A bunny fills these eggs with treats and hides them?
|
Typist: Bethany
Longer, sunnier and warmer days means it's the time of year Wilhelm, Brychwyn and Huxley get to play their favorite scent work game, hunting for Easter eggs. What dog wouldn't love sniffing around the yard for plastic eggs filled with dog treats? Our trio like their canine Easter egg hunts so much, we play multiple times throughout the spring. This does make for an occasional rush of dogs into the backyard searching for dog treat filled Easter eggs at inconvenient times, but the dogs enthusiasm for the game is very inspiring. |
Want to make an Easter egg hunt for dogs? Here's how:
- Colorful nose work: Put a small, good smelling treat in each clean, plastic Easter egg. Since your dog will likely want to hunt for eggs again and again, you don't want your dog to get full on the first egg search. Remember to count treats given to your dog in their daily calorie intake.
- Hoppin' down the bunny trail: Keep your dogs inside the house or in a separate room while you hide their dog treat filled Eater eggs. Beginner dogs will need Easter eggs hidden in easy to sniff out places. Most dogs will catch on to the game quickly, so you can place eggs in more challenging locations with each hunt. And it is always fun for your dog to work with you/get some help from you.
- Crack those eggs: Do not completely close the plastic Easter eggs with the treats inside! Your dog will not be able to open the plastic eggs on their own. Dogs can easily crack, break and shatter plastic Easter eggs! Broken plastic is sharp and can easily cut your dogs mouth or, even worse, be ingested and wreak havoc on your dog internally. As I hide the eggs, I make sure that all the eggs are cracked open enough for Wilhelm, Brychwyn and Huxley to be able to roll the treat out or nose their way into the egg without injury. Jason and I closely supervise dog Easter egg hunts to make sure the dogs do not chomp or chew the plastic eggs.
- Hippity hoppity hooray: Cheer for and praise your dog when they find each Easter egg and while enjoy their treats! This is such a fun game for your dog and with you right there applauding them, the dog Easter egg hunt becomes a wonderful bonding experience as well.
- Bunny safe than sorry: If you play an Easter egg hunt game with more than one dog, be absolutely sure that they will not fight over the prizes. Dog Easter egg hunts are best played inside or in a private, fully fenced area but can also be safely played legally on leash at a park. Having a dog Easter egg hunt is not recommended at an off-leash park. Very closely supervise your dog at all times during their Easter egg hunts and promptly remove emptied eggs. Hidden eggs should be cracked/already open so dogs can access the treats without injury. Humans should immediately help in removing treats from eggs before dogs bite or chew the eggs. Plastic Easter eggs are not dog toys! Never, ever allow your dogs to play with plastic Easter eggs without supervision.
Wilhelm, Brychwyn and Huxley are always disappointed when it is time to put the plastic Easter eggs away, even if it just for the day. Easter egg hunts with dogs are such great exercise and mental stimulation for the dogs, I know that's why they never want the game (or the treats) to end. I actually get a little sad at the end of dog Easter egg hunt season too. I like the egg hiding exercise and mental stimulation I get plus the bonding time with the dogs just can't be beat. But next Easter always comes soon enough!
Brychwyn, Wilhelm, Huxley and their loot.
Portions of this post were originally published ©BethanyGO Designs on March 31st, 2013.
Do you have any favorite springtime games you play with your dogs?
A to Z Challenge: Saturday was K for Kit: Updating Our Perfectly Complete Do-It-Yourself Pet First Aid Kit, tomorrow is M for Money: Be The Change For Animals, Spend Your Money Where Your Heart Is.
Follow on Instagram
