Outward Hound by Nina Ottosson Dog Tornado – Interactive Treat Puzzle Enrichment Toy, 3 Spinning Layers, Level 2 Intermediate

We have a standard Aussie pup that needs as much mental stimulation as can be provided, and an older Sheltie that enjoys challenges. I started looking into enrichment toys and came across this - it's the first one I've purchased, and after adding several more to our tool box, it's hands down the best, IMO, for multiple reasons. We started off very easy with small bites of chicken in the compartments. My Aussie pup figured out where the chicken was, and that he could eventually get to it - though he wasn't quite sure how (THIS IS GOOD) - and that kept him busy, figuring out HOW - for a couple of days at about 20 minutes of busy time per day. This busy time is awesome because it's as tiring as an equivalent amount of active outdoor time, albeit in a vastly different way. This makes it fantastic for pups recovering from injuries or surgery as well as those needing mental stimulation and busy time! I've been upping the difficulty and time consumption factors by adding more challenging items to consume in the treat areas: a smear of cream cheese with a few pieces of kibble pressed into it, natural apple sauce, raw patè, etc. The next step will be to freeze things, like bone broth, in the removable red-lidded compartments. This will exponentially increase the time this game occupies your dog. Because you can vary the difficulty level somewhat and the consumption time drastically, this is my favorite enrichment toy at the level 2 scale of difficulty. It's very easy to clean, and appears to be made well enough to withstand the rigors of a mouthy, chew-focused puppy, and it's heavy enough that it doesn't seem to be something he'll try and carry off to another location. (NOTE: Do not leave your dog unattended with this. There are moving and removeable parts. I would NOT put this in an X pen with my pup and leave him for the day). Overall, this was a more versatile investment than I expected. I'm impressed with the quality of the parts and the degree to which I can customize it for my dogs, as well as the amount of enrichment time I want to occupy them with. I can quickly throw together a five minute game to redirect them mentally, or present them with a 45 minute block of licking, small treats, and quiet time.

Very cute. My dog loves it. Took her a couple of times to get the hang of it. I thought it might be to big for my dog but it isn't. Good quality, looks like it will last a long time. The squirrels could be sown better. I have a hard time getting the squirrels in because of arthritis but if was easier than it would be easier for my dog too.

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.

I love this brain toy. My puppy learned to use it pretty easily with the little modeling. It does keep her busy longer than other brain toys and easily accommodates half a cup of puppy food. She did however, managed to start chewing on the white bone portions. Lesson learned that I need to remove it from her feeding area when she’s done.

My dog is shy about playing with this around me. I keep it out when I have to leave. Tonight I felt bad that he hasn't played with it, so I sat with him again to show him how to open it. When I opened them, there were like 4 treats missing. Somehow, he managed to get them and put everything back exactly as he found it! So he does use it, just acts like he doesn't understand when I'm around to manipulate me to open them for him, lol! I highly recommend this, as it's entertaining and keeps your dog busy!

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.

This is one of our very favorite and most useful toys. The ball is very well made of durable rubber (or whatever it is that feels like good rubber these days and the rubber extends a little bit over the edge of the treat wells so that the dog can't chew the plastic wells out. The squirrels are, of course, fabric and we know what happens with that. That said, they too are well made. with "painted" on faces, no bulging eyes to chew out of them. I ordered 6 additional squirrels shortly after getting the toy for two reasons: 1) I'm lazy (and old) and didn't want to have to go squirrel searching all the time and 2) I wanted to be sure I had extras in case they became unavailable in the future. I have something similar to a toy hammock or net bag hanging on a wall where I deposit the squirrels as I come upon them. She only gets to play with them in conjunction with the ball (or if she finds a missing one before I do). Initially it did not look to me as though this toy would hold enough food to actually feed her from. It does. It holds about a cup and a half, maybe a little more, if you only put the squirrel head half way in each well. My Archie is about 40 pounds and is not what is considered an aggressive chewer though she has chewed a number of toys to their death. This one still looks like new as do all the squirrels (which I toss in the wash, not sure if that is recommended.) This would work as a slow feeder but that's not why I got it. My girl isn't always hungry when we feed the little dogs and cats. She's more of a grazer. I would free-feed her if I didn't have the others. This toy gives me a way to have food out for her when she wants it, the little dogs know it's not theirs and the cats aren't interested in working at it. (One cat figured out the gum ball machine toy before any of the dogs did and by the time they did the cat was puking. That toy went into storage) First Use: Archie did not intuitively know how to get the squirrels out at first and lost interest before she succeeded. Maybe she would have been smarter if I waited until she was starving but I don't like doing that. What I did was fill the wells about half way and stuck the squirrel heads in just far enough that they wouldn't fall out as I put it down. When I put it down and gave it a little roll, with her paying attention, a squirrel did come out and let the kibble out too which she ate up immediately and started to catch on. I put the squirrels barely in for a few days until she really got the hang of it, which she did. Interesting note: my girl does know the command for tug or pull but she could not relate it to this ball and squirrel thing so we had to go the other route. This is a toy I don't think you'll regret buying. I'm tempted to order a back-up one and keep it in our RV.

I am so grateful that I found this company, iv bought a few things from outward hound and NO I AM NOT PAID for this review in any way, shape or form!!!! I just really love their products they focus on mental stimulation and I Love that!! I also love how they have different levels of difficulty and a wide variety to choose from that’s amazing! coming from someone that’s experienced with owning many different breeds of dog and have trained multiple breeds as well. I understand dogs and how they think. I’m an animal lover in general but I CAN’T STRESS ENOUGH HOW IMPORTANT MENTAL STIMULATION is for dog’s or any animal for that matter these are good for rabbits, cats, ferrets, birds, even reptiles and other animals there not just for dogs!!! People often give their pets the physical activity that they need but neglect the mental stimulation they need. Mental stimulation is JUST AS IMPORTANT as physical stimulation!!! Animals are a lot smarter than what people think or give them credit for. They do have feelings, emotions, and need mental stimulation just like humans do. Boredom is one of those emotions! Their brains never stop. If you have a dog that has their physical demands met but still has behavioral issues, especially chewing up things you need to get some mental stimulation going on because they’re really bored or ticked off or both lol. When they’re not mentally stimulated their #1 behavioral issue they resort to is chewing and or destruction FYI that can also be a sign of not enough physical activity as well. If your dogs mental AND physical stimulations are not being met than you have a ticking time bomb on your hands!!! as you can see from the picture my pup Came out from the covers when she heard that rattle from the string toy (shown in the pic) she goes nuts over that one lol she loves doing all of her puzzles (shown in the pic) as well she’s so smart. One that I don’t have pictured here is the ball that you put treats in that’s one of her favorites! she will actually bring that ball to me wanting me to fill it up so she can roll it around on the floor to get the treats out lol I have the over the shoulder carrier as well (shown in the pic) I love thing too i believe it can be worn like a normal back pack AND in the front on the shoulders over your stomach iv only worn it over my shoulders in the front over my stomach it’s awesome very comfortable, sturdy and she sits right in it if I could give this company 100 stars I would!! definitely well worth your money if your undecided about the puzzles buy it!! Sorry for the long review I hope it helped and or educated a little bit

Brinquedo inteligente e anti stress

Really well made and durable. Our Aussie Shepherd 3 month old puppy loves it even though he worked it all out nearly immediately. We still set it up for him even though he races through it. Very impressed with the brand and we have since purchased more difficult puzzles from the same line.

Great quality, my whippet loves it. These puzzles are especially useful when your dog is injured or unable to be walked for medical reasons. Or just as a fun interactive treat when they are restless and you’re working from home!

Kul grej! Men som med alla Nina Ottosson-pussel är kanterna vassa. Har man en hund som jobbar snabbt och kan bli lite ivrig kan de skära sig på underkanten av varje våning.

Perfect toy for both dog and the owner