Overview

The Nina Ottosson Challenge Slider is the hardest puzzle toy in this comparison, and it earns that distinction honestly. Where Level 2 puzzles ask your dog to perform one or two actions to reach treats, the Challenge Slider demands multi-step sequences: slide a cover to unlock a compartment, rotate a section to reveal a second hidden well, then figure out that some compartments only open after other pieces are moved out of the way. It is, genuinely, a logic puzzle for dogs.

The result is 20 to 45 minutes of focused problem-solving per session — a significant jump from the 15-minute ceiling you hit with intermediate puzzles. The composite construction is food-safe and dishwasher-safe, matching the material quality of the rest of the Nina Ottosson line. At $32.99, you are paying a real premium for a single plastic puzzle, and whether that price makes sense depends entirely on whether your dog has the intelligence to need this level of challenge. For dogs who blow through Level 2 puzzles like they are an inconvenience, the Challenge Slider is the only toy in this comparison that will actually make them think.

Features Deep-Dive

Multi-Step Sequential Mechanics

The Challenge Slider's Level 3 rating comes from its requirement that dogs complete steps in a specific order. Some compartments are physically blocked by other sliding pieces, meaning your dog cannot brute-force every well open simultaneously. They have to notice that moving piece A reveals a treat, but also unblocks piece B, which slides to reveal piece C. This sequential dependency is what creates genuine cognitive demand rather than just manual dexterity. Dogs who have mastered the Dog Brick's parallel mechanisms — where every compartment can be opened independently — encounter a fundamentally different type of challenge here. You can watch your dog pause, reassess, and try different approaches, which is exactly the kind of mental engagement that enrichment toys are supposed to provide.

Locking Mechanism Complexity

Several compartments feature locking tabs that must be disengaged before the main cover will slide. This adds a third type of manipulation to the dog's problem-solving toolkit: push, slide, and now unlock. The locks are not overly stiff — a determined nose or paw can manage them — but they require intentional, directed pressure rather than random pawing. For experienced puzzle dogs who have developed sophisticated manipulation skills, these locks are the feature that prevents the puzzle from becoming routine after a handful of sessions. They also prevent the frustrating "flip the whole thing over" strategy that smart dogs sometimes use on simpler puzzles, because the locking tabs hold compartments in place during rough handling.

Multiple Hidden Compartment Layers

The Challenge Slider does not just hide treats under covers — it hides them in layers. Some wells are immediately visible once a cover slides away, but others sit beneath a second compartment that only becomes accessible after the first layer is cleared. This layered design means your dog gets periodic reward feedback (finding a treat in the first layer) while still having more puzzle to solve. That intermittent reinforcement is psychologically powerful. It keeps dogs working through the harder second-layer compartments because they have already been rewarded once and expect more. A single loading of the puzzle can contain eight to ten separate treat locations across both layers.

Pricing Analysis

At $32.99, the Challenge Slider costs roughly 65% more than the $19.99 Dog Brick and is the second most expensive toy in this comparison after the PetSafe Automatic Ball Launcher. The premium is steep for what is, materially, a similar composite plastic puzzle. But the value proposition is not about materials — it is about engagement time. If your dog gets 20 to 45 minutes of enrichment from the Challenge Slider compared to 15 minutes from a Level 2 puzzle, the per-minute enrichment cost actually favors the more expensive toy over its lifetime. The real question is whether your dog needs Level 3 difficulty. If your dog is still challenged by the Dog Brick, spending an extra $13 on the Challenge Slider buys you nothing — your dog will not engage with mechanics they cannot understand. But for dogs who have plateaued on intermediate puzzles, $33 for the only toy that still challenges them is a straightforward purchase.

Who Is This For?

• Owners of high-intelligence breeds (Border Collies, Poodles, Australian Shepherds, German Shepherds): These dogs demolish Level 2 puzzles in minutes and need the sequential, multi-step challenges that only a Level 3 toy provides. The Challenge Slider is one of the few commercially available toys that can keep a Border Collie occupied for half an hour.
• Dogs who have already mastered the Dog Brick or similar Level 2 puzzles: The natural progression in Nina Ottosson's line goes from Level 1 to Level 2 to Level 3. If your dog solves the Dog Brick in under five minutes, the Challenge Slider is the next logical step.
• Working dog owners looking for off-duty mental stimulation: Service dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, and other working breeds thrive on problem-solving tasks. The Challenge Slider provides a structured cognitive challenge during downtime that aligns with their training temperament.
• People managing high-energy dogs in apartments: When outdoor exercise is limited by weather or space, the Challenge Slider's 30-plus-minute engagement window provides meaningful mental fatigue that physical exercise alone does not deliver.

Who Should NOT Use This

• First-time puzzle toy buyers: Starting with Level 3 is a mistake. Your dog will not understand the sequential mechanics without first learning basic puzzle concepts from Level 1 or Level 2 toys. You will watch your dog stare at it, get frustrated, and walk away — then conclude that puzzle toys do not work.
• Owners of dogs who chew rather than manipulate: The Challenge Slider has more small moving parts than simpler puzzles, and a dog who defaults to chewing will damage the sliding mechanisms and locking tabs. If your dog's instinct is to gnaw rather than nudge, stick with durable chew toys like the KONG Classic.
• Budget-conscious shoppers with average-intelligence dogs: At $33 for a single toy, this is a poor value for dogs who do not need Level 3 difficulty. A $20 Dog Brick will provide equivalent enrichment for the majority of dogs, and spending the extra money will not make your dog any smarter.

Bottom Line

The Nina Ottosson Challenge Slider is the most cognitively demanding toy in this comparison, and it justifies its premium price only for dogs who have genuinely outgrown intermediate puzzles. The multi-step sequential mechanics, locking tabs, and layered compartments create a problem-solving experience that no other toy here can match. If your dog needs this level of challenge, nothing else will do. If they do not, save the $13 and stick with the Dog Brick.

FAQ

Should I buy the Challenge Slider or the Dog Brick?

If your dog has never used a puzzle toy before, start with the Dog Brick. If your dog already solves Level 2 puzzles in under five minutes, go directly to the Challenge Slider. Buying both and progressing through them is the ideal approach, but only if your dog is smart enough to outgrow the first one.

My dog solved the Challenge Slider in ten minutes. Is it defective?

No — some exceptionally intelligent dogs figure out even Level 3 puzzles quickly. You can increase difficulty by using stickier foods (frozen peanut butter, cream cheese) that require more work to extract, or by only partially loading the puzzle so your dog has to check compartments without guaranteed reward. But if your dog consistently solves it in under ten minutes, you may have reached the ceiling of commercially available puzzle toys.

Can I put this in the dishwasher with the sliding pieces still attached?

Yes. The sliding compartments and bone covers stay in place during dishwasher cycles. Use the top rack only and avoid heated drying, which can warp the composite material over time. A normal or light cycle with standard detergent is all you need.

How durable are the locking mechanisms?

The locking tabs are the most mechanically stressed part of the puzzle and will show wear after months of heavy use. They are designed to withstand nose and paw pressure, not chewing. If your dog starts biting the locks instead of pushing them, intervene immediately — replacing a Challenge Slider because of chewed locks is an expensive habit.