A treat launcher turns a simple reward into a game. You load a small treat, press the button and your dog gets to chase it down and sniff it out. It's a handy way to add a bit of movement and brain work to a training session, or to a wet afternoon when the long walk isn't happening. Here's how to introduce one and five easy games to try.
What is a treat launcher?
It's a small handheld gadget that flicks a treat a short distance across the room or garden. Ours works on a simple load, press, launch basis. Your dog watches the treat fly, runs after it, then uses their nose to find it. That mix of a short chase and a sniff is what makes it more interesting than a treat from your hand.
Before you start
- Use small, soft treats. Little pieces work best and are easier for your dog to find and eat.
- Count the treats. They add up quickly, so take them out of your dog's daily food allowance. If your dog is on a special diet, check with your vet first.
- Pick a clear space. Choose somewhere without stairs, slippery floors or breakables in the landing zone. A lawn or a rug is ideal.
- One dog at a time. If you have more than one dog, play separately so nobody squabbles over a treat.
- Always supervise, and put the launcher away when you're done.
How to introduce it
- Let your dog sniff the launcher while it's switched off and give them a treat from your hand.
- Launch a treat a short distance, where your dog can see it land. Say "find it" as they go.
- Praise them when they find it. Repeat a few times, then stop while they're still keen.
- If the sound or movement worries your dog, go back to hand-feeding near the launcher for a few days before trying again.
Five games to try
1. Find it
Launch a treat into the grass or across a rug and let your dog track it down. Sniffing and searching gives your dog something to think about, and many owners find a few rounds settles an excitable dog better than a burst of running.
2. Sit, wait, launch
Ask for a sit. Launch the treat only when your dog is sitting calmly, then release them with "find it". If they get up early, nothing happens; just ask again. It's a simple way to practise patience and self-control.
3. Recall ping-pong
Launch a treat away from you. As your dog finishes it, call them back and reward the recall with another launch in the other direction. Your dog gets to run both ways and learns that coming back to you is the start of the next bit of fun.
4. Hide and seek in the garden
Ask a family member to hold your dog while you launch a treat behind a plant pot or round a corner. Let your dog go and watch them work it out. Make it easy at first, then a little trickier as they get the hang of it.
5. Rainy-day room tour
Indoors, launch treats short distances into different spots (keeping clear of stairs and hard floors). Mix in a sit or a down between each one. It's a few minutes of focus and movement without getting muddy.
Keep it short and end calmly
A few minutes is plenty. Finish before your dog gets frantic, then offer water and a calm chew or a rest on their bed. If your dog gets overexcited or fixated on the launcher, swap to slower games like scatter feeding from your hand instead.
Want more ideas?
For busy days, try our 10 ideas to tire out a high-energy dog. You can see the Dog Treat Launcher or browse more toys and play kit. Questions? Email hello@thezoomieco.co.uk.