At-Home Enrichment: Egg Hunt
At-Home Enrichment is a monthly series from the pros at The Dog Den & The Puppy Den! Each activity is designed to be easy, affordable, and fun — using simple household items and little-to-no “special” equipment. Because enrichment shouldn’t be complicated… it should be something you can actually do on a busy day. 🐾
Looking for a fun way to get your dog using their nose and brain? This month’s enrichment feature is a DIY Egg Hunt — a simple, engaging game that turns snack time into a full-on search party.
This activity is great for:
dogs who love to sniff and search
busy brains that need a challenge
rainy days or backyard playtime
adding a little extra fun to your routine
Why We Love This Activity
We love this one because it:
taps into your dog’s natural foraging instincts
provides great mental stimulation
is easy to scale from beginner to advanced
✨ Bonus: It’s just really fun to watch your dog “hunt” for their snacks. 😄
Supplies Needed
You’ll need:
plastic fillable eggs
your dog’s favorite snacks (or their meal)
extra high-value treats for extra motivation (optional)
How to Set It Up
Fill each egg with your dog’s snacks or kibble.
Hide the eggs around a room, throughout the house, or in the backyard.
Place a few eggs in easy, visible spots to get your dog started.
The more eggs you use, the more challenging the game becomes.
And remember — the higher or more hidden the eggs are, the harder they’ll be to find!
Start Easy
If your dog is new to search games:
Place eggs in obvious spots (on the floor, in open areas)
Let your dog watch you hide a few eggs
Use extra smelly treats to grab their interest
We want your dog to quickly think, “Ohhh I get it… this is awesome.”
Level Up
Once your dog understands the game, you can increase the challenge:
Hide eggs behind furniture or under objects
Spread them across multiple rooms or outdoor spaces
Place eggs slightly higher (but still safe and reachable)
Use fewer, more hidden eggs for a longer search
Pro tip: Keep it fun — if your dog seems stuck, make the next round easier so they can succeed.
How to Play
Bring your dog into the search area and encourage them to start exploring.
You may need to point out the first few eggs to get them going
When your dog finds an egg, encourage them to try opening it
If they get frustrated, give them a little help — teamwork counts!
Some dogs will carefully sniff and search… others will go full chaos mode. Both are correct. 😄
Estimated Play Time ⏱️
10–60+ minutes depending on how many eggs you hide and how tricky you make it.
Safety Notes
Supervise your dog while playing
Use sturdy plastic eggs that won’t easily break
Make sure your dog doesn’t ingest pieces of the eggs
Keep hiding spots safe and accessible
If your dog gets frustrated, simplify the game so they can keep enjoying it.
Have fun with it — and don’t be surprised if your dog starts thinking every day is egg hunt day. 🥚🐾
Keep an eye out for next month’s At-Home Enrichment feature!