Kids aren’t the only ones who enjoy a good Easter Hunt. With their keen sense of smell and adventure, pets can enjoy searching for some pet friendly goodies too! Not only is it a great game to bond and play with your pet, but they will also love the thrill of the search, then they get to relax and enjoy their prize at the end of the hunt too.
Which treats to use?
No chocolate or lollies. Chocolate in all forms – especially dark or cooking chocolate – can be dangerous, even fatal for our pets. Also, many lollies and sugar free treats that contain xylitol are toxic to pets. So it’s important to avoid any traditional sweet treats for your hunt.
You want to use treats that you know your pet loves. Every pet’s sense of smell is different. If your pet is a great sniffer, regular treats will be fine. For those that need a little extra help, treats that have a strong scent will make their nose work a little easier.
You can use the treats just as they are or hide some of them inside a treat ball, dispenser or cardboard boxes with a hole cut out. Just make sure they are safe for your pet. You don’t want them chewing on or swallowing hard items such as plastic.
How many treats?
Pets will gobble up their treats as soon as they find them so there is no opportunity to say “Save some of those treats for later”. So don’t go overboard. Pick out a handful of treats that you would normally use in a regular day for your hunt and keep these in mind with their overall calorie intake for the day.
Where to hide the treats?
For dogs, you could choose inside your home or outdoors in your backyard. Make sure it is a secure, enclosed area where they will be safe and can’t run away or get lost in the moment searching for treats. If you are in a public area, keep them on their lead and guide them around to find their treats. For cats and pocket pets you could set up the hunt in their enclosure, run or inside your home where they will be safe and secure.
For their first hunt it’s a good idea to make the treats more obvious such as on a flat surface where they are easy to find. Once they become an experienced hunter you can have fun and hide them in more challenging places. Don’t hide treats in places where they may knock something over or have to climb up areas they aren’t normally allowed to go. You don’t want them getting into bad habits in search for their treat.
How to create an obstacle course
A great way to set up a hunt is to create a mini obstacle course. For cats and dogs you can use items around the house such as chairs, cushions, blankets and boxes. For pocket pets, you can use cardboard boxes, toilet rolls and newspaper. Create tunnels to run through and items to jump over and around. Hide the treats in and around the obstacle course.
How to hunt for the treats
Now is the fun part! If you are in a public area, its best to keep your dog on a lead and guide them around to search for their treats. If you are at home in a secure area you can let your pet run free and sniff out their treats on their own. You can start by offering them some easy to find treats, then offer them some encouragement and guidance for the more challenging ones. Remember to offer them lots of praise along the way and enjoy having fun and spending this time together.
Extra tips
Keep your pet easter hunt separate from kids easter egg hunts to prevent your pets from accidentally eating chocolate or lollies instead of pet friendly treats.
If your pet is a little possessive and might get upset at other pets in the thrill of the hunt, consider having a separate hunt for each pet.
Remember how many treats you put out and help your pet find any treats that they missed. Forgotten treats could attract unwanted critters such as insects or mice.
Always supervise your pet when hunting to keep them safe.
On behalf of Woofpurnay Veterinary Hospital we wish you, your pets and your family a safe and happy Easter.