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.
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.