Outward Hound by Nina Ottosson Dog Brick Treat Puzzle Enrichment Toy, Level 2 Intermediate Game, Blue

I’m always looking to give my elder dog just a little bit more mental stimulation and one of the great items I’ve stumbled upon is this.He initially had difficulty the first few goes but after a couple of weeks now and he’s popping lids and sliding boxes like pro. I’ve been thinking of finally adding the bones soon enough.Plastic and build quality is solid, like that one cheap but old and reliable knife who’s the household favorite. Which is to say this thing isn’t breaking down anytime soon. Colors are great, nice saturation.Only issue I can see is that It can take a bit of time to clean compared to a regular bowl but that’s to be expected.Great Value, making my dogs life just a little bit better

My first impression: Nicely packaged and a good quality item. My dog Arlo's first impression: Why are you doing this to me? I understood. We usually just pour kibble into a bowl and he happily chomps it down. Now Arlo had to work for his food. After staring at me for a few minutes, he started to nose around the puzzle. I left him to it. When I returned, Arlo was engaged with the puzzle, happily eating bits of kibble he discovered. And now he thinks he's a genius.

I recently bought this for my playful German Shepard, who loves stimulating toys and treats, lol! We use this occasionally for a few rewarded treats, or for a fun dinner. He really enjoys playing with it, and sometimes he scratches it and it rips off. It's durable, but I would like it even more if it didn't fly off when he used it, haha. And sometimes he has a bit of a hard time using it to get the treats, but you just have to help him out a little and then he gets it. It's pretty noisy when he scratches at it, but that's super understandable. It really helps with his activity level, I feel like I paid the right price for this. The only problem I have is parts of it coming off and losing it. Overall, a win for your active pup! Not too easy, but not too challenging.

Although this is well made and of a very hard plastic quality, it is a little big for my chihuahua mix to engage with. She knows the treats are in there but just doesn't get the "roll it around" idea for the treats to come out. Not a good fit for us. The noise level on our lousy tile floors scares her, the weight of it may be just a tad too much for her so it's a no-win for us.

Why did you pick this product vs others?:We just introduced this Level 2 puzzle to our pup and it’s a solid step up from beginner toys. With 3 treat compartments, flaps to flip, sliders to shift, and bone-shaped pieces to lift, it kept her engaged much longer than simpler games .

I’ve been using this puzzle since my dog was a puppy (she's 3 now), and while it has a lot of positive aspects, there are a few things that could be improved.Pros:Slows Down Mealtime: This puzzle is perfect for slowing down my dog while she eats. Instead of inhaling her food in seconds, it makes her work for her treats, which is great for digestion and mental stimulation.Keeps My Dog Entertained: My dog really enjoys solving this puzzle. It keeps her engaged for a good while, and I love that it provides a healthy outlet for her energy and curiosity. She has to figure out how to lift flaps and slide pieces to get to the food.Cons:The White "Bone" Pieces Are a Mess: I didn’t like how the little white bone-shaped pieces keep falling out of the puzzle. They just go everywhere, and after a few uses, I decided to throw them out entirely. It was more hassle than it was worth to keep them.Flaps Are Easy for My Dog to Pull Off: My dog quickly figured out how to pull off the top flaps that cover the treat compartments. While I can still use the puzzle without the flaps, it was frustrating at times when she would easily rip them off, especially during the early stages of using it.Durability Issues with Chewing: When my dog was a puppy, she chewed one of the puzzle pieces, which caused a little bit of damage. While you can still use everything, I wasn’t thrilled about the chewing. So, if you have a dog prone to chewing, be cautious about leaving them unattended with this puzzle.Takes a While to Dry: It’s great that this puzzle is dishwasher-safe, but it does take quite a while to dry completely, especially in the compartments where the treats go. You’ll need to let it sit for a bit before using it again, which is a little inconvenient when you’re in a hurry.Overall Thoughts: The Outward Hound Nina Ottosson Dog Brick Puzzle has definitely earned its place in my dog’s enrichment rotation. It’s fantastic for slowing down mealtime and providing her with some mental stimulation, which is especially important for high-energy dogs. However, the white bone pieces were a hassle, and the flaps didn’t hold up well for my dog. Still, it’s a fun and useful puzzle overall, and I’ll continue to use it in the mix with her other toys.