At 18, Dewey doesn’t tear through squeaky toys the way he used to. He doesn’t chase other dogs at the dog park anymore. He mostly goes to sniff around trees and lay in the sun, which honestly sounds perfect. 
 
But every evening, at a certain point, he’ll just look at us. Waiting. Where’s the chicken, guys?  
 
We call this game Find It. And it is one of the best things we have ever introduced into his life.

Here’s how it works: hide small pieces of plain cooked chicken around the house or in the yard. Under the edge of a rug. Behind a chair leg. On a low shelf. Then let your dog loose and watch them work. You can hear it, sniff, sniff, sniff, as they move through rooms with total focus and purpose.

We learned through Dewey’s training that mental stimulation is just as important and powerful as physical exercise. Dogs experience the world primarily through smell and a good scent hunt can tire them out as effectively as a long run.

Over the years we kept finding new spots as he got wise to the usual ones. Once we hung a piece of chicken on the third rung of a ladder leading to our loft. He put his paws on the second rung and reached up to get it. We lost our minds.

This works for dogs of all ages, not just seniors. Salmon, freeze dried treats, peanut butter on a bone, anything with enough scent that your dog loves. It takes a few tries of pointing out the treat at first, but dogs pick it up fast.

Now go hide some chicken around your house. Trust me, your dog is going to love you for it.