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

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’m fostering a dog that is finicky about eating. She would leave her food or not eat. When I realized that she is driven towards her foraging behavior I purchased this food puzzle and she LOVES using it and is eating well! It’s the perfect size and fun for her. I do have to keep an eye on her not taking off with parts of it.

I originally bought one not knowing if my dogs would be interested in this. But because they loved it and it was great enrichment for them I decided to buy another one. I was a bit disappointed with the second one only because as I was washing it I noticed signs that it had been previously used and repackaged. I don’t have a problem with buying second hand items, but I wish I had at least known it was going to be second hand/that I was making the choice to buy second hand instead of realizing it on my own when I was expecting it to be new like the first one. I have the pictures up there, I originally thought the food crumbs were from the red plastic doors, until I got to one spot of food that actually stained the plastic. I didn’t return it because the product still works as described and I was able to wash it, the only thing left being the stain. Aside from this it’s not a bad product. It’s great because it keeps my dogs busy, they took longer the first day, but each time they used it they got faster at it. However, each time they finish the red doors are all over the floor, I’m not sure if this is because like others say the doors pop off too easily or if it’s because they are larger dogs and this product was designed for small to medium sized dogs. I used it around 5 times and it’s in good condition because I take it away right after they finish. The one time I didn’t one of my dogs chewed one of the doors but luckily they also sell just the doors. Pros: stimulating for dogs/keeps them busy and lets them keep sniffing, doors are detachable (can buy more if chewed up), not too difficult to wash. Cons: slip resistant bottoms only somewhat work, if you don’t attach the doors correctly they pop off very easily.

I have a rescue from a very difficult background that I'm still rehabilitating. He is extremely fearful and inhibited, and doesn't play with toys or stuffed animals, doesn't fetch, hates going outside. After over a year of work he sometimes enjoys petting, that's about it. But he is very food motivated and he absolutely LOVES these dog puzzles. He even took one of the bones and one of the lids from the sliding compartment back to his bed. He has never done that with anything that he didn't immediately eat haha. It's so exciting to find something that he really loves and looks forward to, and that turns what would otherwise be a one minute dinner into as much playtime as we feel like. I was very eager to add some stimulation to his day and this knocks it out of the park. The item itself is well built and the prices incredible. He sometimes chews the lids off but they pop back on, great design feature. It's lightweight and it holds a lot of food. You can spend a little or a long time with it depending on how much food you put in, where you place it, and how many times you offer it. This item was relatively easy for my dog to figure out how to operate in a couple of sessions but that hasn't diminished his enjoyment so far, and I wouldn't say he's mastered it yet either. He is still working out how to do the Level 3 puzzles consistently.

My dog is a true sweetheart, but she's also a fast eater and a very aggressive chewer, so I wanted a puzzle toy that would allow her to use some of her thinking skills, along with it being sturdy enough to handle the power behind her teeth and nails. The Outward Hound Dog Tornado Treat Puzzle Dog Toy works wonderfully, providing a high Activity level and fun Playability!! Granted, although it doesn't take my dog very long to get to the treats -- I typically only place one small treat at a time in the different puzzle bins -- it still makes her have to use her smarts to get to the covered goodies. Having three layers to this puzzle makes it even greater, because the different layers rotate around without the treats just spilling out. As I mentioned before, my dog is an aggressive chewer and I caught her chewing on one of white bin covers while I was refilling the bins, so you should watch your dog the entire time they're playing with this! The puzzle can get noisy when your dog moves the layers around to get to the treats, but I expected that. The toy colors are bright and stimulating. As for the smell, I clean the empty puzzle bins, the bin tops, and all three layers of the toy after each use, because slobber is a byproduct of the play. For me, this Dog Tornado Treat Puzzle Dog Toy is far beyond a great Value for the money, because of its very low price, especially compared to some other puzzle treat toys, it’s sturdiness, and it's fun and reusability!!!

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.

This is one of my dog’s favorite puzzles. He even brought it to me the other day. Even my old dogs love this one. It takes a bit of thinking (or luck) to get all the treats but is satisfying for them. Moving on to the next level but often step back to this one to enhance his fun.