Outward Hound Nina Ottosson Dog Puzzle Toy

Dad

I saw this one online. Thought it looked good. Your first reaction?

Boldo

It's plastic. Smells like a factory. But there's definitely something under those sliding compartments—I can smell kibble and something else, maybe peanut butter. That part I'm interested in. The toy itself is loud when you move it around. Not my favorite sound.

Dad

Okay, you've been staring at it for ten minutes. What's the verdict on smell?

Boldo

The smell gets better once you open it. The compartments have different scents trapped inside—some smell like liver, some like fish. It's not overwhelming, which is good. Most of these things reek. This one actually smells intentional. You can tell they hid actual treats in here, not just plastic dust.

Dad

Now that you've actually used it — what do you think?

Boldo

It works. The sliders are harder than I thought, but not impossible. I had to figure out which direction each one goes, and by the second time I got frustrated and just—wait, is that the cat eating something in the kitchen? No? Okay. Anyway. The treats are worth the effort. Some of the pieces slide smoothly, others stick. Inconsistent. But I keep coming back to it, so I guess that counts for something.

Dad

The cat hasn't touched it. Does that mean something?

Boldo

The cat knows it's a waste of time for her. Can't open it with claws. Can't knock it apart. It's made for someone who actually uses their teeth and figure things out. So yes, it means the cat is smarter than to waste energy on it. But also that it's actually a dog toy, which is rare. Most of these are just noisy plastic garbage designed for your Instagram.

Dad

Rate it. One to five. You know what the ones are.

Boldo

Four. I don't want to give it four. But it keeps me occupied for longer than five minutes, the smell is good, and the treats actually take work to get. The design is solid. It doesn't fall apart when you're frustrated. Could be sturdier plastic, but for the price you paid, I'm not complaining. Don't tell anyone I said any of this.