Playing fetch with your dog can be rewarding for you both. You get to interact and play with your pup, and he gets to introduce you to his favorite toys as you toss them out into the world for him to go find.
Playing fetch with the dog doesn't always mean you get to do it more than once. Sometimes you toss the ball or a rope out across some expansive space, expecting your dog to bring it back to you, only your dog runs very excitedly to retrieve it and stands on the other side as if mocking you, refusing to let you have it again. This, of course, puts an end to your game of fetch. Teaching your dog to bring a toy back to you is the second phase of training your dog to play fetch. If you want to toss a ball more than once, your dog is going to have to know how to bring it back to you so you can throw it again.
Dogs who understand the second half of this fun game are eager to bring their toys back to their owners so they can, of course, play again. Dogs who just want their toys to be tossed out for a wild chase and then to hold on to them don't quite get that this game is one of enticing intrigue. You will need to teach your dog that he gets to play the game over and over again by bringing back the toy. This might mean you need to trick your dog into believing he only has one toy, and you happen to have it even when it's in his mouth. This also might mean you need to get your dog to chase you, making yourself an intriguing part of your game together.
Training your dog to bring a toy back to you is going to involve encouraging and enticing your dog. To do these things, you will need to have some high-value treats and identical toys on hand to make trades. You may also want to look into getting two of the exact type of toy. So two tennis balls that look exactly the same will work, or two ropes that are exactly the same will also work. Put your running shoes on and be prepared to run around with your dog, including running away from him to encourage him to come find you with his special toy. Turn this into playtime and bonding time with your dog and have fun with it.
My boy is super smart and I know he can learn a lot of things, but I'm having trouble getting him to figure out what I want him to do in this and many situations. He loves to run for his ball in the yard, grab it, and then continue right on running to the back of the house (not even looking back in my direction). He knows the command "Come" so I've tried that, but when I do that he drops the ball, runs to me, and goes into an automatic down. We've taught him this command as a recall and safety measure (not as a play time activity) so I understand why he drops everything and comes over. He knows "Drop it" so I've tried to yell drop it as soon as he picks the b all up, but then he'll just drop it and stand and look at me like, "What mom?". I can either get him to run back (without the ball) or he'll wait a second and run off without the ball to do another activity.
I've tried teaching "Toy" for him to grab his toy and bring it to me, but every time I do he does his "Come" routine instead, which makes me think he's either not listening or not understanding that I'm asking him to do different things, so he defaults to what he already knows.
He does the same thing with just "Down", if I say "Blue, [insert command here]" and it isn't a command we've worked over and over and over, he'll default to a down. If I repeat the command or say "No" and then repeat he'll just reposition himself in his down like "Look! I'm doing it!" I feel bad because I don't want to confuse him or say "No" when he's being obedient and trying to do what I'm asking. But I don't know how to make it more obvious or clear to him that I'm saying different commands which mean different things. And he needs to LISTEN to what I'm asking and not just do what is more familiar or more frequently asked.
Sincerely,
A Conflicted Dog Mom
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
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he's a toy robber, even if the ball is his or it belongs to another dog, he won't give it back. he fetches and makes his way back to me but avoids to give it back and if i chase him to retrieve the ball, he'll hide away with the ball/toy. If i grab him he doesn't resist, actually he has a very gentle grab on the ball and it's easy to remove it from his snout. He's a rescued dog so i assume he doesn't have much experience with playing dinamics. How can i teach him to hand me de ball back? He's a very sweet and gentle Pup but we don't want to get in the way in the playtime of other dogs in the dog park. Many thank!
Hello Fernando, For pup not returning the toy to you, check out the article I have linked below. especially sections on teaching Come and Drop It. https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-teach-a-dog-to-fetch/ Second, I recommend playing short range fetch on a long training leash, like 20 foot, with only part of that length uncoiled, and pup wearing a padded back clip harness. You will have to be careful not to throw the ball too far and to let go of the leash if you accidently do, but with a leash on, when pup tries to play keep away, you can simply reel them in, reward with a treat or a second toy being tossed as soon as they drop the current ball, and help get them out of the keep away habit. Third, I recommend teaching Leave It and Out and work on practicing those, rewarding pup in real time when they obey, in locations where other dogs are playing fetch. Ideally, recruit another friend with a friendly dog to practice this around while their dog plays fetch and your dog is rewarded for leaving it unless told to Fetch it. Leave It section: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite Out - which means leave the area: https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-teach-a-dog-the-out-command/ Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
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Tanner would always bring his water toy back to me but lately he will not bring it to me just plays in the water with it. What am I doing wrong?
Thank you for the picture and question. I am wondering if Tanner is simply tired of the game, or of the toy. You could try a new water toy that may pique his interest again. As well, you could try the "Retrieve the Treats Method" described here: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-retrieve. The "Dual Toy Method" here involves using 2 toys to teach a dog to retrieve: https://wagwalking.com/training/retrieve. It may be enough to get Tanner excited about the game again. Good luck and have lots of fun!
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