Best puzzle feeder for Rhodesian Ridgeback

So your Ridgeback has outgrown the lick mat — that's actually a good sign. It means they've got the confidence and curiosity to move up. Puzzle feeders do two genuinely useful things: they slow down fast eaters, which reduces bloat risk and improves digestion, and they give dogs real mental work to do. The trick is getting the difficulty right — too easy and a smart dog like a Ridgeback dismisses it in two minutes, too hard and they walk off in a huff. To point you to the right level: how old is your dog and what breed — and are you mainly trying to slow their eating, give them a mental workout, or both? Also, would you say they're the type to keep working at something, or do they quit if it doesn't pay off quickly?

Perfect — a persistent adult Ridgeback who's already bored of a lick mat is exactly the right candidate for an intermediate-to-hard kibble puzzle. You want something with multiple compartment types and moving parts, not just a slow feeder bowl. What size kibble does she eat, and roughly how much do you feed per meal? That matters because some puzzles have openings that are too small for larger kibble pieces.

Good — medium kibble opens up the best options. I'd go with the Nina Ottosson Dog Brick by Outward Hound. It's a Level 2 puzzle with flip lids, sliding compartments, and bone-shaped covers, so there are three different types of problem to solve in one session. That variety is key for a dog like yours — it stops them from just learning one trick and brute-forcing it. It holds a full meal's worth of kibble, the compartments work well with medium-sized pieces, and it's dishwasher safe. A 4-year-old Ridgeback with good food motivation should stay engaged for 10–20 minutes rather than a minute flat. It's widely available on Amazon UK, usually around £18–22.

Yes — if she cracks the Dog Brick within a week or two, the natural step up is the Nina Ottosson Dog Casino, which is Level 3. It adds an extra layer of steps: the dog has to remove bones from slots before they can slide compartments to access the food. It's the same brand so the build quality and kibble compatibility are consistent. Many owners actually rotate the two puzzles on alternate days to keep things fresh — that alone extends engagement significantly without needing to keep buying new feeders.

Great choice. One tip for the first few sessions: let her watch you load it so she understands food is in there, then leave her to it without hovering — Ridgebacks tend to work better when they don't feel observed. If she solves it very fast from day one, try wedging the bone covers in slightly tighter so there's more resistance. Enjoy the peace and quiet while she works for her dinner.