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Does your dog seem like they could play forever?
You throw the toy.
They sprint after it and bring it back.
Then they're ready to go again.
And again. And again.
Many high-drive dogs, especially pointing breeds, retrievers, and versatile hunting breeds, don’t actually get fully satisfied by endless repetitions of play. While their legs may get tired (eventually), they typically recover quickly and bounce back wanting more. This is because they’re missing the parts of the instinct sequence that make the activity truly fulfilling.
Working dogs are wired to move through a natural sequence that looks something like this:
Search → Find → Retrieve → Reward
A lot of the games we play with our dogs jump straight to the retrieve part of that sequence. The search and find stages, which are often the most mentally engaging, never really happen.
One simple way to add those missing pieces back is by incorporating scent-infused toys. Playology makes a variety of toys with a wide range of scents that are perfect for this.
Why Adding Scent Makes a Difference
Your dog experiences the world primarily through their nose.
Using a scent-infused toy forces them to slow down, investigate, and use their nose to locate the object.
That small shift changes the experience from something like this:
Throw → Chase → Return
to something much closer to their natural working pattern:
Search → Find → Retrieve → Reward
If your dog seems like they could play fetch forever, it’s often not because they need more throwing. It’s because they’re missing the part that truly engages their brain. Incorporating scent-infused toys helps target that search and find phase, creating an activity that completes the working sequence and leaves your dog more satisfied.
Turning Everyday Games Into Fulfilling Enrichment
In many cases, you can take games your dog already enjoys, like fetch or tug, and add a simple search component.
Here are a few simple ways to try it. You'll want to have a scented toy, like these from Playology.
Adding a Search Element to Fetch
Indoor Version
Ask your dog to wait in another room while you hide a scented ball somewhere in the house.
Then release your dog and with the cue “find it.”
When they locate the ball, reward them by throwing it for a short round of fetch. Then reset and repeat for a 15 to 20 minute session.
Instead of an endless throw-and-return cycle, your dog now has to:
- use their nose to search
- locate the ball
- retrieve the ball
- deliver the ball to you
Outdoor Version
Outside, with your dog in a "wait" position, try throwing the ball somewhere your dog can’t immediately see it. Thicker grass, brush, or deeper cover works well.
With the ball hidden in cover, your dog now has to:
- mark where the ball landed
- push through cover
- use scent to pinpoint the location of the ball
- retrieve the ball
That small adjustment can make the game far more engaging, especially for dogs bred to locate and retrieve game. By adding in the "wait" cue as you throw the ball, you're also incorporating an element of building impulse control.
For Dogs Who Love Tug
The same concept works for tug toys.
Hide a scented rope toy somewhere in the house or yard and release your dog to search for it. When they find it, reward them with a short tug session (10 to 20 seconds). Reset and repeat for a 15 to 20 minute session.
Instead of constant stimulation, you’re creating a simple pattern of:
Search → Find → Play
This builds anticipation and gives your dog a job before the reward.
Enrichment Doesn't Have to Be Complicated
A lot of enrichment advice makes it seem like you need elaborate setups, specialized equipment, or hours of extra time.
In reality, many of the most effective activities are simply small adjustments to things you’re already doing.
If your dog already loves fetch, tug, or chew toys, adding scent is an easy way to make those activities more mentally engaging and instinct-driven.
Want More Activities Like This?
If this idea of working with your dog’s instincts resonates with you, that’s exactly what my Instinctual Enrichment Guide is built around.
Inside the guide, I walk through how to identify your dog’s natural drives and how to build simple activities around them.
You’ll learn how to structure activities to allow your dog to move through the full working sequence instead of getting stuck in endless cycles of stimulation.
You can learn more about the guide here.
