The InterviewīaS: What were the first toys you created and why?
#Nina ottosson mixmax how to#
Here’s one of Nina’s videos showing how to play the DogWorker game:Īfter experiencing the games with Sophie, I had points of reference to ask about how the dogs learn. We received levels A – C in difficulty, with C being the equivalent of a Level 3 game, but we haven’t progressed past A, yet. As the levels increase, the pathways to remove the cups become more challenging to access, requiring Sophie to manipulate movable pieces on the board as well as the little cups. These puzzles are about learning how to move the little inverted cups around the board and get them out to access the treats. We started with the Level 1 puzzle, called the MixMax Puzzle A. The MixMax Puzzles (Levels 1-4) – These are new to Nina’s stable of toys, and the cool thing about them is they can be played individually, or attached to one another to create a big activity board.
Sophie is still having tons of fun just opening all the trays to find her treats. She hasn’t figured out that the bone pegs release the trays or how to get them out. Nina recommended we start by learning how to open the trays, which Sophie did. The challenge is you can place plastic bone pegs into the board near each tray, that will lock that tray in place. Treats are hidden in the trays, and when Sophie pulls them out with her paws, she can access the goodies. There are trays around the perimeter the board, with little “handles” on them. The DogCasino – This is a fun toy that is rapidly becoming a favorite of hers. She is just learning how to move the blocks around, so we haven’t tried it with the pegs yet. The blocks can be locked in position by a bone-shaped peg on the upside of the game, to make it more challenging. Sophie had to move one block after another in a circle, in either direction, to access the treats underneath. The game is a disc with triangular blocks set into it, under which you can hide treats. Sophie liked the updated, plastic version. The DogTwister – There’s an older, wooden version of this game and a new, updated plastic version.
Does she get the job done? Absolutely! This is rated a Level 2 game. Sophie now understands that if she paws furiously at the blocks, they will come out and she’ll get the treat. The challenge is that some of the bones can’t be lifted out until another of the bones is lifted first. Treats are placed under some or all of the cups, and the dog has to figure out how to lift them out of the tracks to access the treats. The premise is there are plastic dog bone cups that fit upside down into tracks on the board. Every time I take it out of the box, she goes wild. The DogFinder – Sophie absolutely loves this toy! We’ve had it for a while now, and play it regularly. If you’re interested in getting Nina’s games or puzzles for your dog, hopefully this will help you in determining which ones might be right for you. I also interviewed Nina, because I wanted to know more about how her games address everyday challenges we face with our dogs, how to properly play the games, and how our dog’s personalities indicate which games they’ll excel in or how good they are at games, period.Īll of Nina’s games and puzzles are rated in ascending order of difficulty from Level 1 – 4, with 1 recommended for beginners, puppies, older dogs and those difficult to motivate Level 2 for most dogs Level 3 for dogs that need extra mental stimulation and are the “smart” dogs and Level 4 for very advanced, highly energetic and smart pups. Nina sent us the new, updated DogTwister, the DogCasino and three levels of MixMax Puzzles. We were already familiar with a couple of Ottosson’s earlier toys we had the DogFinder, a big favorite of Sophie’s and the DogTwister, which she didn’t really get, bless her. She was kind enough to offer us games to try with Sophie, so I’m going to include our experience here. I visited Nina’s booth at Global Pet Expo recently, and got the scoop on what’s new. So, whether you have a Forrest Gump or an Einstein, there’s one that’s right for you. Believe it or not, Ottosson’s games can be played with cats, ferrets, parrots, even monkeys and lizards (check out the ferret playing one!). Nina’s interactive dog games and puzzles are all treat-based, so if you have a food-motivated dog, you’re in luck! They range in difficulty to appeal to a wide range. How many ferrets does it take to play DogSmart?
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