Dog Brick

I originally purchased the Outward Hound by Nina Ottosson Dog Brick (Level 2) two years ago as a Christmas gift for my puppies, and it remains one of the best enrichment investments I’ve made. If you’re looking for a way to keep your dogs mentally sharp, this is a must-have for your toy box. Why This Puzzle is a Keeper: Universal Appeal Across Breeds: What impressed me most is how this toy bridges the gap between different sizes and temperaments. It was a perfect, engaging challenge for my toy breed puppy, yet it also completely occupied an energetic Beagle who had never tried a puzzle toy before. It’s rare to find one design that suits both so well. Lasting Engagement: Even though my dogs have now progressed to more complex Level 3 and Level 4 "Expert" puzzles (like the MultiPuzzle), the Dog Brick remains a firm favourite. They still get excited every time I bring it out, proving that "intermediate" doesn't mean they'll outgrow the fun. Smart "Nose Work" Design: The puzzle features three mechanics: flip-top lids, sliding red blocks, and removable white bones. I love that the white bone bricks have tiny scent holes - this allows the dogs to smell exactly where the treats are, keeping them motivated and focused on the task. The Perfect 3-in-1 Challenge: The design features three distinct obstacles: flip-lid compartments, sliding tiles, and removable bone bricks. It keeps them guessing and using their nose and paws in different ways to find their rewards. Proven Durability: After two years of frequent use, it’s still in great shape. It has provided hours of engagement, making it a high value-for-money investment. The weak point are the plastic bones, which could easily be mangled by an enthusiastic chewer so I recommend vigilance on the part of pet guardians. The plastic case is sturdy and, most importantly, easy to clean. I just hand wash it with warm, soapy water after a session, and it’s ready for the next day. Safe Materials: As a cautious pet owner, I appreciate that it’s made from food-safe materials and is BPA, PVC, and phthalate-free. I don't love plastic toys, but no reasonable alternatives come to mind for this particular puzzle. Helpful Tips for Pet Parents Because this is an intermediate toy, some dogs might try to chew the removable white bones. I recommend supervising them during play and removing the toy once the treats are gone to ensure it stays in good condition. If your dog is a "puzzle pro" and finds this too easy, try the "Frozen Puzzle" trick! Mix some wet food with water or bone broth, pour it into the compartments, and freeze it. This turns a 10-minute game into a much longer-lasting summer treat! Final Verdict: Two years later, this remains a staple in our home. Whether you have a tiny toy breed or a determined hound, this puzzle is a fantastic way to bond and provide necessary mental stimulation. Highly recommended for any dog's collection!

Bought this to keep her distracted for more than 3o seconds for her breakfast and it’s been excellent. The quality and plastic is designed to pop out if she stands on it rather than snap, and altogether well designed. The pieces feel sturdy, and it keeps my dog genuinely engaged. What’s interesting is that my dog pretends it’s difficult when people are watching, but if you leave her alone with it she’ll calmly work through it and have it emptied in about 20 minutes. That tells me it’s doing its job properly and actually making her think. After about a month of use she’s clearly learned the patterns, so we’re planning to rotate it with a higher-level puzzle to keep things challenging. Would happily buy again.

My 1 year old spaniel cross lab found this easy even when I added the flipper to the last one she opened it with ease. Although we do say she is too smart for her own good. On the plus side the item is very well made and I am going to purchase the level 3 version

Really nifty thing that does keep your dog entertained, but zi guess will vary from dog to dog. Luckily our frenchie pup has loved it from day 1. It's our goto way for giving her biscuits now as she has it down. Soon can empty it now. Lol

Quality is good but 16week old cocker had it done within 3mins

My dog loved this. An adult dog, he was unwell and I wanted some stimulating activities for him. He had so much fun with this. I’d hide 2/3 different types of treats and he’d find his favourites first. Robust quality, good size for any dog. Attractive design and easy to clean.

I was looking for an interactive toy that would be a challenge for a bright miniature schnauzer, and this is perfect for him. Unlike other options there aren’t any separate pieces, and the swinging flaps and push columns are well designed and have just the right level of sturdiness to them. There are multiple options of how to use this product: 1. Put food under the flaps in the indented hole, with the column pushed away to the far end of the section. 2. Put food under the flaps in the indented hole, with the column pushed next to the flap so that it fits into the cut-out space on the flap. 3. Turn the flap so that it is not covering the indented circle. Put the food inside the column and push it to the far end of the section away from the flap. 4. Turn the flap so that it is covering the indented hole. Put the food inside the column and push it to the far end of the section away from the flap. We worked through each of the above steps, taking a week to go up to step 4. Now we employ a variety of these steps during each round as it keeps it interesting. We’ve found it really important to have some easy wins for our dog each round so that he doesn’t get frustrated by having to do multiple things to get a piece of food. It took a few days to get him to use just his nose rather than his paws or teeth to move the flaps and columns, but this has paid off and means that it hasn’t got claw or teeth marks all over it and makes for a calmer session too. To start with we found it useful to put the pieces of food in in front of him so that he knew where they were, and he needed to be shown how it works as he’s never used anything like this. It’s been great to watch as he uses his nose more, and he’s got very good at pushing the columns from one end to another. The design of the middle three sections really challenges our dog as the middle flap won’t move if both columns are either side of it, we’re working on this next. This product is good value for money as we use it every evening and do 2+ rounds of it, which really mentally tires out our dog, and he really loves doing it. We use small sections of Pawsley Good Boy strips or small kibble as food for this product, which works very well. Even after using it every day for a month he’s yet to master this product with intended perfection every time. I’m hoping to progress onto level 3 in the next 6-12 months. Also, I’m so pleased to have this product to combine with a shorter walk on horrible weather days.

Puppy mastered it within a few weeks! No longer exciting, keeps him entertained for all of 5-10min max

O tabuleiro é bem interativo, tem vários compartimentos para abrir, empurrar e tirar pecinhas. Se o seu cão for delicado, é um excelente brinquedo. Se ele for um roedor voraz de brinquedos, melhor não, há muitas peças soltas para serem roídas e engolidas.

​最初は戸惑っていましたが、おやつが入っていると分かると一生懸命スライドしたりフタを開けたりして遊んでいます。 ​単純な「転がすだけ」のタイプとは違い、「フタを開ける」「スライドさせる」「骨を外す」という3段階のステップがあるので、飽きずに長く遊べています。早食い防止にもなりますし、雨の日や外に出られない時のストレス解消にぴったりです！

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.

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.