How to Train Your Dog to Find His Toy

Training your dog to find his toy is relatively easy, since this behavior relates to his natural hunting instinct. If you want your dog to find his toy at your command, you must first get your dog to recognize the toy by name and then understand your search command. In general, dog training requires more from the trainer than the dog---consistency, persistence, a calm and patient approach, and discovering what motivates your dog to learn.

Things You'll Need

  • Toy
  • Towel
  • Treats
Show More

Instructions

  1. Teach Your Dog To Find His Toy

    • 1

      Choose a cue word for the toy. Name the toy something unique, like "doll" for a stuffed animal or "squeak-squeak" for a squeaky toy. Use his favorite slobbered-on toy so he will recognize it both by sight and smell. With your dog's full attention, say the cue word and show him the toy. If he looks at the toy when you say the cue word, give him the toy as a reward.

    • 2

      Choose a "find" command. Choose a unique one-word command to help your dog learn faster. Use "find," "hunt" or "search" instead of "Go look for your fuzzy bunny." Use the command word only when you want him to find the toy and not in any other situation. You can generalize this command to finding other things later.

    • 3

      Hide the toy a little at a time. First show the dog the toy without hiding it and give the full command "find your doll." Then put the toy under a towel with almost all of it in plain sight and repeat the command. If your dog picks it up or even looks down at it, praise him in a happy voice. If he does nothing, try again without scolding him. Keep covering the toy with the towel more and more. Once he has successfully found the toy five times in a row, cover it completely. Command your dog to find the toy and praise him when he does.

    • 4

      Hide the toy farther and farther from your dog. Once your dog has mastered finding his toy under a towel, start hiding it in other places. Rub the toy across the carpet, up the side of a chair, or along the baseboard to give him a trail to follow. Let your dog see what you are doing at first, but once he is successful at finding the toy far from him, hide it somewhere when he is not looking (like under a chair in another room) and give him the "find" command.

    • 5

      Reward your dog for finding the toy. Use something that really motivates your dog. Some dogs prefer food, but others like praise, an ear-scratching, or playing tug or catch with the toy once it is found. Always say "Good dog!" when you are pleased with his behavior and never shout or scold him since this can discourage him from trying.