8 Nina Ottosson Dog Puzzles for Every Level
Dog Product ReviewsCopy: Serena Faber Nelson Photography: Serena Faber Nelson
A clever dog with nothing to do will invent a hobby, and it usually involves the couch cushions. Nina Ottosson dog puzzles hand that busy mind a proper job instead. Your dog sniffs, nudges, spins and slides to reach a hidden treat, and the whole range is graded from Level 1 to Level 4, so there is always a next step. Below, eight of the best-known puzzles are reviewed in order of difficulty, with honest notes on who each one suits.
Nina Ottosson Levels and Which Puzzle to Buy First
Nina Ottosson puzzles are treat games made by Outward Hound and sorted into four difficulty levels. Level 1 asks for one simple action, such as knocking a peg or lifting a cover. Level 2 adds spinning, sliding or rolling. Level 3 links two steps, like unlocking and then pulling. Level 4 combines several challenges on one board. Most dogs should start at Level 1, even bright ones.
Start too hard and a frustrated dog tends to dig, then chew. Start too easy and the game is over before the kettle boils. Puzzle time sits nicely alongside these other ways to mentally stimulate your dog on days when a long walk is off the cards.
| Puzzle | Level | What your dog does | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dog Smart | 1 | Knocks pegs off nine compartments | First-timers of any age |
| Puppy Smart | 1 | Lifts bone covers off nine compartments | Puppies and small dogs |
| Dog Tornado | 2 | Spins three stacked tiers | Nose-led dogs |
| Treat Maze | 2 | Rolls and tips a maze to drop kibble | Solo play |
| Dog Brick | 2 | Slides, flips and lifts | Dogs ready for variety |
| Dog Casino | 3 | Twists a lock, then pulls a drawer | Paw-happy problem solvers |
| Dog Twister | 3 | Pulls a handle, then slides a disc | Patient, persistent dogs |
| MultiPuzzle | 4 | Works sliders, a wheel and locks in order | Dogs who have beaten Level 3 |
For the bigger picture on matching toys to size and chewing style, this dog toy buying guide is a helpful companion.
Level 1 Beginner Puzzles: Dog Smart and Puppy Smart
Both hide treats in nine little wells. The difference is in the covers, and it changes who each one suits.
Nina Ottosson Dog Smart Review
Dog Smart is the classic first puzzle. Nine compartments sit under nine chunky pegs, and each peg has small holes on top so the smell of the treat drifts up. Your dog paws or noses a peg over, finds the reward, and moves on to the next. That is the whole lesson, and it is an important one: moving something gets food.
The current version is a plastic and wood composite that wipes clean easily. A Labrador might clear it in a minute once the penny drops. That is fine. A quick win is the point.
Good to know: the pegs lift right out, so a mouthy dog may try to carry one off. Stay close and swap the peg for a treat.
Best for: adult dogs meeting their first puzzle, and seniors who enjoy an easy, satisfying game.
Nina Ottosson Puppy Smart Review
Puppy Smart swaps the pegs for nine bone-shaped covers. Here is the clever part. Set the bones at an angle, propped up on the edge of their wells, and they flip off with the lightest nudge. Lay them flat and your puppy has to work a little harder. One toy, two settings, and it grows with a young dog over a few weeks.
Keep early games to two or three minutes. Puppies tire quickly and get mouthy when they do, and a teething Cavoodle will happily gnaw a bone cover if left to it. Put the puzzle up high when the treats run out. It earns a spot on any new puppy checklist next to the chew toys, not instead of them.
The bone covers are fairly thin, and some owners find the little tabs fiddly for very small mouths. Swap any cracked bone straight away.
Best for: puppies, toy breeds and any dog who finds Dog Smart a touch too much.
Dog Smart vs Puppy Smart
Pick Puppy Smart for a young or small dog, or one who gives up easily, since the angled-bone setting makes success almost certain. Pick Dog Smart for a grown dog with bigger paws. Most dogs are ready for Level 2 within a couple of weeks.
Level 2 Intermediate Puzzles That Spin, Roll and Slide
Level 2 is where the range gets fun, because each game asks for a new kind of movement. If you are weighing other brands too, these puzzle dog toys sorted by skill level cover the wider market.
Nina Ottosson Dog Tornado Review
The Dog Tornado stacks three spinning tiers over twelve treat compartments. Your dog pushes a layer round with a nose or paw, and a treat appears through the gap. Three bone-shaped covers sit on top for a harder setting, since the tiers will not turn freely until the bones are lifted out.
In the Pretty Fluffy test, the first instinct was to dig at it like a garden bed. A few demonstrations of nudging the top layer, and the spinning clicked. It also holds roughly half a cup of kibble, so it can stand in for the dinner bowl now and then.
Watch for: strong pawing dogs can push it across a slippery floor, so a rug or yoga mat underneath helps. Owners also report that the small rubber feet on the base can come loose, which is worth checking before every game with a puppy. Some quick learners solve it in a couple of minutes, and that is your sign to add the bones.
Best for: dogs who have finished Level 1 and lead with their nose.
Nina Ottosson Treat Maze Review
The Treat Maze works like a much smarter treat ball. Kibble goes in through the top, a quick shake spreads the smell, and your dog rocks, rolls and tips it so the pieces travel through the inner maze and fall out. There are no loose parts, which makes it one of the tidier puzzles in the range.
In the Pretty Fluffy test it held attention far longer than an ordinary treat ball. These boredom busters for dogs pair well with it on long afternoons.
Best for: energetic dogs who like to bat toys around the floor.
Nina Ottosson Dog Brick Review
The Dog Brick packs three challenges onto one rectangle. Red sliders hide some compartments, flip lids cover others, and removable bones sit over the middle row. Your dog has to switch between sliding, flipping and lifting, which keeps the game from becoming a routine. It holds about three quarters of a cup of kibble.
With the bones out and lids open, it is a gentle first Level 2 game, and a natural fit for busy working breeds, many of them regulars among the smartest dog breeds.
Best for: dogs ready for variety, and homes that want one Level 2 puzzle rather than three.
Level 3 Advanced Puzzles With Locks and Drawers
At Level 3, your dog has to do two things in the right order. This is where patience counts, for both of you.
Nina Ottosson Dog Casino Review
Dog Casino hides treats in six drawers, each held shut by a bone-shaped lock. Your dog twists the bone to free the drawer, then pulls the drawer open to reach the reward. The locks are built in rather than loose, so there is less to lose under the sofa.
Start with every lock open and the drawers pulled out a crack. Once your dog is opening drawers happily, turn one lock, then two. Watching a dog hook a drawer out delicately with one paw, as happened in the Pretty Fluffy test, is a genuine delight.
Best for: paw-led dogs with a few Level 2 games behind them.
Nina Ottosson Dog Twister Review
The Dog Twister uses triangular discs over the treat wells. Each disc is locked by a white handle. Your dog pulls the handle out, then slides the disc aside to uncover the food. Two steps, every time, and dogs who rush tend to get stuck until they slow down.
A useful trick for nose-first dogs: tie a short rope to each handle so it can be pulled with the mouth. To make it tougher, set the puzzle on a low stool so paws are harder to use. The discs snap off for washing.
Best for: persistent dogs who like to keep working at a problem.
Level 4 Expert Puzzle for Seasoned Solvers
Nina Ottosson MultiPuzzle Review
The MultiPuzzle is four games in one. Green tiles slide over the outer compartments, a wheel spins to reveal more, center sliders cover the middle, and orange locks can be added to pin the tiles in place. Some treats can only be reached once others are cleared, so your dog has to work in sequence.
This is for the Border Collie or Poodle who clears the Casino in under a minute. Build it up one feature at a time and leave the locks off for the first week. Owners note that the plastic tiles can crack under heavy pawing.
Best for: dogs who have mastered Level 3 and still want more.
Choosing a Treat Puzzle for Your Dog's Age and Size
Puppies and Toy Breeds
Short sessions, light covers and quick wins. Puppy Smart is the obvious start, followed by the Treat Maze once your puppy can roll a toy with purpose. Puzzle time doubles as bonding time, and these ways to bond with your puppy build on the same trust.
Large Dogs and Strong Pawers
Big paws can flip a light puzzle across the room. The Dog Brick and Dog Casino sit flat and take a firm paw well, especially on a non-slip mat.
Pugs, Frenchies and Other Flat-Faced Breeds
A short muzzle makes lifting deep bones and nosing small wells harder work. Paw-driven games such as the Dog Casino, Dog Brick sliders and Treat Maze tend to suit a Pug or French Bulldog better than nose-only covers. Use shallow fills, so treats sit near the top.
Senior Dogs and Fast Eaters
Older dogs often love a Level 1 or 2 game that asks little of the joints. For dogs who inhale dinner, the Tornado and Brick hold a small meal and slow things down, much like these slow feeder dog bowls.
How to Teach Your Dog a New Puzzle Toy
The First Session
Let your dog watch you load the treats. Start on the easiest setting, praise every attempt, and show the movement with your hand if they stall. Keep it to a few minutes and end on a success.
When Your Dog Gives Up or Starts Chewing
Most dogs dig or mouth a new puzzle at first. Guide them back to the right action, make the setting easier, and use smellier treats such as small pieces of chicken. A dog who walks away is usually telling you the level is too high.
Puzzle Safety, Cleaning and Care
These puzzles are games, not chew toys. Always supervise, put the puzzle away once the treats are gone, and replace anything cracked or chewed. Keep loose pegs and bones away from a dog who swallows things.
Outward Hound recommends hand washing with warm water and mild soap, with pegs and covers removed and every compartment left to dry fully. Count puzzle treats as part of the daily food allowance, or simply use part of your dog's usual kibble.
Pros and Cons of the Nina Ottosson Range
What Works Well
- Real mental exercise that leaves most dogs pleasantly tired.
- Clear levels make the next puzzle an easy choice.
- Most games can be made easier or harder without buying a new one.
- BPA, PVC and phthalate free materials.
- Handy for rainy days and small apartments.
What to Keep in Mind
- Not chew-proof, so every session needs supervision.
- Clever dogs outgrow Level 1 fast.
- Loose pegs and bones on some models can go missing.
- Lightweight boards can slide on hard floors.
Where to Buy Nina Ottosson Puzzles
The range is widely stocked at pet stores and online, though individual puzzles go in and out of stock. Before buying the next step up, browse the full Nina Ottosson range at Outward Hound, where the games are grouped by level.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
1Which Nina Ottosson puzzle should a dog start with?
Start with a Level 1 game. Dog Smart suits most adult dogs, while Puppy Smart suits puppies and small breeds thanks to its easy angled-bone setting. Even clever dogs benefit, because the first puzzle teaches the basic rule that moving a part reveals a treat. Once your dog solves it quickly, step up to the Dog Tornado or Dog Brick.
2Is the Dog Tornado or Dog Casino harder?
The Dog Casino is harder. It is a Level 3 puzzle that asks your dog to twist a bone lock and then pull out a drawer, two steps in a row. The Dog Tornado is Level 2 and mainly asks your dog to spin its tiers, with three optional bone covers to raise the difficulty once spinning is easy.
3Are Nina Ottosson puzzles good for puppies?
Yes, with the right level and close supervision. Puppy Smart is designed for young dogs, and other Level 1 games suit them too. Keep sessions to a few minutes, help often, and put the puzzle away as soon as your puppy starts chewing the pieces, since teething puppies can damage covers quickly.
4Can Nina Ottosson puzzles go in the dishwasher?
Outward Hound recommends hand washing with warm water and mild soap rather than the dishwasher. Remove pegs, covers and discs first so food does not collect underneath, then let every compartment dry fully before the next game. Wash more often after wet food, peanut butter or other sticky fillings.
5Can you leave a dog alone with a puzzle toy?
No. Nina Ottosson puzzles are designed for supervised play, and a bored dog left alone may chew the pieces instead of solving the game. Stay close while your dog plays and put the puzzle away once the treats are gone. For gentler ideas suited to older dogs, browse the senior dogs section.
Picking Your Dog's Next Brain Game
Start at Level 1, move up when the current game gets easy, and keep two or three puzzles in rotation so none goes stale. For more ideas to fill the toy basket, browse the dog toys directory.
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