4 Easy Steps to Teach Your Dog to Fetch

Hunting dogs like golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers and setters love playing fetch, but not all dogs take to this game naturally. 

The good thing is that your dog doesn’t have to be a hunting dog to learn how to fetch.  Teaching your dog to fetch is fun and useful.  You can use fetching in many other dog activities too, such as obedience, water rescue, service dog training, fly ball and agility.  Following a few basic strategies to teach a dog to fetch will get even the most reluctant dog to learn reliable retrieving.

What You Need to Teach Your Dog to Fetch

You don’t need many supplies to teach your dog to fetch.  Small, tasty treats that your dog really likes are the most effective training aids.  Your dog will work much better for yummy treats, rather than for dry biscuits or kibble.  The better the reward, the more progress your dog will make.

Another helpful tool is a training clicker.  Clickers are sold at pet stores or dog training facilities for only a dollar or two.  They last a lifetime and are indispensable when it comes to training your dog.  Your dog learns faster and remembers more when using the ‘click and treat’ method of dog training.

Choose a fetch toy like a ball, Frisbee, pull toy, or rubber dumbbell.  Anything he can pick up easily works well as a fetch toy.

Step One

Fetching an object involves training your dog to go after the object, pick it up, bring it back to you and put it in your hand.  The main goal of teaching fetch is not for your dog to chase after the object, but to put it in your hand.  So, the first thing to train your dog is to give an object to you.

The first step is to take the fetch toy and put it into your dog’s mouth.  Don’t tell your dog to take it but quietly place it in his mouth.  Most likely, he won’t want to take the object and will spit it out.  When he spits out the object, click and treat him.  Keep repeating this behavior over and over until your dog spits out the object into your hand every time.

Add a cue when your dog is reliable with this behavior.  It can be, “give”, “thank-you” or any other word you want to use.  Practice the behavior, using the cue for a while and then begin rewarding your dog only when he puts the object in your hand when you use the cue.  Don’t reward him if he spits out the object without you asking for it.

Step Two

The next step in training fetch to your dog is to teach her to hold onto the object for an extended amount of time.  If your dog is reliable at giving you the object with the cue word, then she already knows how to hold the object. 

Another method to teach the dog to hold the object is to gently place it in the dog’s mouth and hold his mouth closed for a second.  Say your cue word, click and treat, then let go of his mouth.  Have your dog hold the object a few seconds longer each time until he is reliable with holding the object.  Eventually, add the cue, “hold”.  Keep repeating the hold behavior until your dog holds the object until you tell him to give it to you.

Step Three

Now that your dog knows how to give and how to hold, it’s time to teach him how to take.  Hold the object a few inches in front of your dog.  When he makes a move toward the object, click and treat him.  Practice this behavior repeatedly, treating your dog for touching it, or putting his head near it, touching it with his mouth and finally grabbing it.  You want your dog to reliably reach out and grab the object.  Move further away with the object and when your dog grabs it every time, add the words, “get it” or whatever other cue you prefer.

Putting It all Together

Now, it’s time to put all three behaviors together, and stop rewarding each behavior.  The only behavior that you’ll reward now is “give”.  Begin by holding out the object and say the “get it” command.  When your dog takes it, don’t treat him.  You can give verbal praise but no treats. 

The next step is to toss the toy a few inches away from you and say, “Get it,” or whatever your cue is. When your dog brings it to you, say, “Give”, then click, and treat immediately when he drops it in your hand.  Don’t make him hold it in the beginning.  You can add longer holds when your dog knows the behavior better.

Gradually begin putting the object further away from you.  Continue with clicking and treating when your dog gets the object and places it in your hand.  Within a few weeks, your dog will be running to fetch the object and racing back to give it to you.  

If you have any other tips for teaching a dog to play fetch, please add them in the comments. Anyone teaching fetch will appreciate it.

What Your Puppy Should Know During the First Year

You've just brought your new puppy home, holding him in your arms as he licks your face with puppy kisses. The last thing on your mind at that moment is training. That's okay but as soon as your first greeting together is over, the training starts.

Does this seem too soon?

No way. You should start on the basics of positive-reinforcement training right away, if your want to give your pup a safe, positive, loving home. Always have dog treats on hand for rewarding good behavior. 

Here's a little chart outlining what your puppy should learn during his first year. This is not written in stone. Remember that all dogs learn at their own pace, so use this as just a guideline.

The golden rule of training your puppy is that patience is the key. If you get frustrated at any time, stop the training session. It's better to end on a happy note, so your puppy looks forward to his next lesson.

What Your Puppy Should Learn during the First Year

These guidelines are broken down by the age of your puppy. Don't get stressed if your puppy's training milestones are different from this outline. He'll progress in his own time because all he want to do is please you.

Two to Four Months Old

This is a time for introductions and behavior in your home. These are the social graces that your puppy needs to learn. If he master these basics, you'll have a relaxed and happy puppy wherever you go.

• Meet and greet people without jumping
• Introduce your puppy to the veterinarian and groomer
• Begin socializing him with other dogs
• Positive crate training
• Answer to his name
• Housebreaking
• Learn to walk without tugging. A harness or head halter helps a lot with tugging issues.

Five to Seven Months Old

This is the time to get into basic obedience training. Clicker training can help a lot with positive training and marking your puppy's success.

If you put if off training for too long, your puppy will develop bad habits that are hard to break. Your puppy is never too young to learn.

• Come when called from 10 to 15 feet away.
• Sit

• 

  Four months old learning 'sit'

  Zen – this is learning not to grab food out of anyone's hand or not taking it until you say it's okay. It's basically learning self-control, which continues as your puppy grows.
• Stay (working up from a few seconds to a few minutes)
• Down
• Continue with loose-leash walking

Eight to 11 months

Now that your puppy knows the basic commands, just continue reinforcing them. You can add extra distance and time to what he already knows.

• Come – gradually work up to a distance of 40 feet for the recall
• Sit, Down and Stay – combine all of these commands, adding extra time for all of them. You can tell your puppy to sit and stay, or down and stay. Walk a short distance away to start, then come right back. Work on this daily until your puppy will stay until you tell him to get up.
• Zen – continue working on your pup's self-control. You'll be glad you did as he gets older.

  

  Eight months practicing 'down and stay

Twelve Months Old and Beyond

If you've been consistent with your puppy's training, he should get a gold star at this point. He should know all the basic commands down pat.

You can also teach your puppy some tricks along the way. Many tricks are based on obedience commands. Take a look at YouTube for some trick ideas. It's full of well-renowned trainers that can help you teach your puppy some tricks.

Training is a lifetime commitment, but it's worth the effort. You and your puppy will have fun, frustration, triumphs and form a loving bond that never ends. Just when you think your dog knows everything you've worked on, he might regress. Just remember, your puppy isn't perfect and just like you, he can have a bad day. Use baby steps when training your puppy and enjoy those moments of success when they happen. Just make sure your puppy training is positive and fun.

Does Your Dog Bark at Everyone Who Walks By?

If your dog barks or lunges at everyone who walks by the house or while you are walking, then these tips might help. Using a few training techniques to refocus your dog can help stop barking, nipping and lunging at other dogs and people.

Redirect Behavior

If you are walking your dog and he starts staring at another dog or person, (which is supposedly, very rude behavior for a dog. My dog does it all the time.) put him in a sit position and stand directly in front of him so he can't see the dog. He'll try to look around your legs but move with his head and don't allow him to look. Keep feeding him treats, one after the other, to keep him focused on you until the other dog or person is out of his view. If your dog is clicker trained, use the clicker when he is focused on you.

I know this is hard to do if you are pressed for time while on the walk but it really does work. When I take my dog for a walk at a nearby park, I can actually get him to sit while other dogs walk by, then we continue on our way.

As far as barking from the window, that's a tough one. I'm still working on that with my dog but my dog behavior instructor says that it takes two  weeks of calm behavior to break a dog's habit. Try putting something on the couch, so your dog can't see out the window for awhile. If he gets excited while on the
floor, distract him with treats and make him sit, basically the same thing as when you're on the walk.

Work Your Dog

Another thing you can do is practice commands when your dog gets overexcited. For instance, when you see him getting anxious while on a walk or in the house, have some treats ready and just have him sit, down, walk backwards, touch your hand, anything to keep him busy, so he knows you're in charge and have things under control.

Your dog might think he has to protect the house and the people he is walking with when you're outside. He has to learn that the situation is okay and you can take care of things. Hopes this helps.

Teach Your Dog How to Visit

Now is the time to get out the clicker and teach your dog a new trick! It's National Train Your Dog Month, which is the perfect time to think about your pet.

When was the last time you taught your dog a trick? It doesn't have to be a tough one, just something to help you bond with your dog, spend some time together and enjoy each other's company.

Right now, I'm trying to teach my dog how to put his head in my lap and "Visit." He's getting the idea, as long as there's a treat waiting for him!

Teaching Your Dog "Visit"

Have your dog sit next to you and then hold a treat on the other side of your leg, so your dog has to reach over your thigh and get it. As soon as he touches your leg with his chin, click and treat. Do this a few times until your dog gets the idea.

When he is putting his head on your thigh regularly, add the word, "Visit". Soon, your dog will be putting his head on your lap whenever you say the cue word. It's a really cute trick, especially when company comes over and your dog "visits" them.