The Outward Hound Hide ’n Slide is an interactive puzzle toy that really keeps dogs engaged and thinking. If you’re committed to providing enrichment that both mentally stimulates your dog and slows down meal time, this toy deserves a spot in your rotation.
I bought our Hide ‘n Slide at a thrift store years ago–and it’s now on its second generation of dog fun. It’s really durable and easy to clean, and it has long been a favorite enrichment toy with our dogs.
What Makes the Hide ’n Slide Special
The Hide ’n Slide puzzle is a treat-dispensing game with:
- Sliding panels
- Hidden compartments
- Multiple treat locations
Your dog must move a flipper and slide a block out of the way to uncover hidden treats or kibble tucked under the grooves. It’s designed to build on a dog’s natural curiosity, encouraging them to use nose, paws, and brains all at once.
This toy sits in the beginner-to-intermediate level of difficulty — perfect for pups who are new to puzzles or seasoned learners who need a fun challenge. I used this toy with Isla when she was just a few months old and she loved it; our cat Lucky also really enjoys this toy.
Instead of just burning physical energy, your dog gets to:
- Practice patience and focus
- Use scent work to find hidden rewards, whether that’s part of his daily food or treats
- Engage in purposeful exploration rather than repetitive motion like in a game of fetch
- Experience a sense of accomplishment once the puzzle is solved
Teaching Your Dog to Enjoy the Puzzle
Not every dog immediately “gets” a puzzle — but most will once they’re introduced to it in the right way.
Start with Easy Wins
- Add treats to the most obvious places–on top of the flippers and on the rows between the flippers and the sliding blocks.
- Don’t add treats inside the raised sliding blocks just yet; these are the hardest for the dog to solve since they require sliding over the recessed area and then back again to access the treat.
- Reward interest — even just sniffing or touching the toy.
- Use high-value treats that are enticing and smell strong. You can later use the puzzle to feed part of your dog’s daily kibble but by using high-value, strong smelling treats, you’ll be enticing your dog to keep trying.
- If you need to simplify the puzzle more, some of the flippers are removable. Just flip the toy over and look for the fastener (see photo below); give it a squeeze to temporarily remove a flipper.
Show Them How
- Slide a flipper and a block yourself and reveal a treat.
- Use verbal praise (e.g., “Yes!”) each time your dog investigates.
- If your dog pushes a slider or paws at a compartment, cheer them on — positive reinforcement helps build confidence.
How to Make the Puzzle More Difficult
Once your dog masters the basics, you can increase the difficulty level several ways:
Add treats inside the sliding blocks. This will require your dog to move the flipper then move the block over the recessed area–then move the block back away from the recessed area–before the treat is accessible. I use strongly scented treats in the blocks to help motivate our dogs.
Cut up a toilet paper center role to make additional blocks. I learned this fun tip on the Nina Ottosson Instagram page. (If you’re not already following her, you’ll find fun tips for her toys as well as easy DIY enrichment games, too!)
Wrap treats in a small bit of paper. This tip is not for dogs who will eat anything that’s ever touched food (Isla, I’m looking at you!) but other dogs might enjoy additional challenge by wrapping the treat in a small bit of tissue paper, paper towel or coffee filter.
Elevate the treat. The Hide ‘n Slide has rubber feet so it will stay fairly sturdy even when you elevate it, such as on a dog table or platform. This makes your dog solve the puzzle using his nose (and it’s a good tip for dogs who are just too rough on puzzles!)
If you are interested in a more difficult puzzle that’s very similar, check out our review on the Outward Hound Dog Worker.
Pros of the Hide ’n Slide
- Great for mental enrichment and slowing down fast eaters
- I love that it is all self-contained; there are no separate pieces to get lost or get carried away by your dog!
- It has a simple design that many dogs understand quickly but has the ability to be made more difficult.
- Durable even when pawed at!
- Versatile — works with kibble or treats.
- Food-safe
- PVC free, BPA free, lead free and phthalate free
Cons to Consider
- Some dogs may need guided help at first–but think of it as a bonding experience.
- Just like your dog’s bowl, you will need to clean the toy! I find it easy to clean and just use a regular dish scrub brush then flip it over to drain and dry.
Final Verdict
The Outward Hound Hide ’n Slide dog puzzle is a well-designed, engaging, and rewarding puzzle that provides real enrichment for your dog. Whether you’re teaching your pup to think more independently or trying to slow down meal time, this puzzle delivers satisfaction for both dog and owner. As I said, it’s a heavy-duty toy and ours has been used for many, many hours with no loss of quality. Barli and Isla give it a big paws up!
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This is not a sponsored post; I purchased the toys on my own and love using them with our dogs.
