how to teach a dog to play fetch

When beginning to teach dog to play fetch we first want your dog on a leash to prevent your pup from “bailing or playing keep away” when learning the correct way to play fetch. Introduce the Toy. He may also perceive the returning and dropping of his toy as punishment, or think that fetching simply isn’t as fun as other activities. Start with the toy right next to you, Start to very slowly increase the difficulty/distance away from you the toy starts just a few inches at a time. My dog hates fetch. My dog retrieves the ball, but she doesn’t return it to me. It doesn't matter if it's a tennis ball, plush toy, or frisbee, just … Place the toy near you. Step 5: Throw the Fetch Toy Farther. Use the “Drop it” command with a treat. There are four basic steps to teaching your dog to play this game, as well as ways to address challenges, including dogs who want you do to the fetching, dogs who prefer keep-away, dogs who won’t drop the ball, and dogs who get so excited that they jump on and nip you. This part may take longer if he is reluctant to give up his toy once he has it in his mouth. Treats – For teaching your dog to fetch you want to have a lot of small pieces of high-value treats. Experiment with different toys and see which ones excite your dog the most. Again, go very slowly building with fractions of a second of time you are asking your dog to hold. Once he drops the toy, immediately reward him with the treat. Step 2: Move the Fetch Toy Around. They’ll chase after the toy, sure, yet they actually want to prance around with it as well as play keepaway rather than fetch. Be patient. To teach your dog to release the toy when it reaches you, use the “drop it” command. http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/how-can-i-teach-my-dog-to-play-fetch, https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/teaching-your-dog-play-fetch, http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/teaching-your-dog-play-fetch, http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/how-can-i-teach-my-dog-to-play-fetch?page=3, http://www.petplace.com/article/dogs/behavior-training/training-your-dog/teaching-your-dog-to-fetch, Mengajari Anjing Permainan Lempar Tangkap, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Try to choose games that best suit your dog's personality. As your dog gets close to it, click, praise, and give a treat. When your dog is successfully taking the toy from your outstretched hand place the toy on the floor in front of her. References. 2. Some dogs are ball lovers while others prefer plush toys. With a little patience and consistent practice, the finished skill will be a smooth cued retrieve of any toy. Teaching your dog how to complete the fetching process will help to make the game of fetch more fun for the both of you. It may take a few weeks before your dog understands the “Bring it” command, so be patient with him. Small dogs usually like to play inside so fetch is a great way to exercise a lap dog. Wait until your dog sniffs the toy click/praise and treat. Next, increase the criteria slightly. What do I do when my dog won't take his toy? Start with an eager pup, the object you want your dog to fetch for you and some tasty treats When training any new skill you want your dog to be eager and ready to work. Teaching your husky to play fetch can seem like a difficult task and if you haven’t taught a dog to play fetch before it can feel quite overwhelming. How am I meant to teach him to pick it up in his mouth? Avoid playing fetch in a dog park, as it may invite other dogs to steal your dog’s toy or chase after and harass your dog. Ask your dog to “hold” the toy and when she picks it up immediately praise/click. Tips to get your dog … Training your dog to play fetch is easy if you have a little patience and can follow these four steps. It’s much better to do many repetitions of short holds then asking for one very long hold. No, after about 150 times they should be able to do it without "bring it.". Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Familiarise your dog with the frisbee by letting them hold and play with it. This will teach the dog that the game is over and now it’s time to relax. If it doesn’t understand what “come” means, then you will not have a game of fetch. This article was co-authored by David Levin. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Guidelines Before We Begin Some guidelines or rules to follow as we begin teaching your dog to play fetch! Treats – For teaching your dog to fetch you want to have a lot of small pieces of high-value treats. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Teaching your dog how to fetch is one of the most common games he enjoys. "What helped me the most in this article was the bait-and-switch method. Many dogs are naturally good at chasing something that is thrown to them, but they may not always be good at bringing and giving it back. Anything a dog puts in her mouth is special, at least to her. Clicker training can be especially useful to help you communicate with your dog in the early stages of teaching the trick. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 139,738 times. After doing this a few times, throw your dog’s first toy again. My dog is very stubborn and only goes to. Q. Every dog is different, so identify what type of reward works best for your dog and use it throughout the training process. Eventually, your dog should be able to drop his toy with only the verbal command to do so. If you’re using a new toy, you’ll need to get your puppy used to it first. With a little patience and the following steps, you and your pet can learn to do this fun and rewarding activity. Your dog probably sees this as a fun game of chase, but you are teaching him to turn back to you. Most dogs will instinctively chase the ball and pick it … As your dog ages, they become more active and then you take them outside. To do this, teach your dog to fetch in this order: 5. Avoid small or smooth balls that he could swallow, and don't pick something edible, like rawhide. Step 6: Add Some Words. Training your dog to play fetch may take some time—be patient. Dogs love to play with sticks and balls. Answer a few simple questions and find the right dog for you, Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side, Browse the AKC Marketplace to find the right puppy for you, Browse our extensive library of dog names for inspiration, Find out the best and worst foods for your dog and which to avoid, fetch doesn’t come naturally to every dog. They should, but you may have to keep at it longer than with a border collie, golden retriever, or other more easily trained breed. If not, start with Teach a Dog to Fetch. Once your dog is keeping their mouth on the toy until you click/praise and treat you can start adding in more time. If your dog initially drops the toy and doesn’t chase after it, wiggle the leash or rope a little more and start running away. Call his name, but do not throw the second toy yet. For example, he may have a medical issue such as arthritis that would make running back and forth difficult. How do I get him to get the ball in the first place? Some pet dogs just love to play Fetch. If your dog is really not toy motivated especially if he is a rescue dog who didn’t have a lot of exposure to toys as a puppy it can help to find toys that have a velcro compartment to put food in can be very helpful. The squeak adds prey drive,making your dog more willing to play fetch! Citizen Hound has also been ranked #1 Dog Walker by the SF Examiner and A-List in 2017, 2016, 2015. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4c\/Teach-a-Dog-to-Fetch-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Teach-a-Dog-to-Fetch-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4c\/Teach-a-Dog-to-Fetch-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/aid843485-v4-728px-Teach-a-Dog-to-Fetch-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"