How to Train Your Dog to Bring Back a Toy

Hello Eleanor, Check out this article on teaching fetch, especially the Come section and trouble shooting section. https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-teach-a-dog-to-fetch/ Also, you may find this video helpful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-uUQE32FuU Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

July 11, 2022

Hello Brianna, First, know that the guessing and defaulting to his most familiar command is common while learning something new. Depending on what you are teaching and telling pup to do, you will either help pup do what's asked, then repeat that a couple times in a row until pup obeys without the extra help, or wait pup out - withholding whatever pup wants until they slow down enough to think about what you asked - repeating that command only every three minutes, so pup has time to focus and actually listen. For example, if you want pup to Sit and you say Sit but pup lays down, clip pup's leash on so they can't just leave, then step toward pup a little until they hop up. For some dogs they will automatically sit and not get up completely when you do this, for others have pup stand all the way up again, then gently pull up on the leash while pressing two fingers with your other hand on the area at the base of pup's tail. Don't push pup's bottom to the ground, but most dogs will move their bottom away from that pressure and sit. If you are keeping their head higher with the leash at the same time, only the bottom goes down. At soon as they are sitting, praise and reward. Practice this in a lot of different situations and environments to help pup get good at your newer command. You can also cup pup's chin with one hand and do the base of the tail pressure with the other when a leash isn't on pup, to also guide pup into sit. Most commands have ways you can give hints or help pup get into that position. Generally a dog needs hints while practicing a newer command in a variety of environments and around different types of distractions, until they are proficient. This is the difference in basic obedience and moving into intermediate obedience. This process is called proofing commands. To wait pup out, do something like attach pup's leash, give the command, then stand still and wait until pup does the correct command. When pup guesses wrong, calmly tell pup "Ah Ah" or "No" or "Wrong" but sound non-cholent and boring when you tell pup not angry. You are just giving information, not disciplining. Sometimes it can help to have a different word other than no, like "wrong" or "Ah Ah" for this. Repeat that command every three minutes but not over and over again, then wait. For example, if you're confident pup knows sit but seems to default to down instead of thinking about what's asked, when you go to the door to take pup for a walk, tell pup "Sit" once pup's leash is on. If pup does it, great, continue to your walk as a reward. If pup lies down or does nothing, tell pup "wrong" then wait, repeating sit after three minutes if needed. You will watch pup guess a little, maybe bark in frustration when down doesn't work, then try to leave the area because they are bored (that's why the leash is on to stop the leaving), then start actually working to figure it out and pay more attention often. Once you get that attention and better listening, often pup will finally sit with that additional Sit, if not before. This might take a good 10-15 minutes at first. Once pup learns they have to pay attention and not guess, pup should start being able to sit sooner and sooner the more you practice though. For the toy fetching, check out the article I have linked below. I recommend practicing this on a padded back clip harness and long training leash. I would start reeling pup in as soon as they grab that toy, so the leash isn't a long slack line once pup starts to run past you, and you and pup don't get jerked when the leash gets tense, but you reeled in enough that you can slow pup down to come into you with the toy. Teach Drop It with that toy before practicing fetching, then once pup is reeled into you, command Drop It, and reward by pulling a second ball from behind your back (hidden out of sight before, not using it as a bribe), then toss the new toy while commanding "Okay" or "fetch" so pup knows they can run after the new one. Keep these tosses short at first due to the long leash and be ready to let go of the leash if pup gets too far accidently to avoid a jerk on the leash. I recommend doing this in a fenced area still. https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-teach-a-dog-to-fetch/ If you are still struggling after practicing the above, you may need to teach a hold command first. The article I have linked above has steps on teaching that command. Hold: https://wagwalking.com/training/hold-an-object If pup drops the toy on the way back even while being reeled in, run over to the toy and kick it around of toss it just a foot away. The movement of the toy and you running after it will often cause pup to grab it again. As soon as pup grabs it, start running back to the spot you called pup to, so pup will run after you with the toy to that spot. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

March 14, 2022