Teach Dog Fetch – A Guide to Train Your Dog to Fetch
Teach dog fetch is a great trick to train your dog even though it can be quiet tricky. Since all dogs are really active, energetic take things on the table, etc, your dog will surly like to play this game with you. It can take some time for your dog to get use to the idea of fetching but training the dog with patience and lots of effort, your dog will learn quickly. You must also show a positive body language so your dog will enjoy and have fun training. Here are the few simple steps to use to teach dog fetch.
Begin with chewy toys
Before you begin to teach dog fetch, make sure that the area you playing are in a room that doesn’t contain anything to distract your dog since dogs easily get distracted and ends up running away.
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To get started with fetching, throw your dog’s favourite toy within your reach and see what your dog does. The toy should be chewy since it’s not painful for the dog’s teeth and it’s easier for the dog to pay more attention to the toy. Your dog will end up following the toy and starts to chew. When your dog does that, try to snatch the toy. If your dog doesn’t want to drop it, show the dog his favourite treat towards his nose so that your dog will drop the toy straight away and eating the treat. As soon as your dog drops the toy, say the command ‘Good boy’.
Try to repeat the process again so that your dog will get a clear view between handing over the toy and the treat.
Repetition
While training your dog, it is very important to use positive reinforcement while your dog is performing well by praising, petting and treating your dog. Once you have done this, throw the toy again and say the command ‘Fetch’. Remember to say this word every time you throw the toy as the dog will understand what to do with the toy. Once your dog have correctly fetch the toy and gives it to you, praise and treat the dog again and also challenge your dog by throwing the toy even further than before.
It is most likely that your dog will easily get distracted when training fetch but when you keep repeating the process your dog will know what to do. Always remember to show a positive reinforcement by praising and treating your dog.
Moving to different location
Try to train this game in different areas and the best place to start this is in the house. When your dog gets used of this idea of the command fetch and giving you the toy, you can train the dog outside the house using the same method in the garden or in the dog’s park. The biggest flaw you will have when training the dog outside is that the dog will get many distractions such as trees, other dogs and people. Once you train the dog over again, your dog will get used of fetching the toy and retrieving it you by listening to the command without getting distracted.
When your dog does everything correctly, it will be a good idea to not treat him the first time as this can easily cause your dog distraction and will ignore you every time you say fetch. When you train your dog couple of times, you can then treat and praise him.
You will notice in the end that your dog will love to play fetch with you when you say the command. This training will also give your dog a healthy exercise. By following these steps, your dog will be able to play fetch quickly.