Easter is a great time to spend with family but with celebrations centring on human foods, many of which are toxic to dogs, it can be difficult to think of ways to involve our dogs in the fun.
A dog-friendly Easter egg hunt is an entertaining, mentally stimulating activity for your dog that the whole family can enjoy.
We’ve put together a guide on how to create an Easter egg hunt that’s fun and safe for your four-legged friends.
Grab some plastic Easter eggs to hide your dog’s treats in. Be sure to choose eggs that are made of strong plastic which is less likely to crack and that are big enough that your dog can’t accidentally swallow them.
Tip: NEVER use chocolate eggs as these are poisonous to dogs.
Fill the eggs with your dog’s favourite treats. Strong smelling treats work best as your dog will be able to sniff them out easily. Poke a hole in the eggs so your dog can smell the scent. It’s best to use smaller treats so your dog doesn’t eat too much in such a short space of time.
Tip: Let your dog watch you filling the eggs so they know there’s a treat inside.
With your dog out of sight, hide the eggs in an accessible, safe place. Take note of the hiding places and the number of eggs you’ve hidden so you know if there are any missing at the end of your hunt. Don’t make hiding places too difficult if your dog isn’t used to sniffing things out.
Tip: Hide the first egg in an obvious place so your dog gets the hang of the game.
Guide your dog to the first egg and praise them when they sniff it out. Open the egg and give them the treat, then let them sniff out the rest on their own. Supervise your dog at all times and always open the egg yourself so your dog doesn’t accidentally swallow anything. Have fun!
Tip: If there are any hazards nearby, you could keep your dog on a leash and guide them to the eggs so they don’t get distracted by the hunt and put themselves in danger.
Litter and old food can be dangerous for other animals so don’t forget to collect any remaining eggs yourself at the end of your hunt.
