Exercise and play
How do you play hide and seek with a dog?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Have someone hold the dog gently while you walk to a nearby room or behind furniture, call the dog's name once, and reward enthusiastically when it finds you. As the dog gets the idea, hiding spots can get further away or trickier, turning it into a genuine scent and recall exercise rather than just a game.
The basic setup
One person holds the dog or has it sit and wait, the other walks out of sight, calls the dog's name once in an upbeat tone, and rewards heavily with a treat or toy the moment the dog arrives, building strong recall value into the game.
Making it more challenging over time
Starting behind a nearby door or piece of furniture and gradually moving further away, into another room, or even outdoors in a securely fenced garden keeps the game interesting as the dog gets better at it.
Why it works as both exercise and training
The game combines physical movement, scent tracking, and a strong recall reward all in one activity, which is part of why even a 10 minute session can leave a dog satisfyingly tired, especially scent driven breeds like beagles and spaniels.
Key takeaways
- Hide and seek pairs a strong recall reward with searching, which tires a dog both physically and mentally.
- Starting close and gradually increasing distance or difficulty keeps the game engaging as the dog improves.
- Scent driven breeds especially benefit from the tracking element built into this game.