In-depth review
Nina Ottosson Dog Brick Review (2027)
In-depth review of the Dog Brick puzzle: three challenge types, difficulty scaling, durability, and supervision needs.
Outward Hound / Nina Ottosson Dog Brick Puzzle
A level-2 sliding and flipping puzzle with three challenge types.
Our verdict
The Dog Brick is the level-2 benchmark: three distinct mechanics in one board, honest scaling from easy wins to genuinely tricky slides, and build quality that survives enthusiastic paws. It demands supervision and hand washing, and bright dogs will plateau in time. As the step after slow bowls, it is the category standard.
What we like
- Flip lids, slide blocks, and removable bones in one board
- Difficulty scales by hiding treats in fewer, harder compartments
- Non-slip base and BPA-free composite build
- The Nina Ottosson line is the category's design benchmark
What to watch out for
- Determined chewers can pry pieces; supervision required
- Small parts need hand washing and full drying
- Smart dogs plateau in weeks; rotate puzzles
What owners report: Outward Hound / Nina Ottosson Dog Brick Puzzle
Synthesized from recurring themes in long-term owner feedback.
Most praised
- Combining flip lids, sliding blocks and lift out bones keeps dogs guessing longer than a single mechanism board
- Loading only a few compartments lets owners raise the difficulty gradually instead of overwhelming a new dog
- The board stays put on the floor thanks to its non slip base even when paws bat at it firmly
Common complaints
- Strong jaws can pry at the loose pieces, so sessions need someone nearby the whole time
- Every small part has to be washed and dried separately, which slows the cleanup routine
- Bright dogs finish the board quickly after a few weeks and start waiting for the next puzzle in the rotation
Who it is for
Dogs that have mastered slow feeders and owners ready to supervise real puzzle sessions.
Three mechanics, one board
Flip-up lids teach cause and effect in minutes, sliding blocks add spatial problem solving, and the removable white bones gate the hardest compartments. Because difficulty is set by which compartments you load, one board serves a dog for months: full and easy for learning, sparse and hard for mastery.
Session quality
A loaded Brick occupies most dogs for 10 to 20 minutes of concentrated work, the mental equivalent owners describe as a walk's worth of tired. Sessions should end with the board put away: left out, it becomes furniture; presented, it stays an event.
Durability and care
The composite board shrugs off paws and noses; teeth are the limit, so chewers play supervised and the board stores out of reach. Parts hand wash and must dry fully to avoid trapped moisture odors. Replacement pieces are available through the maker ecosystem for the inevitable lost bone.
Key specifications
- Difficulty
- Level 2 (intermediate)
- Material
- BPA/PVC/phthalate-free composite
- Challenges
- Flip, slide, lift-out bones (20+ compartments class)
- Cleaning
- Hand wash with soap, dry fully
- Pets
- Dogs (all sizes with supervision)
Also consider
Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl
The classic maze bowl that stretches meals up to ten times longer.
Why consider it: Unsupervised-adjacent daily slowing when puzzle supervision is impractical.
- Capacity: Up to 4 cups (large); smaller sizes 3/4 to 2 cups
- Material: Food-safe ABS plastic, BPA/PVC/phthalate free
PAW5 Wooly Snuffle Mat
A shaggy fleece mat that hides kibble for nose-led foraging.
Why consider it: Nose-led decompression on days the brain needs calm, not challenge.
- Size: Approx. 12 x 18 in
- Material: Fleece fabric strands on mat base
Research-based assessment. TrueGear has not hands-on tested this product; this evaluation synthesizes manufacturer specifications, retailer documentation, and published expert reviews.
Questions, answered
What age dog suits the Dog Brick?
Puppies with supervision through senior dogs; difficulty scaling makes it age-agnostic. Very senior or cognitively impaired dogs should stay at the easiest configuration.
How do I stop my dog chewing the pieces?
Redirect to the puzzle action with a loaded easy compartment, and end the session if chewing persists. Chewing means the difficulty jumped too fast.
Can cats use the Dog Brick?
Many do, happily. Load the flip lids first; feline paw work suits the board's mechanics well.