{"id":16248,"date":"2021-08-25T10:00:43","date_gmt":"2021-08-25T16:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/?p=16248"},"modified":"2022-06-27T13:31:55","modified_gmt":"2022-06-27T19:31:55","slug":"tips-tricks-the-dog-twister","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/product\/puzzles\/tips-tricks-the-dog-twister","title":{"rendered":"Nina Ottosson’s Tips & Tricks: Hacking the Dog Twister"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some dogs have a hard time figuring out our puzzles, while other dogs figure them out too quickly! Nina Ottosson’s Tip & Tricks is a series of posts that cover how to make each puzzle game harder for dogs that are quick to solve them, and easier for dogs still getting the hang of it.<\/em><\/p>\n

How the Dog Twister Works<\/h2>\n

The Dog Twister<\/a> is a Level 3 dog puzzle. Place treats or kibble in the compartments underneath the triangular discs and push in the white plastic handles to lock the discs. Your dog will have to pull out the handles to unlock the discs to be able to move the tiles aside to reveal the treats! Place the game on the floor and encourage your dog to seek treats.<\/p>\n

Let the games begin!<\/p>\n

\"human<\/p>\n

With the following tips & tricks, you can adjust this game to make it both easier and more difficult.<\/p>\n

Always start by letting the dog watch you fill the game with treats. I recommend using extra tasty high-value treats<\/a> the first time the dog plays with a new game.<\/p>\n

Start easy \u2013 don’t push in the white handles to lock the discs yet<\/strong>. Leave some of the discs a little open for the dog to sense the smell and see the treats.<\/p>\n

Play together with the dog, sit next to, and help them understand how the game works.<\/p>\n

When the dog understands how to slide the discs, you can start locking one of them with a white handle. If he doesn\u00b4t understand, many dogs can see and learn if we show how to pull out the handles and slide the discs to uncover the treats. If the dog understands what \u201cpaw\u201d means you can say it and at the same time help the dog pull out one of the white handles to slide the disc.<\/p>\n

Making the Dog Twister easier<\/h2>\n

\"dog<\/p>\n

Is your dog a paw or nose dog?<\/p>\n

Just as we are right- and left-handed, dogs are paws or nose dogs. Some dogs are both, which sometimes means that nose dogs have a little harder time trying to pull out the white handles with the paw.<\/p>\n

If the dog has difficulty pulling out the handles or if you have a nose dog, you can make it a little easier by tying ropes to the handles. This way the dog can pull out the handles with his mouth.<\/p>\n

To help the dog understand the connection between disc and handle, you can slide the disc when the dog pulls the handle out with the rope. Repeat several times.<\/p>\n

Once the dog has understood how to pull out a handle, you can gradually start locking discs, one by one until all discs are locked.<\/p>\n

Make the game more challenging<\/h2>\n

Method 1: Make a frozen puzzle: place your dog\u2019s favorite snacks with water or natural yogurt in the compartments and let it set in the freezer. A frozen puzzle will keep your dog busy for a much longer time. You can read more about making pupsicles with our puzzles in\u00a0this blog post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"frozen<\/p>\n

Method 2: Cut out pieces of cardboard and place them over the treats under the discs, adding an extra step to get to the reward. The dog must remove the cardboard to reach the treats.<\/p>\n

\"dog<\/p>\n

Always supervise your dog. Do not let them ingest cardboard.<\/em><\/p>\n

Method 3: Place the game higher up, on a stool, box, or chair, which is great for:<\/p>\n