Hide and Seek — Dog Game #2

Back to home Home Top 20 Dog Games Hide and Seek Game # 2 · Behavioral & Enrichment Hide and Seek Reinforces recall commands and builds strong engagement. What you need: Two people, or one person and a solid "stay" command. How to play Have a helper hold your dog or tell your dog to stay. Hide in an easy spot, like behind a door or couch. Call your dog's name clearly one time. Throw a mini-party with praise and treats when they find you. Coach's notes Use one clear recall word every time — 'come' or your dog's name, never both. Progress from same-room hiding to a different floor over 1–2 weeks. If your dog wanders, quietly re-call from the same spot; don't move. Reward the find, not the arrival — party the moment eyes meet yours. If your dog loses interest Quick fixes when engagement drops mid-session. If your dog doesn't search, make your first hides visible from where they start — you want a win in under 10 seconds. Bored mid-game? Squeak a toy or say their name once from your hiding spot to re-engage. Puppies under 6 months tire fast — keep sessions to 3–4 hides max. Why it works Recall games strengthen the same human-directed attention system Hare and colleagues identified as unique to domestic dogs. References [ 1 ] Hare, B., Brown, M., Williamson, C., & Tomasello, M. (2002). The domestication of social cognition in dogs. Science 298, 1634–1636. [ 6 ] Hare, B., & Tomasello, M. (2005). Human-like social skills in dogs? Trends in Cognitive Sciences 9, 439–444.

1 The Muffin Tin Puzzle # 3 The "Ready, Steady, Go"

Which cognitive muscle is your dog's strongest? Run the same science-based tasks from Duke in your living room and get your dog's full cognitive profile. Discover your dog's profile See all 20 games