Let’s Play!

Playing interactive games like Hide and Go Seek with your dog is a great way to relieve boredom. Games provide the mental and physical stimulation your dog needs to stay happy, healthy, and out of mischief. Hide and Go Seek might just become your dog’s favorite game!

Getting Started

Before you play alone with your dog, make sure your dog knows the “sit” and “stay” commands. Dogs are excellent at reading hand signals, so hold your palm out like a crossing guard when giving the “stay” command.

Choose an easy hiding spot to start, such as around a corner or on a chair, so your dog can have immediate success. Once you are hidden, call your dog’s name just once to signal them to start looking. If they have trouble finding you, try calling their name again or making a small noise to grab their attention.

Praise and Reward

When your dog finds you, praise them enthusiastically and reward them with a treat or their favorite toy. Then, start the game over from the spot where they found you.

As your dog improves, try more challenging hiding spots, such as under furniture, blankets, or in closets.

Watch Out! Sometimes they peek!

Learning Through Play

As the HSUS teaches:

“Through helping to care for a pet, children also learn to care for their fellow human beings. There is an established link between how people treat animals and how they treat each other. Kindness to animals is a lesson that benefits people, too.”

Games like Hide and Go Seek, combined with hands-on pet care, can help kids learn responsibility, empathy, and compassion for their pets—and for others.

With Just for Kids, your children can start learning responsible pet care today!