Episode #112 - Try It:

Teach Your Dog "Find It" From Scratch

April 28, 2025

TLDL (Too Long, Didn’t Listen):

✅ “Find It” is a behavior toolbox MVP – Use it to support a range of goals, from helping your dog relax while you work to keeping them grounded when the world gets a little uncertain.

✅ Set your dog up for success from the start – Begin the game on a hard, clear surface so your dog can use all their senses to build confidence and momentum.

✅ Use “Find It” strategically across contexts – Before creating a whole new training plan, ask yourself: could “Find It” help here?

Episode Overview:

Looking for an easy way to enrich your dog’s life and support your behavior goals? “Find It” might be your new favorite go-to. In this episode of Enrichment for the Real World, Emily Strong (she/they) walks you through exactly how to teach “Find It” from scratch—even if your dog has never done scent work before.

You’ll get a step-by-step guide that starts with clear floors and easy wins, then builds up to more complex searches. But this episode isn’t just about tossing treats—it’s about being strategic and observant. Emily helps you learn how to tell when your dog is engaged, tired, distracted, or discouraged so you can adjust accordingly.

Whether your goal is to help your dog focus, relax, or stop scanning the horizon for spooky stuff, “Find It” might just be the multi-tool your toolbox is missing.

Links & Resources from the Episode

For full episode transcripts: Arial l OpenDyslexic
🎧 #111 – Scent Work for Dogs: Enrichment That Supports the Whole Househol
📽️ Turn the volume up to hear what a dog sounds like when they have their snuffles on.

Going Down a Rabbit Hole?

Dive deeper into the world of enrichment, behavior, and building harmony.

Watch Find It in Action – Ellen adds physical complexity to the game with her senior pups.
Come on a Countersurfing Safari with Me – MaryKaye’s blog on using scent work to tackle countersurfing.

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Meet the Hosts

Allie Bender, CDBC, CPDT-KA, SBA

Allie Bender is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Certified Professional Dog Trainer- Knowledge Assessed, and a Shelter Behavior Affiliate. She has been in the animal welfare industry since 2006 and professionally training since 2012. She is the founder and co-owner of Pet Harmony, co-author of Canine Enrichment for the Real World, and a national speaker.

While in the animal sheltering industry, Allie realized that her passion lied in helping pets with maladaptive behaviors. Specifically, she wanted to help prevent animals with rehabilitatable problems from being euthanized. She loves working with dogs and cats displaying stranger danger, resource guarding, and leash reactivity. Her favorite thing about working with pets and their people is seeing relationships grow and seeing harmonious households develop.

Emily Strong, CDBC, SBA

Emily Strong is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and Shelter Behavior Affiliate. She has been in the animal welfare industry since 1990 and has been a behavior consultant since 2008. She is the co-owner of Pet Harmony, co-author of Canine Enrichment for the Real World, and a national speaker.

Emily started working with animals at a young age and struggled with the notion that you have to hurt, scare, or intimidate animals to help them. When she discovered the behavior sciences and learned that it wasn’t necessary to do so– that we can care for emotional, mental, and physical health simultaneously– she plunged headfirst into animal behavior. Emily loves helping current and prospective behavior professionals and working with pet parents through our in-depth services. She enjoys working with all species.

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