How to teach your dog to fetch? How many times have you heard someone say: "my dog loves the ball but won't bring it back to me". Well! Expecting a dog to "genetically" know how to retrieve an object and bring it back to their human friend is a little presumptuous. It's true that there are so-called "retriever dogs", but even they have undergone training — just as it's true that some breeds are naturally more inclined towards this activity. That said, all of our furry friends are capable of fetching objects we throw for them, and trust us, when a fluffy companion loves playing with their owner, training a dog to fetch is truly a walk in the park! Let's take a closer look at how to teach your dog to fetch a ball, a stick, and many other objects; with a little patience, you'll definitely get there!
Retriever dogs
The term "fetch" refers to the act of retrieving an object that has been thrown or placed in a specific location by the handler. There are many exercises you can try, which means plenty of fun — both for the human discovering how to teach their dog to fetch, and for the furry companion enjoying the training. It's important to remember that the exercise should be great fun for the dog, since fetching doesn't come entirely naturally to our four-legged friends, with the exception of certain breeds.
Think, for example, of Jack Russells or Border Collies, who go wild at the mere sight of a ball — not to mention the retriever breeds that have been selectively bred for this purpose, such as Golden Retrievers or Labradors. On the other hand, some breeds simply have no interest in this activity at all, such as guard dogs. For some of them, fetching a ball is nothing more than a pointless waste of time — so if you really can't get it to work, don't push it; they clearly have more important things to do!
When training a dog to fetch, there is one golden rule: never let them pull a fast one on you! Many dogs have a habit of doing the exact opposite — that is, teaching fetch to their owner, by having fun bringing the ball back just a few metres short ;) With that in mind, before we find out how to teach your dog to fetch, it's important to remind you that knowing the basic commands — sit, stay, drop it, and come — is essential. We'll assume your dog already knows these.
How to teach your dog to fetch with a ball
As already mentioned, if your four-legged friend loves playing with a ball, teaching your dog to fetch will be very straightforward — let's see how. If when you throw the ball your dog doesn't bring it back and instead invites you to run after them, get down on your knees and call them with the come command, back away, and give them lots of praise. When they come to you with the ball, give them the "drop it" command, perhaps showing them a treat or a little reward. If they know how to sit, invite your dog to sit and then reward them (since they'll naturally drop the ball at your feet in order to eat the treat). Repeat the exercise several times until your dog understands that the "drop it" command means "I drop the ball / I get the treat!"
If your dog prefers to keep the ball for themselves, despite the tasty training treats, there is the two-ball method, also known as the "substitution method". In this case, if they don't bring back the first ball, you throw a second one. While your dog races after the second ball, you pick up the first. Then call your dog over while showing them the ball you've just picked up, give the "drop it" command (to redirect their attention away from the second ball), and only once they've dropped it do you throw the first ball again.
How to teach your dog to fetch
For those four-legged friends who simply don't enjoy playing with a ball, things get a little more complex, and it's essential for the owner to build an excellent relationship with their dog. In these cases, the best solution is to stimulate the dog's predatory instinct. If your dog ignores the object you throw, walk over to it, call your dog and pause for a moment beside the object with them. Play with it together, encouraging them to mouth and nibble the target item. Once they've picked up the ball or the little stick in their mouth, turn around and invite them to follow you with the come command! If they follow you with the object in their mouth, praise them and give them a reward. If, when you give the "drop it" command, your dog drops the object, reward them and throw it again.
In the end, your dog will understand that all it takes to make you happy is to follow you carrying whatever you've thrown for them — which is exactly why the bond of friendship between dog and owner is so important! As you may have noticed, there are many methods for training a dog to fetch, and those who tend to be less interested in this game generally prefer doing other things, such as truffle hunting, sniffing around, and following trails. So remember never to force your friends into something they don't enjoy — they will certainly be happier for it, and you won't end up with a sore arm!
