How to Teach Your Dog to Fetch
Before teaching your dog to fetch, make sure they understand basic commands like 'sit', 'stay' and 'come'. These commands will come in handy when training your dog to fetch as they provide a foundation for obedience and understanding.
Start with Basic Commands
Choose a toy that your dog loves and use it as the designated fetch toy. You can use a tennis ball, a frisbee or any other toy your dog loves to play with. Show the toy to your dog and let them sniff it and inspect it without playing with it just yet.
Introduce Your Dog to the Toy
To get your dog excited about the toy, play with it yourself for a few moments to show your dog that it's a fun and interesting object. You can even make noises or funny faces to get your dog's attention and enthusiasm.
Get Your Dog Excited About Fetching
Start playing fetch by throwing the toy short distances and not too far away from your dog. Use an excited and encouraging tone to get your dog to chase after the toy. If your dog runs after the toy, praise them and give them a treat as a reward.
Start Playing Fetch
Once your dog has chased after the toy, encourage them to bring it back to you by using a command like 'bring it back' or 'drop it'. You can also use a tug-of-war game to get your dog to bring the toy back to you. Repeat this step until your dog understands that they need to bring the toy back to you.
Encourage Your Dog to Bring the Toy Back
Repeat the fetching game multiple times per session and reinforce positive behavior with treats and praise. With time and patience, your dog will learn to love the game of fetch and become a fetching expert!