Lhasa — hide his kibble in the mat before you leave and it gives him 10-15 minutes of calm nose work that's genuinely tiring for older dogs in a very low-impact way.

Good question — the Wobbler is hard ABS plastic rather than rubber, so it's a completely different material and holds up much better to dogs who treat toys aggressively. It's not chewable in the same way; she can bat it, roll it, and knock it around but she can't get purchase on it with her teeth the way she would a rubber toy. It's not indestructible if a dog is determined to sit and gnaw at it, but Huskies typically don't do that — they engage through movement, which is exactly what the Wobbler rewards. Worth supervising the first few sessions just to see how she interacts with it, but it's one of the more Husky-appropriate options out there.

Just start with really obvious food placement — tuck small pieces right near the surface so he finds them quickly the first time. You want his first experience to be a fast win so he understands the concept. After two or three sessions you can bury the kibble deeper into the fibres and he'll nose around longer each time. Lhasa Apsos are bright little dogs — he'll get it fast. Wash the mat weekly or it'll start to smell, and always let it dry fully before the next use or the fibres get matted and it's less effective. You should see the surface licking reduce within a couple of weeks once he has a proper outlet for that sniffing instinct.