Fetch

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Fetch is a game that many people want to play with their dog. But it can be frustrating if you throw a toy and your dog just sits watching you, or retrieves the toy but doesn’t bring it back. While some dogs may simply not want to take part, many dogs just need to learn what’s being asked of them when it’s time to play fetch. The first step to teaching your dog to fetch is to teach hold:

1. Sit on the floor with your dog facing you. While holding a toy, show it to your dog.
2. When your dog goes to investigate the toy, praise or click and treat. At this stage, you want to reward any interest in the toy.
3. Next, increase the criteria slightly. Wait until your dog sniffs the toy, then click or praise and treat. Next, wait to praise, click, or treat until they put their mouth on the toy.
4. When your dog is regularly putting their mouth on the toy, start building duration by not immediately clicking or praising when they put their mouth on the toy. Instead, wait a moment, and while their mouth is still on the toy, click or praise and treat. Build up very slowly, adding just a half-second and then a second before you praise or click and treat.
5. When your dog is constantly keeping their mouth on the toy for a couple seconds before you click or praise and treat, you can begin introducing a verbal cue like “hold.”
6. Once your dog is keeping their mouth on the toy until you click or praise and treat, you can also begin moving your hands off of the toy. Then, quickly put your hand back on the toy before your dog drops it. Praise, take the object, and give them a treat.
7. Help your dog be successful by working at their pace, building the length of time they’re asked to hold very slowly. It’s much better to do many repetitions of short holds then asking for one very long hold.

Once your dog has mastered “hold,” it’s time to start teaching fetch!

1. Hold the toy out to your dog in your outstretched palm and ask them to “hold.” If they take the toy, click or praise and treat. If they don’t take the toy, that’s okay. Just practice the above “hold” skills a little more until they’re ready.
2. When your dog is successfully taking the toy from your outstretched hand, place the toy on the floor in front of them. Ask your dog to “hold” the toy. When they pick it up, immediately praise or click. At this point, you can start to introduce a new verbal cue, such as “get it” or “fetch.”
3. When your dog is consistently successful picking up and holding the toy, start moving the toy slightly further away from you. Start with the toy right next to you
4. Start to very slowly increase the distance away from you where you place the toy — just a few inches at a time. The goal is to break down the retrieve into very small behaviors, so your dog can be successful.
5. Continue increasing the distance you ask your dog to go to get the toy. As your dog gains understanding in the game, you can begin to alternate between asking your dog to get a toy that you have placed away from you and throwing the toy. It’s a good idea to ask your dog to practice fetch with a variety of toys, such as balls, plush toys, or rope toys.