What you need

  • Old towel or blanket
  • Your pet's favorite toy

How to do it

  1. Lay an old towel or blanket flat and let your dog watch you put their favorite toy in the middle.
  2. Fold the towel loosely over the toy and put it down. Let your dog nose and paw it open.
  3. When that is easy, roll the toy up inside the towel, or wrap it in a tea towel.
  4. For an extra challenge, tie the ends of the tea towel together in a loose knot.
  5. Praise every find and play with the toy for a moment before the next round.

⚠️ Safety

Supervision: Watch the first few times.

Stay close the first few times. If your dog starts chewing pieces off the towel, take it away and play a different game.

👀 What to watch for

If your dog walks away or gets frustrated, go back to a looser fold so they win quickly.

Sources

Last checked November 3, 2026. These activities are for healthy pets — if yours has a health or behavior condition, ask your vet which games suit them.