My two-year-old Yorkshire Terrier, Louie, loves nose work toys. Among them, the PawQuest avocado toy has always been one of his favorites. Even though he does not eat dry kibble enthusiastically, he enjoys pulling it out as part of a game. However, Louie is very skilled at using his tongue, so he usually finishes quickly. When I learned that a level-up ring could increase the difficulty, I decided to try it. It is just one small ring, but it made a noticeable difference.
1. Level-up ring design
The PawQuest avocado nose work toy releases treats through a center hole. The level-up ring is a silicone ring that fits into that hole, creating a raised edge that makes treats harder to remove.
With this added barrier, dogs can no longer pull treats out easily using only their tongue. Instead, they need to use their paws and nose, which significantly increases the difficulty. Even dogs who previously found the avocado toy easy will likely take longer to finish once the ring is added.
Another benefit is that treat crumbs no longer fall out easily, which helps keep the play area cleaner.
2. Advantages of the avocado nose work toy
One major reason the PawQuest avocado toy is popular is that it can be fully disassembled for cleaning. Nose work toys often become slippery from saliva or clogged with treat residue, so easy cleaning is essential. This toy can be taken apart completely, making hygiene management much easier.
The toy also has enough weight to stay stable on the floor. It does not tip over or bounce around easily, allowing dogs to focus on the activity.
Unlike many nose work toys, treats do not fall onto the floor. They remain inside internal grooves, which keeps dogs engaged without scattering food.
3. The role of nose work for dogs
Nose work is more than just play. It encourages dogs to use their sense of smell, helping reduce stress and promote mental stimulation. For scent-driven dogs, nose work can sometimes provide even more enrichment than physical exercise alone.
For dogs who spend a lot of time indoors, nose work is especially valuable. It allows them to release energy at their own pace and stay focused, even when their owner cannot actively play with them.
4. Louie’s experience with the level-up ring
With the original avocado toy, Louie could remove treats quickly as soon as they reached the opening. The game often ended too fast.
After adding the level-up ring, tongue-only removal became difficult. Louie had to change angles, push with his paws, and use his nose more deliberately. As a result, playtime naturally became longer, and his concentration improved.
The increased challenge did not frustrate him. Instead, it seemed to match his skill level better and kept his interest longer.
5. Where to find the level-up ring
The level-up ring can be found on the PawQuest website under the dog toy section. There is a promotional period running until November 30, so it may be a good time to check if you are interested.
Reflections
Adding a level-up ring transformed a familiar toy into a new challenge for Louie.
It extended playtime without introducing a completely new toy and helped him stay engaged longer.
For dogs who enjoy nose work but finish too quickly, a simple difficulty upgrade like this can make a meaningful difference.