Original Pawprint buying guide

Beginner puzzle sessions should make success easy

Our first puzzle session would reveal the food with one understandable action. We would use the person's demonstration and an easy setup before adding more covers.

Nina Ottosson Dog Tornado
Source product photo; pictured size or color may differ from your selection. Image source ↗

What we would check first

  1. Choose a first action you can show clearly.
  2. Leave some food visible or compartments uncovered.
  3. Check the size and number of detachable pieces.
  4. Stop or simplify when the dog starts grabbing the game.

How we would choose

A spinning layer, an open lid or a simple slide can become a short shared activity. Brick offers several actions, so do not introduce all of them at once. Treat Maze changes the action to tipping and moving. The right beginner choice is the one you can teach calmly and clean afterward, with the dog still able to reach a reward.

Products to compare

These are use-relevant starting points from published evidence. They are not hands-on winners or a fit approval.

Prices are dated source observations, retrieved 2026-10-26. Cached pages may be older. Known model-family prices appear lowest first; unknowns follow. Capacities, generations, quantities and sellers can differ. Confirm the exact item, availability, shipping and tax at checkout.

Nina Ottosson Dog Brick Level 2

Nina Ottosson Dog Brick Level 2

Brick would be our starting comparison for an owner who wants to teach several simple actions within one board. Lids, sliding blocks and removable covers let the person simplify the first session.

What could make us pass: Loose covers add handling and storage work. We would choose a different format if the dog is inclined to grab and chew the pieces rather than search for food.

Confirm the exact generation and all included pieces. Keep the game supervised and put covers away after use.

StoreObserved USDVariant and matchRetrieved and availabilityLink
Walmart$9.97Outward Hound by Nina Ottosson Dog Brick Dog Puzzle Interactive Treat Puzzle Dog Enrichment Dog Toy, Level 2 Intermediate, Green, Small - Walmart.com

Same named model family; exact capacity, generation, color, quantity and seller require confirmation

2026-10-26

Current selected-variant stock not verified

Search/product-page snapshot retrieved on this date; cached content may be older. Model-family price; capacity, generation and quantity must match before comparing.

View product at Walmart
Chewy$14.30OUTWARD HOUND by Nina Ottosson Brick Level 2 Puzzle Game Dog Toy, Blue & Red - Chewy.com

Same named model family; exact capacity, generation, color, quantity and seller require confirmation

2026-10-26

Current selected-variant stock not verified

Search/product-page snapshot retrieved on this date; cached content may be older. Model-family price; capacity, generation and quantity must match before comparing.

View product at Chewy
PetcoPrice not recordedOutward Hound Nina Ottosson Brick Puzzle Enrichment Dog Toy, Medium | Petco

Same named model family; exact capacity, generation, color, quantity and seller require confirmation

2026-10-26

Current selected-variant stock not verified

Search/product-page snapshot retrieved on this date; cached content may be older. Model-family price; capacity, generation and quantity must match before comparing.

View product at Petco
WalmartPrice not recordedOutward Hound Nina Ottosson Dog Brick Level 2 Interactive Treat Puzzle - Walmart.com

Same named model family; exact capacity, generation, color, quantity and seller require confirmation

2026-10-26

Current selected-variant stock not verified

Search/product-page snapshot retrieved on this date; cached content may be older. Model-family price; capacity, generation and quantity must match before comparing.

View product at Walmart
Nina Ottosson Treat Maze

Nina Ottosson Treat Maze

Treat Maze makes sense when the owner wants movement and dispensing without a board full of loose covers. We would inspect the openings using the kibble actually fed at home.

What could make us pass: A saucer that tips and moves needs usable floor space. Some food shapes may release too easily or jam, so treat size is a more useful check than a difficulty label alone.

Check food dimensions against the openings, test on your flooring and wash according to current instructions.

StoreObserved USDVariant and matchRetrieved and availabilityLink
Chewy$10.79OUTWARD HOUND Nina Ottosson Treat Maze Puzzle Game Dog Toy, Green & Purple - Chewy.com

Same named model family; exact capacity, generation, color, quantity and seller require confirmation

2026-10-26

Current selected-variant stock not verified

Search/product-page snapshot retrieved on this date; cached content may be older. Model-family price; capacity, generation and quantity must match before comparing.

View product at Chewy
PetSmart$13.77Outward Hound Treat Maze Interactive Puzzle Dog Toy

Same named model family; exact capacity, generation, color, quantity and seller require confirmation

2026-10-26

Current selected-variant stock not verified

Search/product-page snapshot retrieved on this date; cached content may be older. Model-family price; capacity, generation and quantity must match before comparing.

View product at PetSmart
Nina Ottosson Dog Tornado

Nina Ottosson Dog Tornado

We would compare Tornado for a dog ready to learn that rotating a layer reveals food. Its spinning action offers a different challenge from a stationary ridged bowl.

What could make us pass: Older and current versions share the Tornado name. The supplied yellow image and another store's blue model do not establish the same compartment count or included bones.

Check the model code, color generation and included pieces. Begin with accessible compartments and supervise closely.

StoreObserved USDVariant and matchRetrieved and availabilityLink
Chewy$15.99OUTWARD HOUND Nina Ottosson Tornado Puzzle Game Dog Toy, Yellow - Chewy.com

Same named model family; exact capacity, generation, color, quantity and seller require confirmation

2026-10-26

Current selected-variant stock not verified

Search/product-page snapshot retrieved on this date; cached content may be older. Model-family price; capacity, generation and quantity must match before comparing.

View product at Chewy
PetSmart$16.95Outward Hound® Dog Tornado Interactive Puzzle Treat Dispensing Enrichment Dog Toy

Same named model family; exact capacity, generation, color, quantity and seller require confirmation

2026-10-26

Current selected-variant stock not verified

Search/product-page snapshot retrieved on this date; cached content may be older. Model-family price; capacity, generation and quantity must match before comparing.

View product at PetSmart

A common buying question

Can a Level 2 puzzle work as a first game? It may if the instructions allow an easier setup and the dog can learn the first action. A level number alone is not a reason to buy or reject it.

Keep reading

Sources and next steps

Research date: 2026-10-26. Supervise food games and follow the exact product's current instructions.