Find It Flow
What is Find It Flow?
Find It Flow is a simple, repeating pattern that strings together three skills most dogs need: using their nose to find something, coming when called, and asking politely instead of grabbing. Because the loop is the same every time, your dog quickly learns what comes next, and that predictability is calming. It's enrichment and training in one game, and it burns physical and mental energy at the same time.
Who it's for
Dogs whose recall falls apart the moment something interesting appears
Excitable dogs who greet people by jumping or barreling in
Dogs who need a job on days when a long walk isn't possible
Anxious or reactive dogs who do better with a predictable pattern to fall back on
Puppies building the basics in a way that feels like play
Why it works
Sniffing is naturally calming for dogs, so starting each round with a "find it" puts your dog in a good headspace before you ask for anything else. The recall and the polite approach then get practiced over and over inside a game your dog wants to keep playing, which is exactly how you build behaviors that hold up in real life.
What you'll need
Your dog
A pouch of treats
A quiet room to start
If you have more than one dog, put the others away while you teach this. One dog at a time.
Prerequisite: your dog should know how to touch your hand with their nose. It doesn't have to be polished; just introduce it and it will get stronger with practice. Learn the hand touch here.
Pro tip: for the first few sessions, use slightly larger treats so your dog can see and hear them land
How to play
Set up. Start indoors in a room without much going on. Ask your dog to sit in front of you.
Find it. Say your dog's name, then "Find it!" and toss a treat a few feet away, close enough that they can easily go get it. Let them go find and eat it.
Come. The moment your dog looks back up at you, say their name, then "Come!" This is where the recall gets built: lots of happy, rewarded practice.
Touch. As your dog gets close, hold out your hand. When they touch it with their nose, say "Yes!" and give a treat.
Sit. Now wait. Don't ask; let your dog offer a sit on their own. It may take a few seconds the first time. This is the polite-approach piece, where your dog learns that a calm sit is how you ask for things.
Repeat. When they sit, say "Yes!" then immediately say "Find it!" and toss the next treat. You're back at the top of the loop.
As your dog gets the pattern, toss the treat farther away. Farther means a harder find and more running back and forth, which means more energy burned.
Level up
Once the pattern is solid inside, take it to the backyard. More space and more smells make the flow harder without changing the rules.
After the backyard, take it on the road: a park on a long leash (15 to 20 feet). This is where the game really pays off. Play with kids or a dog park in the distance, or near a walking path, and you're polishing recall around real distractions while your dog still gets to win every round. Get creative about where you play, but add difficulty gradually. If your dog stops playing, the environment got too hard too fast.
Troubleshooting
"My dog won't go get the treat." Toss it closer, use a bigger or smellier treat, and make sure your dog sees it leave your hand. Some dogs need to watch the toss a few times before they trust that something good is out there. If you're outside, move to a spot with shorter grass or a hard surface so the treat is easier to find.
"My dog won't sit politely to ask for the next toss." Wait longer than feels comfortable. Most dogs will offer a sit eventually if you stay quiet and still. If your dog is bouncing or barking, hold your treat hand still against your body and keep your face neutral. The first sit might take a while; the second will be faster. Don't cue the sit, or the game will teach your dog to wait for instructions instead of offering good manners on their own.
"I'm playing in a hard environment and my dog isn't interested in the treats." That's information, not failure. The environment is too much for now. Move farther from whatever is pulling your dog's attention, switch to higher-value treats, and get a few easy wins before creeping closer again. If your dog won't take treats at all, they may be over threshold; end the session and go somewhere easier.
Need help?
If your dog struggles with recall or greeting people calmly even after practicing, our trainers can help you build those skills in private sessions or group classes. Meet our team or contact us.