Let's be real — Easter wasn't exactly designed with dogs in mind. Chocolate everywhere, hot cross buns loaded with raisins, foil-wrapped eggs at snout height… it's basically an obstacle course of "please don't eat that."
But here's the thing: with a little creativity, your pup can have just as much fun as the rest of the family this long weekend. Enter the dog-friendly Easter hunt — and trust us, once you've watched your dog lose their entire mind over a hidden piece of cheese, you'll be doing this every year.
First things first: keep your dog safe this Easter
Before you set anything up, let's talk hazards. Chocolate is toxic to dogs — even small amounts can cause vomiting, tremors, and in serious cases, worse. Xylitol (found in some lollies and peanut butters) is equally dangerous, and raisins — hello, hot cross buns — are a big no.
If you're running a family Easter egg hunt alongside the dog version, keep the two completely separate. Count every single chocolate egg you hide, and make sure every single one gets found by a human. Dogs are excellent at sniffing out things they're not supposed to have.
Always supervise your dog during the hunt. It's supposed to be fun, not a vet visit. But if your dog manages to sneak a few Caramello Koalas, this is what to do.
Set up the perfect dog-friendly Easter egg hunt
The beauty of a dog Easter hunt is that you're tapping into what dogs do best: using their nose. This isn't just a fun game — it's genuine mental stimulation, and a tired brain is just as good as a tired body when it comes to a well-behaved pup.
Keep things simple to start, especially if your dog is new to scent games. Stick to ground level and avoid hiding spots that involve jumping or climbing. Think: under bushes, behind pot plants, beneath a pile of leaves, or in the hollow of a log. As your dog gets the hang of it, you can make the hiding spots progressively trickier.
Want to level up? Grab some coloured plastic eggs from your local two-dollar shop (dogs see blue and yellow best, so lean into those shades) and hide treats inside. If your dog is a serial chewer who'd happily crunch through the whole egg, swap the plastic eggs for a Toppl stuffed with something delicious instead.
Craft project alert (kids will love this one): Collect empty toilet rolls and let the kids go wild decorating them with Easter drawings. Fold one end shut, pop a treat or two inside, fold the other end, and you've got a DIY treat cracker that's perfect for hiding around the garden. Zero cost, maximum tail wags.
Choose the right treats
Since the whole game is built around smell, you want treats that pack a punch in the sniff department. Mild kibble hiding inside a sealed plastic egg isn't going to cut it — you need something your dog would cross a room for.
High-value picks include:
- Small pieces of cheese
- A smear of dog-safe peanut butter (always check it's xylitol-free)
- High-value fish treats — these are gold for scent games
- Pieces of Doggy Grub fresh meals
For lower-value fillers you can scatter more freely, try blueberries, banana slices, cooked sweet potato, or carrot sticks. Carob and yoghurt buttons also make a great dog-safe Easter "chocolate" alternative.
The most important rule: keep treat quantities in check. This is a game, not a free-for-all buffet. Count what you hide, track what gets eaten, and adjust your dog's next meal accordingly so you're not tipping them over their daily intake. The last thing you want after a fun Easter morning is an upset tummy situation.
Try a scent-only hunt (no treats required)
If you'd rather skip the treats entirely, a scent hunt is a brilliant alternative — and honestly, dogs love it just as much. Using a small brush or cotton pad, dab different scents onto low foliage, garden furniture, or fence posts and let your dog work their way around, nose to the ground. Vanilla extract, a drop of lavender or peppermint essential oil, or even the liquid from a tin of tuna all work brilliantly.
Praise enthusiastically every time they find a scent spot — the reward is your reaction, not food.
Easter is honestly one of the best opportunities to get outside, spend quality time with your dog, and give their brain a proper workout. So grab the hollow eggs, hide the good stuff, and let the chaos begin.
Make sure you snap some pics and tag us on Instagram @doggy_grub — we absolutely love seeing your pups in action.
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The Doggy Grub blog is dedicated to helping dogs and their owners achieve happier, healthier lives, changing the way we feed our dogs one bowl at a time! If you would like to know more about our fresh food head to Doggy Grub
