Game · Easy
Hide and Seek
High-value mental exercise. Twenty minutes of nose work tires most dogs more than an hour of fetch.
A game in which the dog searches for either a hidden person or a hidden object, using sight, scent, and memory. Can be played indoors or outdoors, with many variations.
Why it matters: Hide and seek is one of the most underrated activities in this library. It's primarily mental exercise rather than physical, which makes it ideal for rainy days, hot summer afternoons, recovering injured dogs, senior dogs whose physical activity is limited, and high-energy dogs who need their brain tired out as much as their body. Twenty minutes of nose-driven searching can leave a dog more contentedly tired than an hour of fetch. It also strengthens recall, builds problem-solving skills, and reinforces the bond between dog and handler.
At a glance
Frequency & duration: 10-20 minute sessions, as often as you like. Mental fatigue accumulates faster than physical fatigue - most dogs will be ready to nap after a good session.
Difficulty note: Variations scale up to advanced.
Supplies: Treats, A favorite toy, A household member willing to hide, Optional: scented items for nose-work variants
Aliases: find it, nose work, scent game, search game
Physical
Low
Mental
Very high
Training value
Moderate — Particularly recall reinforcement.
Bonding
High
Breed considerations: Almost every breed enjoys some variant of this game. Scent-driven breeds (beagles, bloodhounds, basset hounds, dachshunds) excel at nose-based versions. Visually-oriented sighthounds may prefer "find the toy" over scent work. Working and herding breeds particularly benefit because their drive needs an outlet, and nose work meets it.
Age considerations: Excellent across the entire lifespan. Puppies build problem-solving skills early. Adult dogs get a brain workout that complements physical exercise. Senior dogs especially benefit - mental engagement helps preserve cognitive function as physical capacity declines.
Safety: Indoor variants are very low risk. Outdoors, watch for ingestion of unintended items during scent searches. Don't hide treats anywhere a dog could get stuck reaching for them. Avoid teaching the cue with hides that are genuinely too hard - failure shouldn't become associated with the cue.
How to do it
- Start ridiculously easy
The first few hides should be findable in seconds.
- Use a consistent cue
"Find it," "search," or "where's [name]?"
- Celebrate every success
The reward isn't just finding the thing, it's your reaction. Be enthusiastic.
- Increase difficulty gradually
More rooms, longer waits, hides behind doors and under furniture.
- End on a successful find
If a hide is too hard and the dog gives up, help them find it before stopping.
Common mistakes
Making it too hard too fast
The dog disengages and the cue loses its power.
Boring reactions on success
The celebration is half the reward - flat reactions kill the game.
Using the cue when the dog can't reasonably succeed
Devalues the cue over time.
When to consult a professional
No professional consult is typically needed. If your dog particularly takes to scent variants, look into local nose work classes - it's an actual dog sport with classes, competitions, and a passionate community.
Game variations
Find the person: One person holds the dog (or asks for a stay if reliable). Another person hides somewhere in the home or yard. The first person releases the dog with a search cue ("find Sarah!"). Big celebration on success. — Find the toy: Show the dog a favorite toy. Have them sit and watch, then hide the toy somewhere visible. Release with "find it!" Once they get the idea, hide it out of sight. Eventually hide it in another room. — Find the treats: Scatter treats in grass, around a room, or in a snuffle mat. Pure scent work. Excellent for building nose engagement and slowing down food-motivated dogs. — Cup game: Three cups, one treat. Show the dog which cup, then shuffle.
Gateway to nose work
Hide and seek is the gateway drug to formal nose work, an actual dog sport with classes, competitions, and a passionate community. Dogs of any breed can compete. If your dog particularly takes to scent variants of this game, look into local nose work classes.