Training a Dog to Fetch Using Positive Methods

By: David Codr

Published Date: April 4, 2023

teaching a dog to fetch

For this Omaha dog training session we worked with 1 year-old Pointer mix Boone, showing his new family how to teach a dog to fetch.

We actually did a series of sessions with Boone, helping him learn to be comfortable when meeting new people, to not bark at dogs on walks, develop some impulse control and to not get jealous when his humans talk with the neighbors.

We started things out covering a number of fundamentals including marker words, the importance of celebrating desired behaviors, how to read dog body language and gauge consent as well as the Relaxation Protocol.

How to teach a dog to fetch

Being a Pointer mix, Boone has a lot of energy. On top of that, he’s a pretty smart dog. That combination often results in dogs who can get bored or distracted easily.

We went over a number of ways to satisfy Boone’s needs physically as well as mentally such as cookie in the corner. But really, there is no substitute for training a dog how to fetch.

As Omaha’s resident dog behavior expert, I have found that helping a dog learn how to fetch is a wonderful activity that can allow your dog to release energy as well as help them develop some self control. If you have a high energy dog who does not retrieve the ball when you throw it, you should definitely check out the free positive dog training video below.

By breaking down the fetch exercise into individual steps, then practicing them one at a time, you can help a dog master the skill easier. The secret to teaching a dog to fetch is going slow while using your marker word and rewarding them for the level they are at, not the level you want them to be.

Another tip for teaching a dog to fetch is to practice inside at first. There are fewer distractions and the confined environment makes it easier for you to help the dog learn what you want them to do. Practicing in a calm and quiet environment is a dog training secret the best dog trainers use to achieve faster results.

This was a great way to end this series of in-home Omaha dog behavior training sessions. Boone’s guardians were quite pleased at how quickly he picked up his fetch training. We’re looking forward to getting progress reports and updates as he gets better at playing fetch and the other tricks and exercises we shared while working with Boone.

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This post was written by: David Codr