Some families hide candy. Some hide money. In our house? We hide treats and unleash the chaos.
This year I set up an Easter egg hunt for my dog, Zero, and it turned into an enrichment activity and a live comedy show. Using plastic eggs filled with Merrick goodies and Zuke’s mini treats, I created a trail of sniffable clues around the house that had him investigating like a tiny, furry detective with very important business to attend to.
How to Set It Up
Step 1: Choose Your Treats
Fill plastic eggs with small, high-value treats. Merrick’s bite-sized rewards or Zuke’s Minis work perfectly because they’re aromatic enough to spark interest without overloading your pet with snacks.
Step 2: Start Easy
If this is your pet’s first hunt, keep eggs partially visible. Let them learn the game before you go full Easter mastermind.
Step 3: Hide Strategically
Try:
• Behind table legs
• Next to doorways
• In grass tufts
• Tucked beside couch cushions
Avoid anywhere unsafe or frustrating, this is fun, not a survival challenge.
It started simple. A few eggs tucked beside chair legs, one near the door, another peeking out from under the coffee table. At first, Zero wasn’t sure what the colorful objects were, but the moment he caught the scent of treats, the mission became clear. Nose down. Tail up. Serious focus.
Sniffing is more than just cute, it’s mental exercise. He loves scent work. Watching him work out where each egg was hiding, doubling back, and rechecking spots he’d already searched was like seeing problem-solving in real time. Every successful nudge of an egg across the floor earned him a tiny reward and a very enthusiastic cheer squad (me).
Of course, the real excitement built toward the grand finale:
I made it bigger, shinier, and placed it just tricky enough to require a little determination. Inside was a brand-new toy, the ultimate jackpot. When Zero finally found it, there was a pause, a dramatic sniff, and then the proudest prance I’ve ever seen, golden egg clutched like he’d just won a game show. He carried it straight to his bed to inspect his prize like a seasoned treasure hunter.
Was it perfectly organized? Not even close. One egg opened on its own. Another was a little too hidden and out of each….even for a big dog like him. I found a forgotten one later that evening under a throw pillow…and at least it wasn’t a real egg…that would have been rotten (and yes, I have done that before). But that’s the magic of it, it wasn’t about perfection. It was about giving him something to solve, celebrate, and share with me.
An Easter egg hunt with treats is simple to set up, apartment-friendly, and endlessly customizable. Start easy, keep it safe, and let your pet learn the game. Add a scent trail by rubbing a treat on the outside of the eggs, cheer them on like they’re in a championship round, and don’t forget the golden egg moment, because every great hunt deserves a legendary ending.
And if your pet celebrates with a victory lap? Even better.
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