Find It
Summary
Find It is a game where you say "find it," toss a treat, and your dog uses their nose to track it down. Some dogs get it right away. Others need a little help learning that the fun is on the floor. You'll build it over three days, starting with a treat a few inches away and finishing in your front yard.
The goal is a dog who hears "find it" and thinks, "Something good just landed. Let's go!"
Benefits of Teaching Find It
Adds energy, movement and fun to your training sessions.
Gives your dog an easy win, which builds confidence.
Puts your dog's nose to work, which is satisfying and tiring in a good way.
Gives you a quick reset between training reps.
Lays the foundation for nose work and enrichment games.
Ways to Use Find It
As a warm-up at the start of a training session.
Between training reps, to reset and give your dog a short break.
To move your dog out of a doorway, off the couch or away from something, without asking for obedience.
As an easy indoor game on rainy days.
As a supervised game kids can help with (see Before You Start).
Purpose
The purpose of Find It is to give your dog a simple, fun job: hear "find it," use their nose, and get paid.
We use it to bring energy and movement into training sessions, to reset between reps, and as the starting point for nose work and enrichment games.
Before You Start
This plan is for dogs of any age. For some dogs, Find It is second nature. Others need to learn that the fun is on the floor, and that's exactly what the first few steps teach.
Your dog does not need to know sit, down or stay before you start. You're not asking for obedience. You're just playing a game together.
The Rules of the Game
5 in a row: Do each step 5 times. If your dog finds the treat easily every time, move to the next step.
Struggling? If your dog can't find the treat, go back a step: toss closer and tap where it lands.
Say it once, before you toss. Starting at Step 3, say "Find it!" once, then toss. The words come first so they start to mean "food is about to land."
Say "Nice!" or "Yes!" right before they eat it. This tells your dog they got it right.
Keep it happy. This is a game. If it stops being fun, stop and try again later.
Playing With Kids
Kids love Find It, and it's a great way for them to play with the dog without hands-on wrestling or chasing.
An adult should always supervise.
Have kids toss the treat away from themselves, never at their own feet.
Kids should stay seated or standing still while the dog searches.
Play with one dog at a time.
Not Ready for Find It Yet?
Check with your trainer before playing if your dog:
Stiffens, growls or gulps food fast when people or other pets are nearby.
Guards toys, chews or food.
Gets so worked up about food that they jump, nip or bark.
Those dogs may need a different setup first, especially before kids get involved.
Set Up
When to Teach
Pick a time when your dog is a little hungry and has some energy, not right after a big meal.
Keep sessions short: about 5 minutes.
End while your dog is still having fun.
Where to Teach
Days 1 and 2 start inside your home, on a hard floor where treats are easy to see. Day 2 moves to a different room and then the backyard. Day 3 mixes in the living room, dining room and front yard.
Supplies Needed
Small, smelly treats that are easy to see on the floor. Light-colored treats on a dark floor (or the other way around) make the first steps easier.
A treat pouch or small container.
For the front yard: a leash, or a fenced yard.
Management Notes
Play with one dog at a time. Food on the floor with two dogs around can start an argument.
Toss treats away from furniture, stairs and anything your dog could bump into while searching.
Outside, check the area for things your dog shouldn't eat before you start.
Instructions
How Each Rep Works
Say "Find it!" (starting at Step 3).
Toss one treat on the floor.
Tap where it landed with your finger, if the step says to.
Say "Nice!" right before your dog eats it.
Do each step 5 times, then move on.
Day 1: Learn the Game (at home)
Step 1: Toss a treat a few inches away and tap where it landed. Don't say anything before the toss yet.
Step 2: Toss a treat 6 inches away and tap where it landed. Still no words before the toss.
Step 3: Say "Find it!", then toss a treat a foot away and tap where it landed.
Step 4: Say "Find it!", then toss a treat a foot away in the other direction. No tap this time.
Step 5: Say "Find it!", then toss treats in random directions, about a foot away. No tap.
Day 2: New Places
Step 6: In a different room of your home, say "Find it!" and toss a treat a foot away. No tap.
Step 7: In another room, say "Find it!" and toss a treat a foot away. No tap.
Step 8: In the backyard, say "Find it!" and toss a treat 6 inches away. Tap where it landed. (Grass makes treats harder to find, so we make it easier again.)
Step 9: In the backyard, say "Find it!" and toss a treat a foot away. No tap.
Day 3: Mix It Up
Step 10: In the living room, say "Find it!" and toss a treat a foot away. No tap.
Step 11: In the backyard, say "Find it!" and toss a treat a foot away. No tap.
Step 12: In the dining room, say "Find it!" and toss a treat more than a foot away. No tap.
Step 13: In the front yard, on leash, say "Find it!" and toss a treat 6 inches away. Tap where it landed only if your dog needs help.
Good Signs
You are on the right track when your dog:
Puts their nose to the floor as soon as they hear "find it."
Finds the treat quickly without you tapping.
Has a loose, wiggly body and a wagging tail.
Comes back to you happily, ready for the next one.
Can play in a new room or outside without losing interest.
Take a Break If You See
End the session, or go back a step, if your dog:
Can't find the treat 2 or 3 times in a row.
Wanders off or loses interest.
Gets frantic, jumpy or mouthy.
Stops taking treats, especially outside.
Stop and check with your trainer if your dog stiffens, growls or gulps food when people or other pets come near.
Schedule
Practice about 5 minutes per session.
Aim for:
1–2 sessions per day.
Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3 can each take more than one day. Move on when your dog is ready, not when the calendar says so.
Short, happy sessions are better than long ones.
End every session on a win.
Troubleshooting
My dog watches my hand instead of looking for the treat.
That's common at first. Toss closer, tap right next to the treat, and wait. Once your dog figures out the food is on the floor, they'll start looking down on their own.
My dog can't find the treat.
Make it easier: toss closer, use a bigger or smellier treat, or use a color that stands out on your floor. Tap where it landed until your dog gets the idea.
My dog won't play outside.
The outdoors is full of exciting smells. Go back to the easier step for that spot, use better treats, and keep the session very short.
My dog jumps on me between tosses.
Toss the next treat sooner, before your dog has time to jump. Then slowly add a short pause once your dog is calmer.
My dog eats things off the ground outside.
Check the area first, and keep your dog on leash in the front yard.
How to Level Up
Once your dog has finished Day 3, try:
Tossing the treat a little farther.
Tossing into short grass, a snuffle mat or a towel on the floor.
Playing in new places, like a quiet park on leash.
Using Find It between reps in your other training exercises.
Change one thing at a time. If your dog struggles, make it easier and try again.
Find It is not just a treat toss. It's teaching your dog: "When I hear 'find it,' something good is about to happen."