Treasure hunt: a search game for the yard or house

What it does for your dog

• A longer search that uses the nose and some gentle movement.
• Lets your dog explore and make choices.
• Endlessly variable: new spots, heights and hides every time.
• Good for gundogs and scent hounds that love to search.

Which dogs and situations it suits

Most dogs enjoy treasure hunts, from puppies (with easy hides) to seniors (with hides at nose height on flat ground). Dogs that aren't food-motivated can search for toys.

What you need

• Small treats from your dog's daily ration
• A favourite toy for the "big find"
• Optional: cardboard tubes, boxes or upturned pots to hide things under

How to do it

Preparation

1. Check the area for hazards such as snail bait, toxic plants, sharp objects or gaps in the fence.
2. Count your treats so you know how many to find.
3. Have someone keep your dog inside, or out of sight, while you hide them.

Step by step

1. 1Hide 10 to 20 treats around the area: under leaves, beside pot plants, behind steps, in a cardboard tube.
2. 2Hide the toy somewhere a little harder as the final prize.
3. 3Bring your dog out and give your search cue.
4. 4Let them search. Follow along and only help if they get stuck.
5. 5Celebrate the toy find with a short game, then do a final check that all treats have been found.

Make it easier or harder

Beginner version

• Hide treats in plain sight, close together.
• Use a small area.
• Let them watch you hide the first few.

Advanced variations

• Hide treats at different heights, such as on a low step or a garden edge.
• Use boxes and upturned pots so they have to work a little to reach the food.
• Hide items in more than one area or room.
• Lay a short treat trail that leads to the treasure.

For puppies

Keep hides easy and close together, and use a small area. Supervise so they don't eat anything else they find.

For senior dogs and dogs with mobility issues

Use flat, even ground and keep hides at nose height, so they don't have to climb, jump or stretch.

Supervision and safety

• Check the area carefully before every hunt: snail and rat bait, mushrooms, toxic plants and sharp rubbish are real risks.
• Don't hide anything high enough that your dog would jump or climb.
• Count treats and check none are left to go mouldy or attract pests.
• Use part of your dog's daily food.
• Play one dog at a time if your dogs might compete.

Common mistakes

• Hiding everything too well for a beginner.
• Not checking the yard for hazards first.
• Losing count and leaving treats behind.
• Helping too quickly.