Teaching Your Dog to Play Hide and Seek: A Fun Indoor Activity

Written on August 7, 2024

Playing hide and seek with your dog is not only a fun and engaging activity but also a great way to exercise their natural hunting instincts. This game is perfect for families looking to bond with their pets or to keep their dogs mentally stimulated, especially during bad weather or injury rehab. In this blog, we’ll guide you through the steps to teach your dog how to play hide and seek with both people and their favorite treats or toys, starting from the basics and gradually increasing the difficulty.

Phase 1: Introducing the Game

1. Start with a Simple Version

To begin, you’ll need your dog’s favorite treat or toy. This initial phase is about associating the concept of hiding and seeking with a reward.

1. Step 1: Sit in a familiar room with your dog. Show them the treat or toy and let them sniff it to build interest.
2. Step 2: While your dog watches, place the item in an easy-to-find spot, such as under a dog bowl or behind a pillow (be sure to not encourage any behaviors we don’t want in the future…example if the pillow is on the couch and the dog is not allowed on furniture).
3. Step 3: Encourage your dog with a cue like “Find it!” or “Seek!” Use a cheerful tone to excite them and give them a directional cue (arm extended and hand showing the direction to search).
4. Step 4: Once they find the item, praise them enthusiastically and let them enjoy the reward. Keep in mind this is an easy spot that is close to them in this phase, and they see you “hide” the item. The goal is to utilize the cue “find” or “seek” and have them find it quickly to capture success following the cue being given.
5. Step 5: same as above but gradually make the hiding spot more challenging, further distance away, and gently remove how much directional support you are providing.

Benefits: This simple introduction helps your dog understand the game’s concept and builds a positive association with finding hidden objects.

Phase 2: Introducing a Human Element

2. Hide and Seek with Family Members

Now that your dog is familiar with seeking out objects, you can introduce them to finding family members.

1. Step 1: Have one person hold the dog in one room while another hides in a nearby, visible location.
2. Step 2: Once hidden, the hider can call the dog’s name. Release the dog with the command “Find” or “seek”
3. Step 3: When the dog finds the person, reward them with praise and treats.

Tips:

• Start with easy hiding spots where the dog can see the person move and gradually move to more concealed locations.
• Reinforce with treats and enthusiastic praise to keep the experience positive.

Benefits: This phase strengthens your dog’s bond with family members and enhances their understanding of the game’s rules.

Phase 3: Increasing the Challenge

3. Gradually Making the Game Harder

As your dog gets better at finding both objects and people, you can start increasing the difficulty.

1. Step 1: Use different rooms and areas of the house to hide. Begin using less obvious places, like behind furniture or in closets.
2. Step 2: For objects, start using scent challenges. Rub the treat on a cloth and hide the cloth instead of the treat itself.
3. Step 3: Delay the cues to find, giving the hider more time to hide, which increases the dog’s anticipation and excitement.

Advanced Tips:

• If your dog is very good at finding, try to make the game more complex by introducing distractions or “decoys”.

Benefits: Increasing the challenge helps keep the game interesting and stimulating for your dog, preventing boredom.

Benefits of Hide and Seek for Dogs

1. Mental and Physical Exercise

Hide and seek is an excellent way to provide mental stimulation and light physical activity, making it ideal for rainy days or when outdoor exercise isn’t possible.

2. Strengthening Bond

Playing this game enhances your bond with your dog. The interaction and teamwork involved in finding the person or object can strengthen trust and understanding.

3. Training and Obedience

The game can also reinforce basic training commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “come,” as your dog learns to listen and wait for cues.

4. Rehabilitation and Safe Play

For dogs recovering from injuries, hide and seek offers a gentle way to engage their minds and bodies without overexertion. It keeps them entertained and happy, reducing the risk of boredom-related behaviors.

Teaching your dog to play hide and seek is a fun and rewarding experience that can bring joy to both you and your pet. By starting simple and gradually increasing the difficulty, you can create a game that challenges your dog’s mind and body, strengthens your bond, and provides a perfect indoor activity for any occasion. So, gather your treats and toys, and let the hide and seek adventures begin!