Logan County Humane Society Hosts Second Annual Easter Egg Hunt for Dogs

Jack, the Owner/Dog Costume Duo champion at Central Bark Dog Park in Lincoln, Illinois, may have been dressed for Easter, but his competitive instincts were all business. The second annual Hounds on the Hunt, run by the Humane Society of Logan County on March 29, brought together dogs and handlers for a free, off-leash event that blended holiday pageantry with the kind of structured energy outlet that genuinely changes behavior at home.

The event's centerpiece was an agility course designed and run by trainer Danielle Dehart, decorated with Easter eggs and foam "carrots" rising from the ground. Dehart, who develops initial training work with dogs at HSLC, was on hand throughout the day to answer owner questions. In a field where most community dog events are photo opportunities with a treat table, having a working trainer on-course turns a fun morning into a teachable one.

The egg hunt paired each dog and handler to collect five eggs scattered around the park, then trade them in for prizes including toys, treats, and bandanas. Judges Seth Goodman, Tammi Purcell, and Kathie Williams scored the costume contest, awarding Lola the Cutest Costume title and Benny the Most Creative. NHS students from Olympia High School volunteered alongside HSLC's Brenda Short and Marilyn Wheat, while a Pup Cup station and an Easter photo setup with props rounded out the afternoon. Several dogs at the event had been adopted from HSLC, and shelter volunteers brought their own dogs to keep the social energy grounded and familiar.

For handlers who showed up with a dog in full holiday-chaos mode, Dehart's presence offered something more durable than a ribbon. The compressed version of what agility trainers teach for exactly this kind of high-stimulation public setting: before your dog approaches any obstacle or new distraction, build a focus cue, a simple "watch me" or name response that redirects attention back to you. Pair it with high-value rewards and practice at home long before the next event. At the start line of any course sequence, a reliable stay is the foundation; if your dog cannot hold a three-second pause with you a step away, that is the skill to train first. Reward timing is equally non-negotiable: the treat or marker lands within one second of the correct behavior, not after your dog has already bounded three feet forward.

Easter-specific events carry real overstimulation risks for reactive or under-exercised dogs. Xylitol, found in many sugar-free Easter candies, is acutely toxic to dogs; in any mixed kid-and-dog space, candy bags need to stay zipped and elevated. Watch for early stress signals, yawning, lip-licking, hard staring at other dogs, before they escalate. If your dog cannot settle within two minutes of arrival, leash up and walk the perimeter before rejoining the crowd.

The DIY version of Hounds on the Hunt costs nothing. Hide five to ten plastic eggs around your yard or living room, tuck a small treat inside each one, and let your dog nose them out on a loose leash. It works the same scent-and-reward loop as the formal hunt and gives a high-drive dog a ten-minute mental workout that most physical exercise sessions cannot match.

For a shelter whose dogs include plenty of high-energy adopters still finding their rhythm in new households, having Dehart's course in the rotation is less a holiday extra than a practical demonstration of what daily enrichment can look like year-round.