Simple Search Games for Fun, Sport, and Safety with Your Australian Shepherd
- Jill
- Jun 23
- 7 min read
Unleashing Your Dog's Natural Instincts
Dogs are natural searchers!
They use their noses all day long to gather information, solve problems, and investigate the world around them. This means your dog thinks sniffing is a full-time job!
The good news? You can turn that natural ability into a fun, useful, confidence-building game.
For breeds like Australian Shepherds, Mini American Shepherds, and other intelligent working dogs, search games are especially valuable.
These dogs thrive when their brains have a job. And “go find the thing” is a much better job than “reorganize the throw pillows with your teeth.” LOL! You know that a bored Aussie is a naughty Aussie!
Teaching your dog to search for a specific object or person can be used for simple play, sport-style enrichment, or even safety skills around your home and family.
And no, this does not need to be complicated. When you teach your dog to find objects, you are not training a professional search-and-rescue dog in your living room next to a laundry basket and half a cup of cold coffee.
You are simply teaching your dog:
“This thing has a name. When I say the name, go find it.”
That’s it!
Let’s break it down into three simple parts: name recognition, the search cue, and easy find-it games.
The Foundation: Name Pairing
Before your dog can search for something, they need to understand that the object or person has a name.
Start with something easy and familiar. This could be:
A favorite toy: “ball”
A sport-related object: “antler”
A person: “Molly,” “Dad,” or “the kids”
Choose one word and stick with it.
Do not call it “ball,” “toy,” “go get your thing,” and “where’s your bouncy buddy” all in the same week.
Dogs are smart. They are not mind readers. Sadly!
The Small Pause That Makes Name Pairing Work
When you are teaching your dog the name of an object or person, timing matters.
You do not want to say the word while waving the toy around, repeating yourself six times, or creating so much excitement that your dog has no idea what they are actually learning.
Keep it simple and clear.
Here is the rhythm:
Say the word. Pause. Present the object. Pause. Let your dog sniff or touch it. Mark and reward.
For example:
“Ball.”
Pause.
Show your dog the ball.
Pause.
When your dog looks at it, sniffs it, or touches it, say:
“Yes!”
Then reward with a treat, praise, or a short game.
That tiny pause gives your dog a chance to connect the word with the object.
It teaches them:
“Ball” means this specific thing.
Once your dog understands the name, then you can build toward:
“Find ball.” or “Search ball.”
Clear first. Fast later. Because in dog training, rushing the foundation is usually where the wheels fall off — and then we blame the dog. Rude, but common!
Step 1: Teach the Name
Start with the object right in front of your dog.
Hold it up and say the name clearly.
For example:
“Ball.”
Pause.
Present the ball.
Pause.
When your dog looks at it, sniffs it, or touches it, mark the moment:
“Yes!”
Then reward.
Repeat several times.
Keep this short and easy. Think one or two minutes, not a full college lecture on ball identification.
Simple Practice:
Step 2: Add the Search Cue
Once your dog understands the name of the item, you can add a cue like:
“Find it.” or “Search.”
Choose one and be consistent.
Now pair the name with the search cue.
For example:
“Find ball.” or “Search antler.”
At first, the object should be very easy to find.
We are talking toddler Easter egg hunt level!
Not “hidden in a forest under six inches of leaves while the wind changes direction.”
Put the ball a few feet away in plain sight.
Say: “Find ball!”
When your dog goes to it, celebrate!
Make it fun. Make it obvious. Make your dog think they are brilliant.
Because confidence matters!
Step 3: Make the Search Slightly Harder
Once your dog understands the game, slowly increase the difficulty.
You can:
Place the item behind a chair leg
Put it beside a basket
Hide it halfway under a towel
Place it in another room nearby
Use more distance
Add mild distractions
Do not jump from “ball in front of your face” to “find this in the woods.”
That is how dogs get frustrated and humans start saying things like, “He knows this, he’s just being stubborn.”
Nope. He probably just needs the steps broken down smaller.
Part One: Searching for Fun
This is the easiest and most playful way to begin.
Start with a favorite toy your dog already loves. Good options include:
Ball
Rope
Duck
Frisbee
Stuffed toy
Tug toy
Simple Toy Search Game
Show your dog the toy.
Say the name: “Ball.”
Pause.
Let them sniff or touch it.
Say: “Yes!”
Reward.
Place the toy a few feet away.
Say: “Find ball!”
Praise big when they get it.
10. Reward with play.
Once they get the idea, hide the toy in easy places around the room.
Behind a pillow.
Next to the couch.
Beside their bed.
Under the edge of a blanket.
Keep it light and fun.
This is a great rainy-day activity, especially for Aussies and other smart breeds who need more than “please just stop inventing hobbies.”
Search games use their brain, body, and nose without requiring you to run laps around the house. A win for everyone!
Part Two: Searching for Sport
Once your dog understands the basic game, you can use the same idea for sport-style enrichment.
This may include teaching your dog to search for something like:
Deer antlers
Shed antlers
Training dummies
Scent articles
Specific outdoor gear
A named retrieve item
The process is the same.
Start with name pairing. Let’s use “antler” as an example.
Step-by-Step Sport Search
Hold the antler and say: “Antler.”
Pause.
Present the antler.
Pause.
Let your dog sniff it.
Praise interest: “Yes!”
Reward.
Place it on the floor in plain sight.
Say: “Find antler!”
10. Reward when your dog goes to it.
11. Slowly increase distance and difficulty.
At first, reward any interest.
Looking at it counts. Sniffing it counts. Walking toward it counts.
Picking it up is great, but not required in the beginning unless that is your final goal.
As your dog improves, begin hiding the object in more realistic places.
For example:
In the grass
Beside a tree
Near a trail
Under leaves
Around outdoor distractions
Keep sessions short. End before your dog gets tired or bored.
The goal is for your dog to think, “I love this game,” not “Great, here comes another unpaid internship.”
Part Three: Searching for Safety
This one can be both practical and meaningful.
You can teach your dog to recognize and search for a family member by name.
For example: “Find Molly.” or “Find Dad.”
This can be a fun game, but it may also become a helpful safety skill around the home, yard, or property.
Important note: This is not a replacement for adult supervision, child safety rules, fencing, tracking devices, or professional search training.
But it can be a useful skill to build.
And for many dogs, finding their people is one of the most rewarding games of all.
Step-by-Step Person Search
Start with the person in the room.
Have the person stand nearby.
Say their name: “Molly.”
Pause.
Molly encourages the dog to come to her.
When the dog reaches her, Molly says: “Yes!”
Molly rewards with praise, treats, or play.
Repeat this several times.
Then add the search cue.
You say: “Find Molly!”
Molly rewards the dog when they get to her.
Then make it slightly harder.
Have Molly stand behind a chair.
Then around a corner.
Then in another room.
Then outside in an easy, obvious place.
Again, think little kid Easter egg hunt.
We are building success first.
The dog learns:
“Molly” means this person. “Find Molly” means go search for her.
Over time, you can practice with different family members.
Just make sure each name is clear and consistent.
Tips for Better Search Training
1- Keep it short
Five minutes is plenty. Especially for puppies.
A short, successful session beats a long, sloppy one every time.
2- Use one name at a time
Do not teach ball, antler, duck, Dad, Molly, and your missing left shoe all in the same afternoon.
Start with one item or person. Build clarity first.
3- Make the first searches easy
Your dog should win a lot in the beginning.
Confidence creates motivation. Motivation creates better searching.
4- Reward the moment they find it
The reward should happen when your dog gets to the object or person.
Timing matters.
Do not wait until they have found it, wandered away, scratched their ear, and questioned their life choices.
5- Slowly add difficulty
Increase one thing at a time:
Distance
Hiding spot
Distraction
Different room
Outdoor environment
Do not increase all of them at once.
That’s not training. That’s a pop quiz with fur!
Why Search Games Are So Good for Dogs
Search games are simple, but they are powerful.
They help build:
Confidence
Focus
Problem-solving skills
Scenting ability
Relationship with their handler
Mental enrichment
Calm, purposeful energy
For breeds like Australian Shepherds, Mini American Shepherds, and other intelligent working dogs, search games are especially valuable.
These dogs usually do best when their brains have a job.
And “go find the thing” is a much better job than “reorganize the throw pillows with your teeth.”
So, let’s get started! Your dog will love it!
