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Introduction
Max is a super smart Lab, right? He’s always getting into trouble, because he’s bored. Last month, I went to work, and I came home to find he’d chewed a hole in my couch. A whole hole! And he’d chewed up my favorite pair of shoes, too. I was so mad, I’d had enough. The vet said he was bored, he needed mental stimulation, because he was too smart, and he had nothing to do, so he chewed stuff.
I started looking for puzzle toys, right? Something that would keep him busy, tire out his brain, so he wouldn’t chew my couch anymore. I found the Outward Hound Dog Brick Puzzle. It was $13, it said it was an intermediate level puzzle, that would keep him entertained for hours. I ordered it immediately, because I was desperate. After using it for a month, I put together this full Outward Hound Dog Brick Puzzle review to share everything I learned, the good, the bad, and the annoying little things that no one tells you about.
Outward Hound Dog Brick Puzzle: An Outward Hound Dog Brick Review of Its Design
So, what is this thing, anyway? It’s a plastic puzzle toy, right? It’s level 2, intermediate, which means it’s for dogs that have already done the easy puzzles, and are ready for something a little harder. It has three different ways to hide treats: there are flip compartments, that you open like little lids, there are sliding compartments, that you slide over, and there are these little bone-shaped pieces, that you lift up, and hide treats under.
It’s made of plastic, and it’s BPA, PVC, and phthalate free, so it’s safe for your dog, right? No toxic stuff. It has a non-slip bottom, too, so it doesn’t slide around on the floor, even if your dog is pushing it, or pawing at it.
It’s only $13, which is cheap, right? A lot of the other puzzle toys are $30 or $40, so this was a steal, I thought.
My Story: Putting the Outward Hound Dog Brick to the Test
When the puzzle arrived, I was so excited. I opened it up, and it was this big plastic tray, blue and white, it looked cute. I put treats in all the compartments: I put some in the flip lids, some in the sliding ones, and some under the little bone pieces. I was so proud of myself, I thought, this is going to keep him busy for hours!
I put it on the floor, and Max came over, sniffed it. And then, he started pawing at it. First, he opened the flip lids, one by one, ate the treats. Then he slid the sliding ones, ate those treats. Then he lifted up the little bone pieces, ate those treats. That took him… 5 minutes. 5 minutes! That was it? He did the whole thing, in 5 minutes?
I was shocked. I thought it was supposed to be intermediate, hard! He did it, like, it was nothing. And then, after he ate all the treats, he picked the whole thing up, flipped it over, and shook it. All the crumbs, all the little bits of treats that were left, fell out. He ate those, and then he walked away, and started chewing my couch again. Are you kidding me? That was the whole point! I spent $13, to stop him from chewing my couch, and it only distracted him for 5 minutes!
But then, the first week, it was okay, right? Because he didn’t know how to do it, at first. The first day, he spent 20 minutes, trying to figure it out. He was sniffing, pawing, trying to open the lids. It was cute, watching him think. He was so focused, he didn’t chew anything, for 20 minutes. That was great!
But then, after a week, he learned it. And now, he does it in 5 minutes. Every single time. I put the treats in, he eats them, in 5 minutes, and then he’s bored again. And then he chews my couch. Ugh.
Also, the little bone pieces. They’re so easy to bite. Max likes to chew things, right? He grabbed one of the little bone pieces, and he bit it, and he almost bit a chunk out of it. I had to take it away from him, because I was scared he would bite it off, and swallow it, and choke. That’s so dangerous! The pieces are small, and the plastic is thin, so he can bite them easily.
And the plastic, it’s so thin. I dropped it, once, and it cracked. A little crack, on the edge. It’s not very sturdy, it’s cheap plastic, right? I can’t believe it, it’s so flimsy.
But the best part? The non-slip bottom, that worked. At first, before he learned to flip it over, it didn’t slide around. He couldn’t push it across the floor, like he did with other toys. That was nice.
What I Liked and What I Didn’t Like About the Outward Hound Dog Brick Puzzle
After using this for a month, I’ve gone through all the pros and cons, and I checked out hundreds of other reviews to make sure I wasn’t the only one with these experiences.
What I Liked
- It works, at first: The first few days, before he learned how to do it, it kept him busy for 20 minutes. He was focused, he didn’t chew anything, he was thinking. That was great, it tired out his brain.
- It’s safe, if he uses it right: It’s BPA free, no toxic stuff, so if he licks it, or eats a little bit of it, it’s fine.
- It has different ways to hide treats: The flip lids, the sliding ones, the bone pieces, it’s fun, at first, to watch him figure it out.
- The non-slip bottom works: Before he learned to flip it over, it stayed in place, it didn’t slide around. That was nice.
- It’s cheap: $13 is nothing, compared to the other puzzle toys that are $40 or $50. Even if it only lasts a few months, it’s worth it, for the first week.
What I Didn’t Like
- It’s way too easy: My dog did the whole thing, in 5 minutes, after he learned it. It’s supposed to be intermediate, but it’s so easy, even a puppy can do it.
- He can flip it over, and dump all the treats out: After he eats all the treats, he just flips the whole thing over, and shakes it, and all the crumbs fall out. That’s so stupid, why didn’t they make it heavier, so he can’t flip it?
- The little pieces are a choking hazard: The little bone pieces, they’re small, and the plastic is thin, so he can bite them, and swallow them. That’s so dangerous, I’m scared he’ll choke.
- The plastic is thin and flimsy: It’s cheap plastic, so it cracks easily, it breaks easily. I dropped it once, and it cracked.
- He gets bored of it, after a week: Once he learns how to do it, he’s done. He doesn’t want to play with it anymore, because it’s too easy. So it only works for a week, and then it’s useless.
Is the Outward Hound Dog Brick Right for Your Dog?
So, is this thing right for you? Well, that depends. If you have a puppy, that’s just starting out with puzzle toys, and they’ve never done one before? Then yeah, this is perfect. It’s easy, it teaches them how puzzles work, it keeps them busy, for the first week.
But if you have a smart dog, that’s already done puzzles before? Then no, this is too easy. They’ll do it in 5 minutes, and then they’ll be bored again.
And if you have a dog that likes to chew things? Then no, this is not for you. They’ll bite the pieces, they’ll break the plastic, they’ll choke. It’s not for chewers.
Also, if you have a big, strong dog? Then they can just flip it over, and dump all the treats out, like Max did. So it’s useless.
Common Questions About the Outward Hound Dog Brick Puzzle
I got so many questions from my friends after I posted about this, so I wanted to answer the most common ones here.
Is this good for smart dogs?
If they’re new to puzzles, yeah, it works. But if they’re already good at puzzles, it’s too easy. They’ll do it in 5 minutes, and then they’re bored.
Can my dog chew this up?
If they’re a chewer, yeah. The plastic is thin, the pieces are small, they can bite them off, and swallow them. It’s not for chewers.
Is this safe?
It’s BPA free, so the ingredients are safe, but the small pieces are a choking hazard, if your dog chews them. So be careful.
How long does this keep my dog entertained?
At first, 20 minutes, while they’re learning. But after they learn it, 5 minutes. That’s it. Then they’re done.
My Top Takeaways on the Outward Hound Dog Brick Puzzle
At the end of the day, this thing works, for the first week. It solved my biggest problem—Max chewing my couch, for a little while. The first week, he was so busy, trying to figure out the puzzle, he didn’t chew anything. That was great, it tired out his brain, he was so tired after, he slept, instead of chewing.
But after that, it was useless. He learned it, and now it’s just a toy that he ignores, unless I put treats in it, and then he eats the treats in 5 minutes, and then he’s bored again.
The non-slip part was great, at first, but once he learned to flip it over, that didn’t matter anymore. And the cleaning part? It was easy, I just wiped it down, and it was clean. That was nice.
It’s not a long-term solution, it’s not a professional puzzle toy, but it’s a great starting point, for puppies, that are just learning how puzzles work. If you’re like me, and you were completely desperate to stop your dog from chewing your couch, for a little while, this is a great way to do it.
Final Thoughts on the Outward Hound Dog Brick Puzzle
All in all, the Outward Hound Dog Brick Puzzle has been a mixed bag. It solved my biggest problem—Max chewing my couch, for a week—but it came with a whole bunch of new problems I didn’t expect. The easy puzzles, the flimsy plastic, the choking hazard, it’s all a little much for $13, but honestly, it’s still cheaper than the other options.
If you have a puppy, that’s just starting out with puzzles, and you want to teach them how it works? It’s worth it. But if you have a smart dog, that’s already good at puzzles? Don’t waste your money.
If you’re interested in trying it out, you can check it out here: Check Price on Amazon
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A Quick Disclaimer
I’m not a vet or professional trainer. This is just my personal experience.