Train Your Dog to Fetch

If your dog just can't get the grasp of fetching, then you can teach him. Not all dogs automatically understand the game, but that doesn't mean that they can't learn how to play.

There are different ways that you may consider training your dog how to fetch, here is just one method of training your dog.

Make sure that you have a few toys or items that your dog can play with. It's best to have some of your dog's favorite toys. Once you have the toys ready, it's best to start in a room with little distractions, which means no other pets, foods, toys, etc. Tease your dog with one of the toys until he grabs at it. If your dog gets the toy and tries to run off, that's fine; you'll want to hold up another toy. When your dog loosens grip or drops the one toy, praise and hold out the toy in your hand.

Next, you'll want to wiggle the new toy to make it enticing to grab. Let your dog grab at the toy, while you pick up the other toy on the ground. When the dog drops the one toy, make him reach for the one you've just picked up and let him take it.

Let your dog run off but when he's coming back in your direction with the toy in his mouth, you'll want to praise and hold up the second toy. When the dog drops the toy in his mouth, praise and throw the toy you have at him, and retrieve the one that was just dropped.

Call your dog back to you, and then he gets close hold up the toy you have, when your dog drops the one in his mouth, praise and throw the toy you have past him so he has to run out to get it. Continue repeating this process passing the toys back and forth. Eventually, your dog will start to drop the toy at your feet so that you can throw it.

You don't want to over stimulate your dog. Like any training session, if you make it too much like work, then your dog will quit, so watch for signs of fatigue. The entire process may take days, depending on how fast it takes your dog to grasp the concept of dropping the one toy so to run after the other that you've thrown at him.