Unsure which puzzle to choose for your dog?

THERE IS A SUITABLE LEVEL AND GAME FOR EVERYONE

All dogs regardless of size, breed and age can play with these games - the motivation to solve puzzles is what sets them apart.

Some dogs are very food-motivated and you can use their normal food in the games, while some are more picky and like something extra tasty to work for.

Nina Ottosson’s philosophy is that dogs and cats have four legs and one head, and all five need exercise in different ways daily, both physically and mentally, some require more than others, but everyone needs it.

Puzzle games are mentally challenging, it's fun problem-solving rewarded with treats. Puzzle solving exercises your pet's mind and body, which prevents and reduces boredom and behaviour problems.

Which difficulty level should I choose for my dog?

Think about crossword puzzles for us humans, we need to start easier to understand the concept, and step by step advance to more difficult versions. If we start too difficult, we will be frustrated and finally give up. A dog who doesn't understand how a puzzle works, can by instinct start chewing their way into the treats, instead of working for them, which is completely normal for a dog if we don't teach them the playing rules, and how the puzzle works.

Note: These are just general suggestions to help you get started, and they are suitable for most dogs in these categories. However, all dogs are different, and there are of course other games that are suitable as well.

Puppies

For puppies, we recommend games that do not have loose parts or alternatively have large parts. Puppies do not know the rules of the game, so show how the game works, play together, and when you play and have fun, you can at the same time teach the dog the usual cues such as, sit, wait, go ahead, which puppies learn very quickly during positive learning.

Options:

• Wobble Bowl
• Level 1
• No removable parts
• Slow Feeder and Puzzle in one
• Perfect for dry kibble/food and treats
• Make it more difficult by placing scotch tape over a couple of the openings, so it takes longer for the food and treats to come out
• Lickin' Layers Smaller Dogs & Puppies
• Level 2
• No removable parts
• Slow Feeder and Puzzle in one
• Perfect for both dry kibble/food, treats and wet food/spreads
• Make it more difficult by freezing food into it

Small sized dogs

All small dogs can handle all games regardless of size, it's usually we who set the limits for them, but the following games are the easiest to handle for them:

• Snuffle N' Treat Ball
• Level 1
• Perfect for dry kibble/food and treats
• Make it easier by popping the chipmunks in more loosely
• Lickin' Layers Smaller Dogs & Puppies
• Level 2
• No removable parts
• Slow Feeder and Puzzle in one
• Perfect for both dry kibble/food, treats and wet food/spreads
• Make it more difficult by freezing food into it
• Challenge Slider
• Level 3
• Easy filling tray
• Make it more challenging by only placing treats in a few compartments
• Dog Worker
• Level 3
• No removable parts
• For an easier game place treats only in all base compartments, also under the spinning wheel, and cover with cups or flaps.
• To make it more difficult place treats also INSIDE the sliding cups through the top holes, the dog should rotate the spinning wheel and push the cups until the treats fall out into a base compartment.

Medium sized dogs

Can use all Nina Ottosson games, but these are the ones that are good to start with in the different levels of difficulty:

• Wobble Bowl
• Level 1
• No removable parts
• Slow Feeder and Puzzle in one
• Perfect for dry kibble/food and treats
• Make it more difficult by placing scotch tape over a couple of the openings, so it takes longer for the food and treats to come out
• Lickin' Layers Standard
• Level 2
• No removable parts
• Slow Feeder and Puzzle in one
• Perfect for both dry kibble/food, treats and wet food/spreads
• Make it more difficult by freezing food into it
• Challenge Slider
• Level 3
• Easy filling tray
• Make it more challenging by only placing treats in a few compartments
• Multi Puzzle
• Level 4
• No removable parts
• For a little easier game, place treats or food only under the sliders in the outer tray.
• Make it more difficult by also placing treats in the center treat compartments, hide the treats with the sliding covers.

Large sized dogs

Can use all our games, but what usually matters are their strength when they play - whether the dog is more careful or rough.
These games are the ones that are good to start with in the different levels of difficulty, if you don't know how your dog will work with the games:

• Wobble Bowl
• Level 1
• No removable parts
• Slow Feeder and Puzzle in one
• Perfect for dry kibble/food and treats
• Make it more difficult by placing scotch tape over a couple of the openings, so it takes longer for the food and treats to come out
• Lickin' Layers Standard
• Level 2
• No removable parts
• Slow Feeder and Puzzle in one
• Perfect for both dry kibble/food, treats and wet food/spreads
• Make it more difficult by freezing food into it
• Dog Worker
• Level 3
• No removable parts
• For an easier game place treats only in all base compartments, also under the spinning wheel, and cover with cups or flaps.
• To make it more difficult place treats also INSIDE the sliding cups through the top holes, the dog should rotate the spinning wheel and push the cups until the treats fall out into a base compartment.

Chewing dogs

Games without removable parts, or with few large parts, recommended.

The best way to prevent dogs from chewing on the game is to start as simple as possible, and show them how it works, and then step by step make it harder.

If the dog doesn't understand how it works and gets a little frustrated because the game is too difficult, it's natural for the dog to start chewing their way to the treats instead of working into it.

Supervise closely for chewing, play together, and teach the dog how the game works. Once emptied of treats or kibble, the game should be stored until next supervised use.

Rough dogs

If your dog is too rough with their paws, and tries to push the puzzle game around, or turn it upside down, try to:

• Freeze the game, because no frozen treats can fall out if the dog is too rough with the game, the dog needs to lick the treats up, and licking has a calming effect on dogs.
• Or place the game on a stool, box or similar, kids’ chairs work great, so the dog can only work with his nose, not the paws.

Blind Dogs

Are good at playing games, their sense of smell allows them to play almost any game if they get some help from us. Just like with all dogs, start with easier levels and work your way up.

 

FROZEN PUZZLE: Place treats, kibble, piece of sausage, or a tasty treat in each compartment, pour a little water, or mix a little canned dog food with water, pour some of the mixture in the tray's compartments, put the game in the freezer and let it set. This is perfect also for dogs who need some extra activity.

Puzzle games are a life saver when our dogs are injured and can't move around freely or have other mobility restrictions. Use puzzle games which stay still on the floor or on a chair, and can be handled by the nose.