There’s a common belief in dog training that if your dog is hyper, overexcited, biting everything in sight, bouncing off the walls, or struggling to switch off… they simply need more exercise.
But sometimes endless physical exercise, especially high-arousal activities like repetitive ball throwing, can create an athlete instead of a tired dog.
If your dog seems more wired after exercise, you’re not failing, and your dog isn’t broken. They may simply need a different type of outlet.
That’s where scent work and games like “Find It” can be absolute game changers.
Scent work is one of the easiest ways to provide mental stimulation for dogs indoors, without relying on constant running, chasing, or high-energy games.
This simple game taps into your dog’s most powerful sense, smell, while also building calmness, engagement, confidence, and problem solving skills.
It’s one of my favourite things to do on:
- ☀️ Hot days
- 🌧 Rainy days
- 🐶 Puppy velociraptor days
- 🚀 Adolescent lunatic days
- ❄️ Days when walks need to be shorter
Why Scent Work Tires Dogs Out So Effectively
Most pet dogs don’t get many opportunities to properly use their nose.
And yet smell is their superpower.
Sniffing is mentally demanding, naturally fulfilling, and often far more calming than simply running around physically.
It also gives dogs something appropriate to do, which can help prevent them endlessly rehearsing unwanted behaviours around the home through boredom, frustration, or over-arousal.
That’s why many dogs finish a short scent work session and then completely crash out asleep afterwards, often complete with twitchy dream zoomies 💤
This is also why enrichment and fulfilment activities are such an important part of behaviour and wellbeing. If you haven’t already read it, I’d strongly recommend checking out Dog Fulfilment and Chew • Lick • Sniff Before Dog Training.
The Hidden Training Benefits Of “Find It”
What I love about this game is that while your dog thinks you’re simply playing together… they’re actually practising loads of incredibly useful life skills at the same time.
- Impulse control
- Stationary behaviours
- Duration
- Distance
- Problem solving
- Confidence
- Engagement
- Playing with you
- Release cues
- Drop cues
All disguised as fun, which is usually the only way Labradors agree to personal development anyway.
Confidence grows when dogs repeatedly feel successful. That is why it is so important to start easy, make the game fun, and build the difficulty gradually.
For puppies especially, this can be a brilliant alternative to constantly hyping them up with over-arousing games.
If your puppy is struggling with biting, zoomies, overexcitement, or inability to settle, you may also find these useful:
Why I Prefer A Scented Toy Over Food
You can absolutely teach “Find It” using food.
But personally, I prefer using a scented toy because once the dog finds it, we can immediately have a game together afterwards.
That means the game becomes about:
- Relationship building
- Engagement
- Play
- Motivation
- Confidence
- Interaction with you
Dogs often start seeing you as part of the fun, rather than just the person holding the lead.
The toy I personally use and highly recommend is the Tug-E-Nuff Pocket Magnet Tug.
It’s small, scented, easy to hide, easy to carry on walks, and honestly one of the most motivating toys I’ve ever used.
Bear has nearly the whole Tug-E-Nuff collection at this point 😂
There’s also an exclusive discount available through the link above.
Easy Places To Hide The Toy
Start super easy first and build the difficulty gradually.
You want your dog to feel successful and excited to keep searching.
Some fun hiding spots to try:
- 📦 Amazon box
- 👕 Hoodie pocket
- 🧺 Washing machine
- 🛋 Behind sofa cushions
- 🪴 Plant pot
- 🥿 Inside a slipper
- 🛏 Under a blanket
If your dog struggles to wait while you hide the toy, you can simply get somebody to gently hold them, use a baby gate, or start with extremely easy visible hides first.
Build confidence before increasing the challenge.
Brilliant For Reactive Or Overwhelmed Dogs
One of the reasons I love scent games so much is that they can become incredibly useful outside the home too.
Dogs who feel overwhelmed, overexcited, or worried out on walks often benefit massively from having a job to do.
Instead of constantly scanning the environment, worrying about triggers, or hunting for discarded sandwiches and picnic leftovers, the dog becomes focused on the game and engaged with you instead.
This is one of the reasons I use “Find It” so much with reactive and sensitive dogs. It builds confidence, engagement, and optimism around being out and about.
If you have a reactive dog, I’d also recommend reading No Shame In Reactivity and Keeping Engagement Off Lead.
Want To Learn How To Properly Teach Find It?
I cover “Find It”, engagement games, calmness, drop cues, impulse control, and much more in our online courses.
Whether you have a puppy, adolescent dog, reactive dog, or simply want a calmer and more engaged companion, there’s something there for you.
You can explore all of our online dog training courses here.
FAQ
Can puppies do scent work?
Yes. Puppies are often brilliant at scent work because sniffing is such a natural behaviour. Start very easy and keep sessions short and fun.
Can older dogs learn Find It?
Absolutely. Dogs are never too young or too old to start scent games. Many older dogs really enjoy the mental stimulation.
Is scent work good for reactive dogs?
Scent work can be brilliant for reactive or overwhelmed dogs because it gives them a job to do and encourages engagement with you rather than constant environmental scanning.
What toy do you recommend for Find It?
I personally use the Tug-E-Nuff Pocket Magnet Tug because it’s small, scented, motivating, easy to hide, and easy to carry on walks.
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