Teaching Your Dog to Fetch

If you're a pet parent looking for interactive playtime with your pup, teaching your dog to fetch is a terrific way for the two of you to bond and get some exercise.

However, playing fetch doesn't come naturally to some dogs. You may know already if you throw a stick for your dog, and he happily chases after it but doesn't bring it back.

Fetching, whether with a ball, flying disc, stick or shoe is not an instinctive behavior in dogs, no matter what the breed of dog (even some retrievers won't retrieve). Because of this, many dogs simply aren't interested in returning objects.

"Some dogs enjoy chasing and being chased; for these dogs, the best part of the game is when a human runs after them to get the ball," explains Vetstreet. The reward for them is catching the object, not returning it, and they'll wait for their pet parent to do the fetching.

Or, your dog may not even chase the object that you're throwing, whether he's asserting his independent spirit or simply enjoying watching the ball soar through the air, then looking at you as if to say, "What's your next trick?"

He does look pretty cute sitting next to his ball with a big doggy smile on his face, but think of how much more fun you and your furry companion can have if he learns how to fetch!

Fetch Objects

Animals become attached to their toys, and using a favorite dog toy for retrieval training is a great way to get (and keep) your pup's interest. Your dog may love his stuffed bunny, but rubber balls may be a better and safer choice because they are sturdier and won't shred like a plush toy.

It may take a few tries, but once you find a ball your dog gets really excited about, toss it around to familiarize and engage him. You can start by throwing the toy just a few feet away. After he chases and catches the toy, encourage him to return to you and drop the ball.

Rewards

One of the first things you need to decide is what his prize will be for retrieving the ball. An effective way to reward your canine pal for his good behavior is to use training treats or kibbles of dog food. Start training with rewarding him each time, but slowly, as he starts to get the hang of things, do it less so he does not think that the point of this play is to get a treat. Once your dog learns the behavior, you can move to "lesser rewards" (such as praise and extra praise) instead of food.

At all stages of retrieval training, make sure to give him verbal praise to encourage the repeat behavior. When he returns the object, do not immediately reach for it, but rather praise him, pet him and possibly even give him a treat. As he learns to drop the object on his own in anticipation of you throwing it again, he's starting to understand what the game of fetch is all about. Don't praise him if he doesn't return the ball, otherwise you're not reinforcing the behavior that you want him to do.