Last Updated: 12/02/2026
Teach Your Dog Hide And Seek
Wondering how to teach your dog to play hide and seek? Check out our tips and tricks to enjoy this fun game with your dog from our vet team.
Author: Dr Teagan Lever BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 2 minutes - short read
Whether it is too hot outside or a rainy day, it can be tricky keeping furry family members entertained if you can't leave the house. So we're here to help! Check out our Vet Advice page for more tips and activities for those days when you're stuck at home.
How to Play Hide and Seek With Your Dog
Hide and seek is a great choice of game to play with your furry companion. It's also a good opportunity to practise the 'sit' and 'stay' commands! As with any new game of trick it will take some patience, practice and likely a number of dog treats!
What you will need:
- Lots of bite sized treats
- Plenty of time
- A willing doggo or two
Step 1: Get "Sit" and "Stay" Sorted
First thing's first, you'll need to teach your dog to 'sit', if you haven't nailed this one yet, take a look at our basic commands series, beginning with Teach your dog to sit. After you've got sit, you can move on to 'lie down' next or skip forward to 'stay'.
Step 2: Practice "Stay" Increasing the Distance
Up next, really work on increasing the distance you can move away and get your dog to 'stay'. This can be a long process, so work up step by step if you have to until your dog will reliably hold 'stay' while you are out of sight. If your dog breaks 'stay' just drop back the distance and keep reinforcing the behaviour with treats and praise.
Tip: keep to multiple short (10 to 15 minute) training sessions through the day to help keep their focus and prevent frustration.
Step 3: Recall
Once your dog will stay, now is the time to bring in recall. Ask your dog to 'sit' or 'lie down' and 'stay', move away and then call them to 'come' after a short time. Start in the same room and gradually work up to doing this from outside of the room. If your dog breaks the stay before you call them, again return to practicing 'stay' and 'come' from a smaller distance.
Tip: always end training sessions on a 'win' if you can, to keep your dog looking forward to the next one. Finish with an easier command and reward with plenty of treats and praise!
Step 4: Time to Play
Have your dog 'sit' or 'lie down' and 'stay', then find a place in the house to hide (treats in hand!). When you are hidden, call your dogs to 'come' and have them find you, rewarding them with a treat and praise when they do. Make sure only to reward them finding you if you have given the recall command, otherwise they may get confused about the 'stay' command.
Over time you can get more and more complex with hiding places and even have multiple players too!
- What are the benefits of teaching your dog hide and seek?
- Mentally engaging - dogs are using their brain to learn new skills
- Sensory stimulation - dogs are using their nose to sniff you out and ears to listen for cues
- Reinforces important commands - hide and seek is a fun way to practice 'sit', 'lie down', 'stay' and 'come'
- Social and emotional - spending time doing activities with your dog solidifies the human-animal bond
Hide and Seek with your pup is fun! It is great for breaking up the day, reducing boredom, boosting morale and helping to reduce stress and anxiety.
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Fri Feb 13 2026
Edited by Dr Angie Armstrong BVScDr Teagan Lever BVSc (Hons)
Head Veterinarian, BVSc (Hons)
Pet Circle's Head Veterinarian, Dr Teagan graduated from the University of Queensland in 2010 and went on to work in small animal and mixed practice in various locations around QLD & ACT before joining Pet Circle in early 2016. Dr Teagan has special interests in dermatology, nutrition and preventative health care. She feels privileged to witness the special bond people share with their pets on a daily basis and enjoys forming lasting relationships with pet parents and their fur children.
