Have you ever been in a hurry and could not find your keys? You start looking everywhere around your house and struggle to find them. Wouldn't it be easier if we could sniff them out like a dog could? Yeah, it would but that's never gonna happen. Why don't you train your pup to find them for you? There problem solved. I am going to walk you step by step in the process of training your dog how to find your key's.

Prerequisite skills your dog should know before we begin.

-How to sit
-How to stay
-How to retrieve
-How to drop and object on command

Things you will need

-Keys
-A Dish rag
-Treats to reward behavior

Step 1: Introducing Your Keys to Your Dog.

Before your dog will even start to retrieve your keys they will be a little scared of them. You have to introduce them to your dog just like you would a new toy.

-Slide it around on the floor and get them chasing your hand with the keys in it.
-Once she starts to do this toss them a couple of feet a way from you and let her go bring them too you.
-When your dog is comfortable with this task then expand on it and start playing fetch with your keys. toss your keys into another room and let her do her thing.
-Always reward your pup for the behavior you are seeking.

Step 2: Retreiveing Keys

Once your dog is comfortable with bringing your key to you while playing fetch you are ready for the next step.

-Command your pup to sit and stay
-Take your keys and walk about 3 or 4 feet away from your dog and let her see you place the keys on the floor.
-Go back beside your dog and command her to "go get it"
-When she retrieves the keys reward her with praise and a treat.

Step 3: Retreving Covered Keys

This step is much like step 2 with a slight change.

-Command your pup to sit and stay
-Take your keys and walk about 3 or 4 feet away from your dog and let her see you place the keys on the floor and cover them with a dish rag..
-Go back beside your dog and command her to "go get it"
-When she retrieves the keys reward her with praise and a treat.

This is more than likely as far as you need to go the first day. When training your dog you should work on the first three steps for maybe three days before going on to step 4.

Step 4: Make Your Dog Trust His Nose

Ok so now your dog has mastered the first three steps. Now this is where you really start to make your dog work a little.

-Command your pup to sit and stay
-Take your keys and walk about 3 or 4 feet away from your dog and let her see you place the keys on the floor.
-Go back beside your dog and command her to "go get it"
-When she retrieves the keys reward her with praise and a treat.

Step 5: Too Easy I Can Find Your Keys

Once your dog has mastered this . You are going to do the same thing you did in step 4 but you are going to place the keys in different distances from your rag. maybe even placing them on elevated surfaces such as a chair or table. your dog will find them.

-Command your pup to sit and stay
-Take your keys and walk about 3 or 4 feet away from your dog and let her see you place the keys on the floor.
-Go back beside your dog and command her to "go get it"
-When she retrieves the keys reward her with praise and a treat.

Step 6: Last Step and You're a Master of Finding Keys

Start placing your keys in different areas of your house and tell your dog to find them. If they get overwelmed walk beside them and lead them through the house until they find them.