Need a super fun outward hound dog toy? Discover puzzle toys that keep your smart dog busy!

Alright, let's talk about this Outward Hound toy situation. My dog, Buster, he’s a real chewer, you know? Destroys most things in minutes. I kept seeing these Outward Hound toys, especially the plush hide-and-seek ones, and figured, why not give it a try? Needed something to keep his brain busy too, not just his jaws.

So, I went ahead and bought one. It was the log with the squeaky squirrels inside. Seemed cute, looked reasonably well-made when I first got my hands on it. The idea is simple: you stuff the little critters in the log, and the dog has to figure out how to pull them out.

First Impressions and Buster's Take

Brought it home, took off the tags, and showed it to Buster. He was immediately interested. Sniffing like crazy. I stuffed the squirrels inside the log – which, by the way, was easy enough to do – and tossed it to him.

He went right at it. Started pawing and nosing at the openings, trying to get the squirrels. Took him a few minutes, which was great! Exactly what I wanted, some mental stimulation. He pulled out the first squirrel, gave it a good squeak and a shake, then went back for the others. Success, right?

How It Held Up Over Time

Well, here’s the thing. The puzzle aspect worked great initially. Buster loved figuring it out. But remember I said he's a chewer? Yeah.

• The squirrels themselves? They didn't last long once they were out of the log. Squeakers were silenced pretty quickly.
• One squirrel lost an ear within the first day. Another lost its tail shortly after.
• The log itself held up much better, surprisingly. It's a tougher material.

So, the interactive part was fun while it lasted with all the pieces intact. He still enjoys pulling the remaining (slightly mangled) squirrels out of the log. I even sometimes hide treats in there instead of the squirrels just to mix it up. It forces him to use his nose.

My Final Thoughts on It

Did it work? Yeah, kinda. It served its purpose for a bit. It definitely engaged his brain more than a standard plush toy. But the durability of the little pieces just wasn't quite there for a dog like Buster. It's not indestructible, let's be real.

Cleaning the log is easy, just wipe it down. The squirrels, well, once they got slobbery and ripped, they were harder to clean properly.

So, would I buy another one? Maybe. But I'd go into it knowing the little pieces are probably sacrificial. The main 'puzzle holder' part seems decent. It wasn't a total waste of money, gave us some fun moments, but don't expect miracles if you've got a serious demolition expert living in your house.