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A favorite pastime for dog and owner alike, there’s nothing like a game of fetch with your pup on a sunny evening. Teaching a dog the fetch command can be a super fun part of the training process for new dog owners, but can also take time and patience.
Pups will be naturally excited by the prospect of a game, however learning to obey the command may confuse them a little at first. Setting up a regular training routine to teach your dog to fetch and return an item will slowly but surely secure this behavior. Then, before you know it your pooch will be fetching with the best of them!
In this blog we are going to look at how to teach a dog to fetch, what are the steps for teaching this command, things to avoid and how to get your dog back on track if training goes a little awry.
The first step is to find the right fetch toy to entice your dog into obeying your command. Each dog is different, and so some may favor harder toys or ones that squeak, while others might prefer a softer, quieter choice.
Your dog’s age may also come into play when choosing a toy, as some may be easier to bite and pick up than others. For example a plush, rubber or rope toy may be easier for younger dogs to grip onto, while a more experienced dog may be able to tackle balls and other harder toys.
Your dog will likely naturally gravitate towards a certain choice, so try a few things out and see what sticks.
When it comes to teaching your dog anything new, it is always best to chunk things down into manageable steps. Trying to do too much too soon will only confuse your dog and hinder their progress.
Here is an easy step by step guide on how to build the foundations of the fetch command and implement this into your dog’s training routine...
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First things first, environment is everything when it comes to training. Ensure that you and your dog are in a quiet, enclosed space, free from distraction and with no exits where your pup could escape through.
You want to create a space where your pup can fully focus, and their attention is completely on you and the task at hand - the more peaceful the environment, the more receptive they will be to your instruction.
And remember, fetch is a game - this is supposed to be fun!
Once your dog seems settled, you can introduce the fetch toy to them. Allow them to sniff it, bite or rub up against it. Get them excited about it so they know that they are going to be playing a game with it.
Now, you can begin to throw the toy for your dog to see how they react. Start by throwing it a short distance away and see whether they go and get it. If they seem to be enthusiastic about going and retrieving the toy once you have thrown it, you can start throwing it a little further away.
Now that they seem to have the hang of the fetching part, now it is time to work on the whole bringing it back thing. Introduce a verbal cue of your choice, perhaps ‘bring it’ or ‘come’, and encourage your dog to come back to you. This can take a little time for your dog to get the hang of, but if you remain upbeat and encouraging, your dog will likely start to move in your direction.
This is often the hardest part of any game of fetch - getting your dog to give you the toy back. Even if they bring it to you, they will usually want to keep it in their mouth, and may put up a fight if you try to take it from them.
Remain calm and collected and introduce the ‘drop it’ or ‘give’ command. Each time your dog lets go of the toy, even if it takes them a minute or two, reward them with a treat or lots of fuss.
It is important to implement positive reinforcement after each successful training step as an incentive for your dog to do as you tell them.
If your dog seems to be struggling with the concept of bringing the toy back to you or dropping it, then it can be helpful to mix things up a bit. Give the ‘fetch’ command a rest for a while and simply focus on the ‘come’ and ‘drop it’ commands.
You can try implementing these into other training routines, making them more a part of the everyday. This repetition should start to click into your dog’s brain for a while, meaning that when you eventually return to the fetch command, they will already know what to do when it comes to retrieval.
You may also find that your pup is getting easily distracted during sessions, particularly if they are younger. We would recommend keeping sessions short and snappy to avoid wandering attention, perhaps changing the location to somewhere smaller or quieter, or even trying out more exciting treats to entice the desired behavior.
Training your dog may not always be easy, however no matter how frustrating things may become, here are some of the most important things to avoid during the learning process:
Punishing your dog only frightens and confuses them; dogs respond best to positive reinforcement, and shouting or physical punishment is cruel and not conducive to good learning.
Remember, your dog is not disobeying you on purpose; they are learning something new for the first time and it will take time for them to get the hang of things.
Never try and train your dog in an environment that may be unsafe, such as a garden with easily accessible escape routes, large public spaces or near busy roads and traffic.
The main focus needs to be the task at hand, and this will be hindered if there are outside factors contributing to a lack of focus and security.
No matter how much you want them to learn, if your dog isn’t feeling it that day, don’t force them. The more you push the more they are likely to become disinterested in the task, making it harder to pick things up in the future.
If your pup seems restless and distracted, call it a day and distract them with something they enjoy doing - failing that, a couple of treats and lots of fuss usually does the trick!
You’ve got the basics in place, but how can you take your dog’s training to the next level? Here are some of our top tips on how to teach your dog to fetch and get the most out of training sessions:
A trap that a lot of pet parents fall into is letting training get stagnant. It is important to keep things interesting for your dog so that their attention is peaked. Why not try mixing things up and throwing your dog a few curveballs?
You could try throwing the toy in different directions, increase the distance you throw the toy so that the dog has to run further to get it, or you can even get involved and run around with your dog, getting them excited that way.
Once you feel your pup has got a grip of the basics of fetch, as well as ensuring they have had previous experience being around other dogs, you could perhaps try socializing them and joining in games of fetch with other dogs. Many dogs will follow the lead of their pack, with younger dogs often learning how to act and behave from watching older dogs.
A mistake that some pet owners make is running their dog ragged to the point they are no longer receptive to the training commands. Sessions should be kept short and stimulating to avoid your dog getting overtired and becoming disinterested in the task.
The trick to teaching fetch is to remember that your dog will be able to sense your energy. If you are upbeat and enthusiastic, they are more likely to want to engage in what you are teaching them, however if your energy is low or angry, they will sense the discomfort and will probably not get the most out of the session.
So there you have it; our top tips on how to teach a dog to fetch. Happy training, pup parents!
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