Teach your dog to find a specific toy

The Find It Game

Dogs who love to play fetch are the best candidates for the game of "Find your teddy bear!"

But Find it  can still be a fun game even if your dog won't actually bring the toy back to you.

First you need to teach him that there is a different "sound" for each of his favorite toys. Now, some owners just say "Toy" for all of their dog's toys. That's fine, you could do that.

But most owners have specific names for at least a couple of favorite toys – ball, bone, sock... the smarter and more playful the dog, the more toys you'll probably end up naming, especially if your pup is a retrieving enthusiast like most of mine!

Name a toy

Here's how I taught one of my dogs the names of her stuffed rabbit, ducky, teddy bear, and dolly.

First came rabbit.  I put away all of Buffy's toys except the rabbit. For a few days, she and I played only with rabbit. I used every opportunity to name it: "Is that rabbit?  Good rabbit!  Get rabbit!  Bring rabbit  to me!" With no other toys to choose from, she brought rabbit every time.

Once I thought she had the idea, I moved to the next step....

"Find it"

I placed the rabbit across the room, then I encouraged her, "Where's rabbit?  Find rabbit!"

I walked toward the rabbit, gently clapping my hands to encourage her to follow. I pointed and motioned at the spot where I'd placed rabbit. If necessary, I would have gone right up to the stuffed toy and touched it – even tossed it for her – whatever it took to get her interested in the game.

Soon I progressed to placing rabbit in other rooms, then send her after it.

I was supportive and helpful. I followed her around and encouraged her, "Where is it? Where's rabbit?  Find rabbit!"

Above all, I wouldn't let Buffy fail. If she couldn't find the toy, or if she became discouraged and stopped looking, I helped him succeed, even if I needed to lead her to the toy. She developed confidence and persistence because I showed her that the toy IS findable every time.

The following week I put away the rabbit and brought out her toy duck. "Is this ducky?"  and so on. We spent days playing only with the duck, then fetching the duck, then finding the duck. All went well!

The hardest part came when I placed the rabbit and the duck side by side on the floor. "Buffy, get rabbit  – get your rabbit!"

She trotted over and nosed both animals and seized the duck. In a mild voice, I said, "Nope, not quite." Gently I put the duck back with the rabbit so she could try again.

No corrections! Games are just for fun!

"Get rabbit,"  I encouraged her again and this time she grabbed the rabbit. "Good girl!" I said. "Yay!"

Many repetitions later, when she was clearly distinguishing between the rabbit and the duck, I began putting the two toys in another room and sending her after one of them.

"Find ducky!" and off she dashes to look for the duck.

Musical Toys Game

Once your dog knows several toys by name, you can play the Musical Toys game.

Place the toys in a small group on the floor.

• "Get your rabbit!" "Good girl!" "Give!"
• "Get ducky!" "Good girl!" "Give!"
• "Get teddy!" "Good girl!" "Give!"
• "Get dolly!" "Good girl!" "Give!"

Find the Cookie Game

This alternative game can be played even by dogs who have absolutely no interest in retrieving or finding a toy.

You've probably already taught your dog the names of some of his favorite foods – cookie, biscuit, cheese, etc.

Hide one of your dog's favorite treats (cookie, biscuit, cheese, etc.), let's say a cookie, under a crumpled hand towel or bath towel. Or invert several plastic cups, line them up on the floor, and tuck the cookie under one of the cups.

Say, "Where's the cookie?  Find  the cookie!"  Show your pup how to look for the treat by snuffling under the towel or knocking over the cups. You want him to discover that Find  means the food will be hiding and he needs to search for it.