HOW TO TEACH YOUR DOG TO FETCH
While your dog may have a natural inclination to retrieve items, they don’t naturally know all the rules of fetch that you want them to follow. You’ll have to teach them some ground rules to keep them safe and focused during your games of fetch.
HERE ARE SOME STEP
- With your dog on a long lead leash, practice throwing an object and having your dog return it to you. The leash helps make sure your dog doesn’t run off with the toy or get distracted and pursue something else. Practicing with a long lead is beneficial for your pup in a number of ways -- you can read more about long leash training here.
- Start with a toy that’s easy for your dog to carry in their mouth, like a tug toy or tennis ball. That way, your dog can just focus on fetching rather than worrying about keeping the toy in their mouth. Here are some toys we love, some of which are great for fetch!
- Once your dog has grasped the fetch concept on the leash, it’s time to practice without it! Start in an environment with no distractions and practice fetching from a short distance away, like five feet or so. Until you’re confident your dog won’t run off, you can leave the leash attached but let it drag on the ground behind your dog. That way, you can grab it if your dog decides to go off track. After consistent attempts with no issues, leave the leash off entirely.
- Once your dog has that down, move on to different areas of your house or yard and slowly increase the distance. Eventually, you should be able to go for long distances in environments with a lot of distractions, like the park.
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If your dog is having trouble keeping focus during fetch, pay attention to what toy you are using for your game. You’ll want to make sure you’re using something of value that’s worth fetching. Consider taking a couple of your dog’s absolute favorite toys and setting them aside just for fetch to keep them interested!
FATCHING BENIFITS
Fetch is a great activity for your dog to enjoy, since there are so many benefits. We love fetch because:
It’s a great way for your dog to get exercise. Dogs who get enough exercise are healthier, happier, and less likely to engage in destructive behaviors
It teaches your dog to go for toys rather than household items or other animals when they want to chase or chew.
It helps your dog learn behaviors like “drop it,” “wait,” “come,” and “fetch,” while working on general obedience.
It is a great opportunity to bond with your dog.
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