Do you enjoy playing games? I know you did when you were a child growing up. Even as adults we love to play board games or in 2021, computer games. Did you know that scientists have stated that dogs have the intelligence of a three-year-old? That’s why scent games are so important for your Chihuahua.

The point is your Chihuahua really really loves to play games, especially scent games. But when your Chihuahua plays games he is also stimulating his brain. Do you know the adage “use it or lose it”? That can apply to your Chihuahua’s brain. They need to exercise their brain as much as they need physical exercise.

There are many ways to stimulate your Chihuahua’s brain including training or learning new things, playing fetch, or tug, or even eating from a slow feeder.

Nose Work

One of the best ways to stimulate your Chihuahua’s brain is with nose work or “scent work” (now you get the misspelled word in the title?)

What is nose work?

Nose work as you may already have guessed is anything that involves them using their amazing sense of smell.  It has been estimated that dogs can smell anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 times better than people. How much more depends a lot on the dog’s breed.

Nose work has become a popular sport and of course, we are all aware of the amazing skills of search and rescue dogs that involve scent work.

Scent work for your Chihuahua however is perceived by him as a fun game. It is also a great way for you and your Chihuahua to develop and maintain a deep bond. Who doesn’t want that?

Easy and Scentsational Nose Work Or Scent Games

Basic Nose Work or Scent Games Training — Find It

Before you play any “nose work” game your Chihuahua first needs to understand the games. So begin with the basics by teaching him to “find it”. Here’s how:

1. Place an item or toy that your Chihuahua loves just beyond his reach. Ask him to “find it”.
2. Once he “finds it” by touching it with his nose praise him and give him one of his favorite treats.
3. Continue this by moving the item or toy a little farther away each time.
4. While the item is in his sight he will use his sight to find it, however eventually move it completely out of sight and he will begin to use his sence of smell to “find it”.

Additionally, if you scoot it along each time you move it the smell will leave an invisible scent trail he can follow.

The Pick A Hand Game

1. Put a treat in the palm of one hand.
2. Close both hands into fists.
3. Show your Chihuahua both hands with the knuckles up and in front of your Chi.
4. Ask him to “pick a hand” or “find it”.
5. If he touches the hand with the treat either with his paw or nose give him the treat and lots of praise.
6. Should he choose the wrong hand simply open it and the close it and repeat the request to “pick a hand” or to “find it”.

This is a great scent game that is fun for both of you. I always get truly excited when mine chooses the right hand and that makes them excited. Best of all, he is using his sense of smell to “find” the treat.

Hide and Seek Classic Scent Game

1. Put your Chihuahua in another room.
2. “Hide” some treats around the room that are easy to spot and some that are not easy for him to see.
3. Once the treats are hidden, let your Chihuahua into the room where the treats are hidden and tell him to “find it” in a happy voice.
4. If he has trouble finding some of them just give him some cues and encouragement. If he still hasn’t found one, walk over and stand close to the treat and again encourage him to “find it”.
5. Be sure to always supervise while he is looking for treats in case something he should not have has been droped on the floor and you were unaware it was there.

When I was working at the veterinary hospital I handled, carried, and petted all kinds of animals during my workday. Sometimes when I got home I would take some of my work clothes with all those fascinating smells out to the backyard and hide them. I did this mostly with Remedy as I didn’t have Cora or Winston then. No clues were needed. She would walk nose to the ground and usually go right to it. But she loved it! It soon became our favorite scent game.

What’s Under The Cup?

You’ve probably seen youtube videos of this game. Here’s how to play:

1. Start with 2 and then 3 and more as he progresses and gets better at playing.
2. Turn all the cups (I use small Solo cups) upside down and sit down next to them.
3. Place a treat underneath just one of the cups.
4. Point to the cups and tell him to “find it” with your upbeat, happy voice.
5. If your Chihuahua touches with his paw or nose or tips over the correct cup, let him have the treat and tell him what a smart boy he is, ’cause he truley is!
6. As he gets better at finding the right one start to mix them up and even add more cups to the game.

Roll Over Roll Over Red Rover Chihuahua Scent Game

Another one of my Remedy’s Favorites. Here’s how to play:

1. Sprinkle some treats over a flat towel or blanket, even a rug.
2. Beginning at one end roll up the towel with the treats inside.
3. Then ask your Chihuahua to “find it”, again using your happiest most excited voice.
4. Encourage him to unroll the towel with his nose. If he has trouble understanding, you can begin the rolling process letting hims see and eat the first treats as they are revealed.

The Person Hide and Seek Game

The doggie version of the classic children’s game of hide and seek. Fun for everyone!

1. Have someone distract your Chihuahua or put him in a different room while you hide begin with a place that will be easy for him to find you.
2. Have the other person tell your dog to “go find use your name” or yell at your Chihuahua to “find me!”
3. Once he finds you lavish him with praise and treat him.
4. As he gets better really make him use his sense of smell to “scent” find you. Hide in a place that is more difficult and he will have to use his nose to find you.

These are a few of my favorite “scent” games to play with my dogs and it really is fun for you and your dog. If your Chihuahua is new to this make it easy for him and gradually make it harder. Never lose patience with him and always end on a happy celebratory note. Remember these are games and are supposed to be fun! Not serious training sessions.

Enrichment Games And Puzzles

On days when you just don’t feel like playing or you are just too busy, you can still have your Chihuahua use his sense of smell to do some “nose work” that doesn’t necessarily involve you except to supervise.

There are plush dog toys with pockets, dog puzzles with sliders, and even treat dispensers that are fun for your Chihuahua and still exercises his brain and his sense of smell.

Conclusion

Dogs were meant to have a “job” to do. That is what makes them happy. Using their sense of smell regularly is also a way to keep them busy. A busy Chi is a well-behaved Chi. Using these games will keep your Chihuahua from any bad behaviors that develop because of boredom.