Easter egg hunt games to play with your pets

We don't recommend 'doggie/kitty chocolate eggs'. At all! (They may be labelled as 'pet-safe', but that doesn't make them 'pet-healthy'.) Our comment: shit happens, and you ideally don't want to be cleaning up all long weekend.

But this got us thinking. There are loads of creative ways you can lean into the fun of the Easter and bank holiday weekends with your pets this spring. Here are three games that are as fun for you as they are enriching for your floofs.

Egg hunt, dog-friendly style

This is a great iteration of our Scentwork Practice Kit activity. Scentwork is proven to lower your dog's BP and heart rate, and release dopamine. It's a great way to bond, and a long weekend is the perfect opportunity to play this slightly longer game.

Use a hard-boiled egg or an old tennis ball as your scent, and your dog's fave healthy treats for rewards.

Step 1: Get on the scent

Hide the egg behind your back. Hold treats in your other hand. Present the egg to your pooch. When they sniff, say 'good!' and reward from your 'treat hand'. Repeat x3, then swap the contents of your hands.

Step 2: Create the cue

Pick a vocal cue for sniffing out the scent. (Try 'find it!' or 'egg!') Use your cue and bring the egg out to sniff. When they do, reward as before. Repeat x3.

Step 3: Certified sniffer dog!

With your dog outside the room, put the egg on the floor (not hidden). Open the door and say the cue. When your dog goes to the egg, reward and repeat!

Step 4: Is that a dog or an Easter bunny?!

Hide some chopped hard-boiled eggs in your garden. You could make it harder by keeping them in a container like a tupperware or Kong, or put them directly outside if you're happy for your dog to gobble up as many eggs as you this Easter.

🐱 If you're worried about kitty feeling left out, you can feed them boiled eggs too! For cats who scavenge in the garden, you can go straight to Step 4 and watch them stalk some eggs. For indoor cats, just pop some in their bowl. They're really high in protein and amino acids.

Thinking outside the egg box

This game is inspired by our resident expert Rachel Rodgers of Nose to Trail UK who has a demo video on setting up the egg box game.

This works for both dogs and cats. Give them a short enrichment game that's bang on theme for Easter, and focuses their attention for a few minutes.

1. Place some treats (or maybe even smear some cream cheese, or pâté if you're feeling fancy) inside each egg hole.

2. Close the egg box. Some of them pop open very easily while others take a good amount of pawing to open.

3. Customise this part to suit your pets – if you need to make it harder, you could place the egg box inside another container like an old pillowcase.

4. Present the box to your very good boy or girl. Rather than getting under everyone's feet just as the BBQ is served, they'll have their snoot firmly in the egg box, and maybe even keep playing with it once they've finished the treats.

Thinking outside the egg box

This game is inspired by our resident expert Rachel Rodgers of Nose to Trail UK who has a demo video on setting up the egg box game.

This works for both dogs and cats. Give them a short enrichment game that’s bang on theme for Easter, and focuses their attention for a few minutes.

1. Place some treats (or maybe even smear some cream cheese, or pâté if you're feeling fancy) inside each egg hole.

2. Close the egg box. Some of them pop open very easily while others take a good amount of pawing to open.

3. Customise this part to suit your pets – if you need to make it harder, you could place the egg box inside another container like an old pillowcase.

4. Present the box to your very good boy or girl. Rather than getting under everyone’s feet just as the BBQ is served, they’ll have their snoot firmly in the egg box, and maybe even keep playing with it once they’ve finished the treats.

Stick with a classic: ball hunt!

Dogs and cats alike love to play with a bouncy or lightweight rolly ball. Just check out these puppies we recently had at a photoshoot!

Have you ever seen joy like Boggle's? This isn't AI generated!

You know the drill with these. Practice static retrieves (using the 'wait' cue), hide them, tuck treats into them, bounce them around, juggle them – your dogs and cats will be all over you.

What a glorious way to spend a long weekend!

We get pets. You get Napo Lifetime Plus

Life isn't one long Easter egg hunt (unfortunately). Accidents, illnesses, emergencies – they do happen. We believe in supporting pet parents to keep their dogs and cats as happy and healthy as possible, for their whole lives. That's why we only offer lifetime policies, with generous cover for everything from diagnostics to dental, and acupuncture to physio. If you need support fast, you have access to our free vet helpline and 24/7 videocalls with FirstVet. Get your Napo Lifetime insurance quote now.