There are all sorts of ways to play hide-and-seek, and they all make for fastpaced and exciting times that definitely give your puppy a physical and mental workout. The best way to lay the basics for all hide-and-seek games is with food. Using pieces of cereal or popcorn (things that are small, easy to chew, relatively healthy, and won't make a mess), show them to your puppy so she knows you have something good. Ask her to Sit and Stay (see Chapter 13). Watching her so she doesn't break, put a piece or two out of her sight but nearby; for example, behind a table or chair leg, or next to the sofa. Without making her wait too long, give her a break word (Okay), then say Find It, indicating that she can come and get the goodies. When she finds and eats a piece, tell her what a good girl she is.

Increase the difficulty and challenge of this game slowly and only playing a couple of times a day. As she's sitting and staying, put more pieces down and encourage her to find them all. Don't put so many that she doesn't have to sniff them out, and don't put them in places that are too difficult to reach or find, but slowly put pieces farther away from her and in places that may not be quite so obvious.

Another way to play hide-and-seek is with yourself and other family members. When you're first starting, have a piece of food with you so you can reward her when she finds you. Ask her to sit and stay in a room where you can hide not too far away. Tip-toe to your hiding spot, then shout, Okay, Find Me! You should hear her start to come looking for you. As soon as she finds you, tell her what a good puppy she is and give her the treat. Make finding you increasingly difficult by hiding in places that are trickier for her to discover, like in the tub behind the shower curtain instead of just behind the bathroom door. This is a silly game you can play every day and neither of you will tire of it.