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How to Teach Your Dog to Fetch Things

August 1, 2016
Have you ever watched videos of dogs bringing their human buddies cold drinks, remotes, slippers, or mail? Have you ever wondered if your pet can learn to do that? Why not teach him? Read on as a Georgetown, IN vet tells you how to teach a dog to fetch specific items.

Basics

First things first: before teaching Fido cute tricks, make sure he knows basic doggy obedience commands, like Sit, Stay, Come, Heel, and Lay Down. These are very important for both good petiquette and for safety purposes.

Fetch

Start by teaching Fido to fetch. There are several different training methods you can use. Some dogs pick things up more quickly than others, so be patient! Also, be sure to choose only items that are safe for your pet.

Prep Work

Once your pooch has Fetch figured out, start teaching him to identify certain objects. Whenever you play with Fido, identify his toys by name, so he forms an association between the objects and their names.

Training – Part 1

Get something Fido already knows by name, such as a ball or rope toy. Put the item down beside two other objects. The other items should be things your dog probably won’t be interested in, like a book or wrench. Point at the toy, and, identifying it by name, tell your furry buddy to Find It or Bring It. When he brings it to you, immediately give him a treat and praise him. Do this several times, until he gets the hang of it.

Training – Part 2

The next step is to add a second object, which should also be one that your dog can identify. Ask Fido to Bring It, again calling it by name. When he keeps continuously picking the right object, he’s learning! Keep practicing with different doggy toys, putting them in various places.

Continued Training

When your furry friend has this down, you can start teaching him to identify other objects. Remember, repetition, patience, and consistency are the keys to proper dog training. Use only positive reinforcement, and focus on rewarding Fido for doing well. Never punish your canine pal for not learning quickly enough: this can backfire, and make your pet feel scared or anxious. Is your dog due for an exam or vaccines? Contact us, your Georgetown, IN animal clinic. We are here to help!

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