Dottie’s favourite game – and it tires her out without leaving the house

I’ve made no secret that at Dottie PAWs we love a scent game and this is one is one of my favourites.

They’re a good option when you can’t fit in a longer walk, maybe your dog (or you) are recovering or they just need a different type of exercise and mental stimulation ticks the boxes.

Why sniffing is more than just a nice-to-have

Before I get into the actual game, can I just say something about sniffing as it gets a bit underestimated.

We tend to think that a tired dog equals a dog who's had a good run around. More miles = more settled. But that's not always how it works. Sniffing and problem-solving use a completely different kind of energy and it’s the mental stuff that really takes it out of them.

Dogs process the world through their nose in a way that's genuinely hard for us to get our heads around. When they're sniffing, they're not just picking up a smell - they're reading a whole story. Who was here, when, what they were doing. I guess it’s like us reading a book. And it's tiring in the best possible way.

For nervous or sensitive dogs especially, sniff-based activities can also help regulate their nervous system. Calm, focused sniffing is the opposite of the revved-up, alert state that stresses them out and it's genuinely settling.

‘Find It’ - what it is and why it works

The basic idea is simple: you hide a scented object somewhere in your house, your dog finds it.

But the clever bit is the scenting part. You're not just hiding a toy - you're hiding something with a really specific, strong smell that your dog learns to search for. Their nose does all the work. And that focused searching is what makes it so satisfying for them.

I first came across this when Dottie and I took part on a nosework ninja training programme with the brilliant Dedicated to Dogs, and it's become one of the enrichment activities I recommend to clients the most.

What you need

Not much, which is part of why I love it.

A small object - something like a small soft toy, or anything your dog can carry. It just needs to be a consistent "this is the thing we're looking for" object. You’ll need a few of these ideally, as it won’t take them long to get the game and you want them to sniff more and more.

Catnip (or another strong-smelling natural scent) - the idea is to scent your object so it has a really distinctive smell. Pop some catnip in a container, put your object in with it, close the lid, and leave it overnight. By morning your little toy is absolutely reeking of catnip, in a good way. Keep storing it in the container when you're not playing so it stays strong and only use the toys for this game.

How to play - building it up gradually

The point of doing it in stages is that your dog actually learns what they're looking for rather than just randomly sniffing around, so trust the process.

Stage 1: Make it a game they already know

Start by playing a simple fetch with the object. Throw it a short distance, let them bring it back, play a bit of tug, make a BIG fuss. Do this enough times that they love the object and know what "Find It" means (you can say it every time you throw it). This is just getting them excited about the thing.

Stage 2: Place it instead of throwing it

Put the object on the floor in front of them instead of throwing it, and tell them to "Find It." If you can ask them to wait first, great - if not, doesn't matter much at this stage. When they get it, reward them really well. This could be a treat, a cuddle, whatever they love.

Stage 3: Just out of sight, but they saw where you put it

Pop the object just around a corner or inside a box while they're watching. Then "Find It." They know where it is, but they're starting to use their nose to confirm.

Stage 4: Hide it without them watching

Now we're getting somewhere. Put them in another room or ask to them to wait outside the door, hide the object somewhere easy-ish, and then let them in. "Find It." Watch that nose go. As soon as they find it, make a fuss and reward them.

Stage 5: Make it harder

Once they've got the hang of it, you can get more creative. Hide several of the scented objects. Different rooms. More interesting hiding spots. Up on chairs (if that's allowed) Under cushions. Behind plant pots.

The key throughout is: don't rush to the next stage until they're confident at the current one. If they're struggling, go back a step. Remember it’s supposed to be fun.

Who is this brilliant for?

A lot of dogs enjoy this once they've got the hang of it. But it's particularly good for:

• Dogs who are having a rest day (post-op, senior dogs, or just a quieter week)

• Nervous or anxious dogs who find busy outdoor walks overwhelming

• Dogs who need mental stimulation but don't always need miles of exercise

• When the weather means you can’t get out

• Dogs who naturally love to sniff, eg spaniels as it really fulfils their natural drive

• Dogs who are a bit reactive and find a calm, focused activity really settling

t's quite satisfying for us humans too. There's something really lovely about watching your dog properly work.

If you want to know more about the kind of enrichment activities we do during our home visits, feel free to get in touch - always happy to chat about what might suit your dog.