Outward Hound Nina Ottosson Dog Smart Dog Toy Treat Puzzle, Enrichment, 11"

This Outward Hound Nina Ottosson Dog Smart Treat Puzzle has been a solid beginner enrichment toy that’s stayed in rotation for years. When I first got it, it was a great entry point for teaching problem-solving without overwhelming my dog, and it still works well for slower, more focused treat time. The orange pieces are durable and have held up surprisingly well despite frequent use, with no major cracking or wear. It’s simple enough for beginners but still keeps them mentally engaged, especially on days when they need a calmer activity. Overall, it’s a reliable, well-made enrichment toy that continues to be useful long after the initial “new toy excitement” wears off.

This was perfect for our 7 week old Goldendoodle puppy. I showed him where the food was once, and he immediately went to work, using paws and mouth to get those bones out of the way. I rated the durability and longevity as 4, but the overall product is definitely 5/5. It’s meant to be used under supervision, and we have to take the bones away before he chews them. They’re made of pretty tough plastic, but he’s put some good tooth marks on them. I appreciate the low price, as 3 weeks later he’s on to a level 2 puzzle and I’m passing this one along because he’s done with it. Given the choice between the same foods in the Level 1 and Level 2 puzzles. He goes for the more challenging one! So we haven’t used this one for very long, but I’m still glad we started with Level 1, or he would have been really frustrated instead of challenged. I love the way this has engaged his problem solving little brain. These puzzle toys wear him out! Then he’s ready for a nap, which is lovely. This also keeps him from scarfing down his kibble too fast (and then vomiting it right back up.) These toys are a great solution for quick eaters. With these toys, we can simply leave kibble available all the time, knowing he won’t overeat as he’s getting one small serving at a time. At 10 weeks, we still have another 6 weeks to go until he’s completed his vaccine series. In the meantime, feeding him in puzzles, alternating toys, lots of interactive play (training!) and getting him to chase balls up and down the staircase is wearing him out enough to have some cuddly time when he isn’t trying to chew on us, sleep all night, and take 2-3 naps a day.

I would give it 5 stars if my puppy wasn’t so smart and figured it out in 2 seconds lol she enjoyed it

My 15 year old dachshund loves this product! It took her a bit to figure out, but now she perks up every time it comes out. I recently started leaving some compartments empty and let me tell you, she does not like that. Watch her video and consider the product for your furry loved ones.

This food puzzle was recommended by the AKC as a fun 'brain game' to provide mental stimulation for a puppy. I have a 12-week old GSD. She tends to eat very quickly and even at her young age she is pretty sharp. This food puzzle, I thought, would A) slow down her eating and B) be fun/stimulating for her. The box suggests offsetting the puzzle pieces for first-timers so it is easier for the dog, but I placed them fully in place after putting a piece of dog food in each. As you can see from the video, she figured it out right away...sort of. She had great fun pulling the first puzzle piece off, but then got side-tracked by the piece and didn't eat the treat right away. It's like she forgot what she was doing, lol. Anyhow, this is a "Level One" toy and for dogs/pups who are new to 'brain games' but I think that a "Level Two" would have been more challenging/stimulating for her. But I do like it because it keeps her busy for a bit and it slows down her eating. I highly recommend this food puzzle!

My dog enjoys it. I put some little tugs on the bones untill she figured it out. I don't like it scoots around the floor or carpet a lot. She does get the treats fairly quickly, I thought would take more time to play with. I will look into more games from this brand.

So many are complaining that the bones got chewed up. That's because the dog has to be taught that the bone isn't the prize, the item held within is. They don't reason like we do and anything to a dog is a chewable item. I made the same mistake with my 8-yr old hyper-but-uber-smart Spitz / Husky mix. When he was a puppy I didn't know even a portion of what I do now and he tore up a great number of toys as a result. I'm starting fresh with a new pound puppy. My 10-month old took off with the bones initially and tried to chew them. I removed them from her and redirected her to the real treasure. After the 2nd round of training she started ignoring the bones and going for the real treat. She now takes her meals in this or her Kong Wobbler. I still have to watch because as I was typing this she finished the game and got bored waiting for me so proceeded to chew up one of the bones. The 8-yr old owned this in no time. His first time with it he put his paw on the center to hold it in place, then picked up the bones, tossed them to the side and reaped his rewards. He was considerably more slobbery than the girl, so do be aware that these things can get slimed. I'm using other toys with him due to the goo factor, and to offer him more of a challenge since this was far too easy for him. This has been a great relief for boredom for the 10-month old. She cracked her foot on our patio when the two dogs were running full speed ahead in the yard, resulting in a toe fracture. I am to keep this puppy on limited activity for 4 - 6 weeks so I'm learning all sorts of new tricks to keep her mind active to make up for the lack of physical exertion. Now that she's able to put weight on the foot this toy, the Kong Wobbler, and a plush toy with holes to pull smaller plushes from are helping me do just that. Pros: Good introduction to puzzle toys Durable But requires training to prevent dogs from chewing the pieces up Lightweight Easy to set up Cons: Noisy if your dog manhandles it Moves all over the floor Slobber can make the pieces difficult to handle (or just gross) Takes a little time to set up Supervision needed Video is the boy on his 3rd attempt. He has a listening problem - he can't hear "sit" when he doesn't want to. :D I have to send him to the crate because he has resource guarding issues I've never been successful at training out of him so to keep things civil I send him away from the game before I refill. If that one piece hadn't escaped, breaking his concentration, he would have finished up pretty darn quick. The girl is less elegant in her execution.

Perfect for the Chihuahua who is bored easily or hates when he's left. Took a little teaching/practice but he loves it.

It kept our dog occupied for hours

Dobra jakość i dobry pomysł na przemycanie smaczków, nawet posiłków. Jednak młoda bardzo szybko rozpracowała zabawkę, musimy rozejrzeć się za czymś bardziej skomplikowanym.

I brought this when my dog was a puppy. At first he didn’t understand it, he used to run off with the little bone pieces instead of lifting them. Now he’s 21months old and he absolutely loves it. He lifts the pieces properly, finds treats and still enjoys playing with it. The puzzle has lasted really well, the plastic hasn’t cracked and the colours haven’t faded. It’s great value for money and a brilliant way to keep him mentally stimulated or busy enough so I can have a cuppa. He is a Cocker Spaniel so he is soft mouthed when he picks things up. I also sometimes change the bones that cover it and cut up empty tiolet rolls to make it more fun.

Great starter game for a puppy!

Comprato per stimolare mentalmente il mio cucciolone durante un periodo di convalescenza, a distanza ormai da mesi devo dire che ancora si diverte. La plastica è molto resistente e facile da lavare. Si possono creare diversi giochi per stimolare la ricerca e le funzioni olfattive. Per i giochi da creare basta solo qualche premietto e la vostra fantasia per inventare ogni volta giochi diversi. Si può usare anche per i cani più voraci e farli mangiare con più calma e in tante piccole dosi piuttosto che tutto insieme in una ciotola che divorerebbe in pochi secondi. Per i cuccioli stimola molto l'intelligenza e la ricerca.