How to host a Pawfect Easter Egg Hunt !

To ensure the pawfect egg hunt for your pup, you will want to follow a few simple tips for a safe and fun experience! Many people are intrigued by the idea of hosting an egg hunt for their furbabies, but don't know where to start or how to get their pup interested in the activity. Egg hunts can be a fun way to work your pups mind and nose! We all know how much our dogs love sniffing EVERYTHING in sight, channeling that behavior into a fun activity can be a wonderful canine enrichment experience! Follow these tips below to get you on your way to the pawfect egg hunt!  

• Make sure to get the right sized eggs for your pup, the eggs should be wider than your dogs muzzle to prevent choking hazards.
• Make sure to get eggs that have a hinge, or are attached and do not break into smaller pieces. You also want eggs that have small air holes so the dogs can smell the yummy treat inside.
• If hosting an egg hunt for multiple pups, make sure the pups do not display food aggression or resource guarding behavior. If you are unsure, attach a lead to each dog and let it drag so that you can monitor how close each pup is coming to another dogs find! Once a pup finds an egg, make sure the other pups do not try to swipe it, or simply set the found egg in that pups easter basket for later snacking.
• Use high value treats, the stinkier the better! I find small cut up pieces of hot dog or cheese works best! If you are hiding lots of eggs make sure to use small pieces so your pup doesnt end up with an upset tummy.
• Show each dog an egg before the hunt, let them sniff and then reward with a treat. This creates a positive association between the easter egg and the treat. If your dog does not seem interested to find the eggs, repeat this process as needed. You can even prepare the days before if this is your pups first hunt.
• For more advanced dogs, you can teach your dog to retrieve the eggs and bring them to you or their basket. To do this have your dog sit and then toss an egg in front of you. Ask your dog to wait until the egg lands and then release them to get the egg. Encourage your dog to come back to you, if your dog does not have a good recall, use a leash to guide them. Reward your dog once they return, which will normally cause them to drop the egg. 
• If your dog will not drop the egg, either offer a trade for a treat or if that does not work, apply slight pressure up on their lead and then reward once they drop the egg. Practice makes perfect! 
• Lastly, have fun! Enjoy your dog! Activities build a rewarding relationship and a happy healthy dog!

Let us know how it goes by posting pictures of your pawfect hunt on social media and tagging @pawztopose ! Happy Easter!