How to play the treat find game with your dog
This is a simple game you can play anywhere! Follow our steps below and watch the video to see our trainers do it.
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- Person 1 – get your dog into a sit position on lead.
- Person 2 – show your dog 5-6 treats in your hand and then proceed to walk around the room placing them in different locations.
- Initially, make sure you are very obvious in your actions and they can see where the treats are being placed.
- Return to your dog, making sure the lead is loose and they are not pulling away to get the treats.
- Gently unclip the lead and give your dog a release cue such as ‘go free’ or ‘find it’ and allow them to go and explore the room to find the treats.
- If at any point they are struggling, help them out by moving closer to the treat, pointing towards it or move it to an easier position.
Initially, we want them to visually see you putting the treats out but once they have understood the ‘game’ we want them to switch over to using their nose.
Tip! Over time you can make it harder and harder by placing the treats underneath or behind objects such as chairs or sofas. Finally, you can go into a different room and hide treats and release them in and they should immediately begin to search.
Have fun!
We’ve put together some brain games and enrichment ideas for dogs during the coronavirus lockdown period to help keep your dogs happy.
Enrichment is described as giving animals’ mental stimulation that allows them to perform natural behaviours, permits them to be more active and increases the control over their environment. Enrichment helps satisfy both the physical and psychological needs of animals and allows them to make choices and encourages them to use their brain to solve puzzles and problems. This can increase their overall happiness and satisfaction, whilst reducing boredom, anxiety and physical and psychological energy.
See all of our good ideas for lockdown.