Want a pup that can fetch like a pro? Learn how to train any dog to bring back objects, even those that aren’t classified as a “retriever” breed.
Dogs love learning new things. Teaching new skills gives them a way to use up energy, stay mentally sharp, and feel more connected to you. Plus, training your dog keeps them from getting bored and causing trouble around the house. Retrieving is also a versatile skill that can be adapted to any dog. You can make the game as simple or as challenging as you want, making it perfect for dogs of all ages and abilities.
When teaching a new behavior to your dog, it’s important to keep it enjoyable. If your dog becomes frustrated, they will be slower to learn the skill and less likely to want to perform the next time. Check out these tips to set your dog up for success and ensure that retrieving becomes (and remains) a fun activity.
Before you get started, there are a few supplies you should have on hand.
It’s important to make sure that the items you select are ones your dog wants, or else they won’t be motivated to go and get them.
To get your dog to retrieve a toy, you first need to get your dog excited about the toy. To do so, ‘tease’ your dog — if it’s a ball, bounce it and if it’s a squeaky plush, squeak it. Move it around in front of your dog and get them interested.
When just starting, keep the game as easy as possible by only throwing the toy a short distance away (no more than six to ten feet). This will help your dog succeed and feel good about retrieving, ensuring they want to do more. Another way you can set your dog up to succeed is by starting in a hallway or a space where there are limited distractions.
What your dog does once you’ve thrown the toy depends on a few factors: how bad they want the toy, their motivation to interact with you, and the value of the item they’re trading for (another toy, high-value treats, etc.). Their response determines your next step in the training process.
Do this step for five to ten repetitions. If your dog consistently picks up the toy, move on to the next step. If not, continue to play around with different toys, trade options, and timing of your praise.
Training your dog to relinquish items on command is a useful and potentially life-saving skill. Not only does it streamline your game of fetch, but in a situation where they grab something they shouldn’t (like a chicken bone on the sidewalk or a child’s sock), it could prevent the need for emergency surgery.
Once your dog brings the toy back 95% of the time, you can replace the ‘trade for treat’ option with ‘trade for toy.’ In this scenario, as soon as your dog returns the toy and drops it, you’ll throw the next toy for them to fetch. You may need to alternate between the two, and some dogs will always need a treat to be the reward, but for many dogs who enjoy retrieving, the opportunity to get another thrown toy is reinforcing enough.
Even if you consistently practice the above steps, your dog may still struggle with putting the pieces together. This may be because they’re not particularly motivated by toys or play, or easily distracted. Some common challenges pet parents may experience when teaching retrieval are:
Make sure to discard any broken, beat up toys. And definitely don’t play fetch with your dog if they are injured, healing, recovering from surgery, or dealing with a major orthopedic disease.
If your dog finally returns to you with the toy, praise, feed a treat, and throw the next toy quickly. The timing of your throw matters here — a quick throw will keep your dog interested in the game and act as a reward for them returning with the toy and trading.
If you’re still struggling with getting your dog to consistently retrieve, reach out to a certified professional trainer near you.
While retrieving a toy or object is enjoyable for many dogs, one of the ways you can build your dog’s skill without it seeming like work is to play games that target the different bite-sized pieces.
Teaching your dog to sit and stay builds up excitement for when they can finally go and get the toy. By having your dog sit until they are given a ‘free’ or ‘release’ cue, you’re giving them extra mental stimulation — they’re restraining really hard from going after that ball! Plus, varying the ‘wait times’ keeps the retrieval from becoming stagnant and predictable.
No, we don’t mean you chase your dog. Instead, once you’ve thrown the toy for your dog to retrieve, run in the opposite direction while calling for your pup to follow. Feel free to zig-zag as you would in a game of tag. This boosts your dog’s excitement and gives them more exercise. And, of course, reward when they finally catch you and give you the toy.
There are countless games out there that allow you to strengthen your dog’s recall while still keeping things interesting. A good recall makes for better retrieving and helps keep your dog safe in uncertain situations.
If your dog needs something more engaging than a squeaky toy or tennis ball, use a tug toy as what you throw. When your dog brings it back and gives it to you, you play a brief game of tug of war. This game is best paired with a solid ‘drop’ cue so that your dog doesn’t learn that they shouldn’t let the toy go.
Instead of simply handing your dog the treat in exchange for the toy, shake things up by putting the treats in a bowl further away. Once your dog brings you the toy and drops it, run with your dog to the treat bowl to get the reward. Make it fun by cheering your pup on as you go.
A mentally stimulated pup is a happy, fulfilled pup. There are many ways to achieve this, from agility work to scent work. Retrieval work is a great middle-ground — it is an outlet for dogs regardless of age, breed, and size because it can be as physically and/or mentally challenging as you choose to make it. Plus, you can do retrieval in a variety of environments with minimal supplies, making it accessible to all pet parents.
Practicing such skills makes for a better behaved, more content dog and builds a better relationship between pet parent and pup.
The best way to get your dog interested in retrieving is to use a toy they’re excited about, keep the game fast-paced, and quit before they lose interest or get frustrated.
Start by selecting a toy they like. Then, throw the toy and encourage your dog to return it. See above for step-by-step directions on how to teach your dog to retrieve.
Start in a limited space and throw the toy a short distance. Work up to a longer distance and a larger space with more distractions. You can also implement different games to help break down and practice the different skills used while learning to retrieve.
The most common reasons dogs won’t bring the ball back during fetch are because it’s not rewarding enough or they don’t understand what’s being asked of them. Simplify by shortening the distance and limiting distraction, and make sure your dog returning the ball is SUPER positive by trading the ball for really good treats and including lots of praise.
The clicker, an alternative to saying the word ‘yes,’ marks a behavior your dog does that you want to see more of. When your dog brings the toy back to you and drops it, click and immediately give your dog a treat. If you’re still trying to get your dog to take the toy in the first place, click whenever your dog orients to the toy or picks it up. Make sure that even if you click by accident, you offer a treat immediately after you click.
