Teaching your pooch to fetch

For many dogs, fetching is a natural behavior.  Whether it’s their curiosity or ambition, some dogs naturally run and retrieve anything that is thrown from your hand.  On the other hand, some dogs may give you a funny look when you throw a ball, lazily returning to their favorite resting spot.  And still, many dogs will fetch, but they won’t even consider returning the fetched item.  No matter which situation you find yourself in, you can use the following tips to help train your pooch to fetch and return!

To start with fetch training, you’ll need a leash, one of your dog’s favorite toys, your dog (of course), and a handful of treats.  Technically, you can start by teaching fetch inside.  If you choose to do this, then go to a quiet room free of distractions.  If you can, teach fetch outside.  It’s much easier, and your dog will be able to better focus on the item.

Start with your pet on his leash, and tell him to sit.  Grab his toy (using his favorite toy gives him more of a reason to be interested in fetching it), and toss the item a few feet in front of you.  Be careful not to toss it too far.  Since you will keep your pooch on the leash the first few times, the distance you toss the item should not exceed the length of the leash.  Also, keeping the toy close gives your pooch more of a chance to focus on it.  If you throw it across your yard, he may not see it or even care about it.

Once you toss the toy, have your dog “stay” for a couple of seconds before you let him fetch.  This will also give him time to become more interested in retrieving his favorite toy.  Now, tell him to “fetch.”  He may show a natural tendency to go pick up the item, or he may not.  If he doesn’t, then walk with him towards the item.  If needed, help him pick it up, and say “fetch” again.  You won’t need to repeat “fetch” all the time, but saying it the first couple of tries will help him associate the word with the action.  Once he picks the item up, then either call him back to you, gently pull him back to you by his leash, or walk with him back to the place you started.

Here’s the important part:  “release.”  For many dogs, the fun in fetching is wrestling you for the item after it is retrieved.  This is why your pet should learn to release the item from the beginning of training.  He won’t understand “release” at first, so show him a treat.  He will more than likely release the item in order to eat the treat.  If he does not release the toy, then do not try to pull it from his mouth.  Fighting him for it will make him think that tug-of-war is the game you are trying to play!  Instead, pretend to be uninterested and walk away, or have a spare toy handy to start over.  Once he releases the item, give him a pat on the head, and repeat from the beginning.  Training sessions should last no longer than 15 minutes at a time.  So, if you have already hit the fifteen minute mark, then resume training later on or the following day.

The next step in training is having your dog retrieve the item on his own.  Follow the same steps, but do not use the leash.  Instead, use “sit” and “stay” until you want him to retrieve the item.  Continue with rewards and praise until your pooch figures out what “fetch” means.

It’s a good idea to keep fetching toys separate from regular toys -with the exception of using your pet’s favorite toy during the initial training, of course.  If your pooch has access to the fetch toy all the time, then he’ll loose his interest in retrieving it.  Frisbees, softballs, tennis balls, and rubber toys all make great fetch items.  These items can also be left outdoors without worry.

Some dogs are natural fetchers, while others watch confusingly as you throw a toy in the yard.  Either way, honing the fetch response is a great way to train.  Teaching fetch is pretty simply:  all you need is your dog, a leash, a toy, and a few treats.  Remember to never fight your dog for the retrieved item; teaching the “release” command is just as important as teaching the “fetch” command.

Pet Super Store provided this article - they are an online pet store featuring dog training collars and orthopedic dog beds.