How to Teach Your Dog to Take Medication Using Pattern Games
Giving dogs medication can be a daunting task. Whether it’s for a long-term health condition or a short course of antibiotics, getting a dog to take a pill can be stressful for everyone involved. But what if you could get ahead of the problem, before it even starts?
One effective way to do this is by using a pattern game. So, what exactly is a pattern game? It’s a structured, repetitive activity that helps dogs feel more confident and secure by adding predictability to their world. Popularized by Leslie McDevitt, author of Control Unleashed, pattern games are especially useful for helping anxious or reactive dogs feel safe during interactions or in unfamiliar environments.
Here, we use a variation of a pattern game to build that same sense of anticipation and routine around taking medication. By creating a predictable experience, we can reduce the suspicion dogs often feel when we suddenly try to sneak a pill into their food. Most of us have had a dog that could sniff out medication a mile away, or expertly eat around it, no matter how well we tried to hide it. And it’s no wonder, many pills are bitter, smelly, or just plain unappealing.
Getting Started.
Its important that when we begin teaching this, you are not using a treat that the dog has been suspicious of in the past. You want to select a high-value and preferably easily formable treat that your dog loves. If your dog is already on medication, you will want to begin teaching this skill separate from their current medication routine. This means not practicing around the same time they would normally receive medication, as well as not using that medication in your practice.
Phase 1: Teaching the pattern
What you will need
3 High-value, easily moldable treats
Start with just the high-value treats (no pills yet)
Say: “One” —> Give your dog a treat
Say “Two” —> Give our dog a treat
Say “Three” —> Give our dog a treat
it should look like this: 1-treat-2-treat-3-treat-
Practice this regularly for at least a week, ideally a few times per day, to begin to build that association. Once the pattern is established and your dog is excitedly taking each treat, we move on to phase 2.
Phase 2: Adding a “pill”
What you will need
3 High-value, easily moldable treats
Empty gelatin or cellulose capsules ( these can be purchased online or in health food stores)
Start with just the high-value treats, and place the empty capsule in the second treat. you will also now want to speed u how quickly you give both the cue and the treat.
Say: “One” —> Give your dog a treat
Say “Two” —> Give our dog a treat with a capsule in it
Say “Three” —> Give our dog a treat
It should look like this: 1-treat-2-treat/pill -3-treat
Practice this regularly, both with and without the capsule, while keeping a relatively similar speed of delivery.
By using a simple verbal cue pattern, you’re building anticipation and predictability for your dog. They quickly learn that a treat follows each number and that additional treats follow 1 and 2, which creates excitement and eagerness for the next reward. This rhythm encourages them to swallow each treat quickly in anticipation of the next one.
Once that pattern is solid, you begin to include an empty capsule in the sequence. This gently introduces the unusual texture without any bitterness or odor, helping to desensitize your dog to the sensation. Over time, they learn to associate the capsule with something positive—just another part of the game—rather than something to be suspicious of or spit out.
Helpful tips for when it’s time to put this game to use:
Many medications have a bitter coating or strong odor, which can make even the most food-motivated dogs hesitant. For sensitive pups, pups who are already averse to the medication you need to give, or for particularly pungent medications like cephalexin, you can use empty gelatin capsules to your advantage.
Simply place the medication inside the capsule to help mask the smell and taste, while maintaining the familiar texture your dog has already learned to accept through the pattern game. This can make the transition from training to real-world use much smoother and less stressful for both of you.
