It’s Easter Weekend and it’s the perfect time to get your dog outside for some fun with a canine Easter Egg Hunt. Most dogs love to search for treats, so create a hunt in your backyard. Not only will the dog love the enrichment of hunting, but it will help make them tired before you sit down for Easter dinner.
Start off by thinking like a dog. How do dogs hunt? By smell. So find treats that smell good like treats made from dried meats or cheese. Frozen peanut butter Kongs are also good, and they kind of look like an egg.
They also have really good eyesight. Hide some stuffy toys and let them seek out their new favorite toy. Some dogs love their stuffies, others like to go right for the squeaker, but either way… they’ll have a blast.
Depending on your dog and their breed, they might be better hunters than some dogs. Labs, retrievers and scent hounds love to be challenged. But if you have a French Bulldog for example, make it easy. If they can’t find their treats, they’ll give up quickly. If you’re dog still isn’t getting the idea, you can leash them and show them the first few treats. It will help them learn how the hunt works.
Should you hide them in plastic eggs? I would skip that part. They really don’t know the difference and it will make it easier and safer if they don’t have plastic to chew on.
And speaking of Easter dinner, it’s best to plan something special for them that is not ham or many of the other Easter traditions. I usually make mine a chicken breast and put it on their food. Ham is too fatty and salty for dogs, so avoid that. Think lean protein without salt or spices.
Easter can be fun for the whole family, including your dogs. Just get a little creative and you’ll have happy kids and canines. And by the way, they hate the Easter Bunny ears, but get that picture anyway!
