Choose the dog and towel carefully
Use a clean intact towel with no loose threads or decorative attachments. This game is not suitable for a dog who consumes fabric or grips and shakes towels intensely. In that case, use a suitable durable food toy or visible food on a clear surface. Work on non-slip ground and keep other pets away. Prepare only a few suitable food pieces from the dog's daily allowance so you can track what has been found.
Begin with the towel completely open
Place a piece on the towel and let your dog collect it. Then fold one corner loosely over another visible piece, leaving an obvious edge to investigate. Allow the dog to nose at the fold without pushing their head or paws into position. If they seem uncertain, lift the corner yourself and make the food accessible. The first task is discovering that moving a soft fold reveals food, not solving a tightly rolled bundle.
Keep any roll loose and shallow
After easy folds make sense, try a very loose partial roll with food close to the opening. Avoid knots or tightly compressed layers. Those changes can encourage tearing and make the reward difficult to reach. Stay close enough to interrupt unsafe use by ending the activity calmly, not by wrestling fabric from the mouth. If the dog starts eating the towel, stop offering this format. A familiar game should not become progressively harder simply to last longer.
End before the towel becomes a toy to shred
When the food is gone, invite the dog into another activity and collect the fabric once they have moved away. Inspect it for damage and wash as needed. Do not leave a food-scented towel unattended, especially if the dog is still investigating it. Keep future searches at the easiest enjoyable level. A few comfortable finds are a better result than a long session involving frustrated pawing, chewing or repeated human intervention.
