Kibble Search: Hide & Seek for Kids and Dogs

Ready for a game that combines your child’s love of play with your dog’s natural sniffing instincts? Kibble search is a simple hide-and-seek style activity that uses everyday objects to turn snack time into an adventure. 

With your child taking the lead, they can hide treats under the objects while your dog waits patiently. Once everything is set, your child can give the cue to let your dog in, encouraging them to use their nose and instincts to find the hidden goodies.

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Kids love setting it up, and dogs love solving the puzzle.

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Some dogs may need encouragement to look for the treats/kibble the first few times to grasp the concept. 

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‍WHAT YOU NEED

• 3 or more cups, cones, stacking toys, or similar objects 
• ‍Treats or kibble

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HOW TO PLAY

Step 1: Put Your Dog Behind a Barrier
Put your dog outside, weather permitting, or behind a gate or door while your child sets up the game. 

Step 2: Hide the Treats
Have your child place a few pieces of kibble or treats under some of the cups/cones. Leaving some empty makes it trickier and more fun.

Step 3: Set the Stage
Ask your child to step back to a designated “start spot” away from the hiding area. This helps keep things clear and structured. You can use a chair or a learning tower. 

Step 4: Give the Cue
Bring your dog back in. Encourage your child to point to the cups or say “Find it!” if your dog already knows a search cue.

Step 5: Watch Your Dog Explore
From the designated start spot, enjoy watching your dog sniff, tip, and scavenge their way through the maze of cups/cones.  

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PRO TIPS

• Not a fit for puppies who chew everything, dogs who guard food, or dogs who destroy objects.
  
  
• We love these Stapelstein Rainbow stackers as fun, sturdy hiding spots. Great for open-ended play, so we get A LOT of use out of them daily.
  
  
• Nosework is incredibly tiring for dogs - just a few rounds can leave them happily zonked out!

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Insights from Dominika: We used paper cups left over from my children's birthday party. Because we had many left, my daughter liked to use 20+ per game, but hid kibble under some of the cups. Paper cups are not scary to dogs when they fall, and Lola was just gently knocking them over with her nose. We would usually put her outside, and she could see my daughter set it up. Sometimes, due to her size and excitement, she knocked over a few accidentally, so you may want to leave some room between the cups. She absolutely loved the game! My daughter loved making various shapes with the cups. 

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More Fun Activities

If your child loved hiding kibble under cups, they’ll love our Kibble Pockets (a DIY treat dispenser with cardboard tubes) or Puzzle Toy Fill (stuffing toys together for your pup).

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This game is part of our Kids & Dogs Activity Series.