How to Train Your Dog to Catch Food
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Introduction
Teaching your dog to catch food is a fun trick to try. Some dogs struggle with his trick, but for many, it is one of the easiest. Your dog is motivated to learn to catch food in his mouth because he gets a reward while he's doing the trick. Teaching your dog to catch food is an opening trick to teaching him to catch other larger objects like tennis balls and Frisbees. Some dogs, however, will watch a treat bounce right off their nose and then pick it up off the ground once it has settled. Giving your dog the fabulous idea of catching food becomes easier when he realizes it's a game for you both. You can turn your dog into a treat and food-catching dog with just a few hours of repetitive training.
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Defining Tasks
Training your dog to catch food is one of the more simple tricks as long as your dog is open to doing it. If you’ve tossed food at your dog and it hit his face and bounced to the ground, giving him a free on-the-ground treat, he probably won't be very motivated to learn to catch food. On the other hand, if you toss food his way it, watch it bounce off of his face and hit the ground, but grab it before he can gobble it up, he may be more motivated to catch it in his mouth before you can get your hands on it. Not all dogs are natural at jumping up and catching food, so be prepared with some patience and dedication. Your dog may become bored with the idea of catching food if he's not a natural catcher and isn't rewarded for his efforts. Entice your dog with delicious treats and have fun with this one. Teaching your dog to catch food is easy with a little bit of repetition and dedication.
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Getting Started
To teach your dog to catch food you will need some tasty treats to toss to his way. Try to start with a delicious treat such as a beef jerky or small bits of cheese before moving on to something harder like peanuts. Expect a lot of these treats to fall to the ground, so you may want a buddy to help gather the treats that fall before your dog has gobbles them up.
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The Big Stretch Method
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Start low
Put your dog in a sit position and hold his reward high above his head.
Reward
You don't want your dog to jump up and snatch the treat from you but rather let him stretch upward, reaching the treat. Once he stretches far enough, offer him the reward.
Repeat and increase
Repeat the above steps and increase the distance between the treat and your dog’s mouth. Once your dog has to lift his front paws off of the ground, begin to drop it into his mouth.
Verbal praise
Each time you successfully land the treat in your dog's mouth, offer verbal praise. Be sure to show excitement, so your dog understands this is a cool trick.
Add difficulty
Continue to increase the distance between the treat and your dog's mouth, adding a more difficult challenge. As your dog catches the food, begin to toss food at him at more of an arc rather than dropping down words into his mouth.
Toss
Once your dog has a good understanding of receiving the treat as it's dropped into his mouth, begin to toss it at an arc, causing him to reach up and snatch it out of the air.
Practice
Catching food will take some practice, so enjoy a few small training sessions every day. Your dog may get this down within a few hours, or it may take him a couple of weeks. Every time you give your dog a treat, if you practice tossing it at him, forcing him to catch it, he is more likely to remember his neat trick.
The From Sitting Method
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Sit
From a sitting position, show your dog a small and tasty treat. Be sure this is a treat that is enticing, yet quick to eat.
Toss
Toss the treat up into the air and use the command word ‘catch.’
Reward or praise
If your dog manages to catch the treat on first try, show him how excited you are and give him verbal praise. If he does not manage to catch it quickly, grab the treat so he does not get a reward just yet.
Repeat
Repeat these steps always using the keyword, ‘catch.’
Enthusiasm
Your dog will be eager to earn the treat, so continue trying and he will eventually get that he needs to snatch it from you or catch it as you toss it to him. This will take some time, but be sure to show enthusiasm and excitement to your dog so he understands what he needs to do to please you.
The Short Sessions Method
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Begin
Stand in front of your dog in a seated position.
Entice
Show your dog his favorite treat and toss it very gently towards his head over his nose.
Movement
If your dog moves to grab the treat, give him verbal praise but don't let him have it unless he catches it. If he does not move toward it, pick it up and try again.
Repeat and practice
Repeat these steps, not allowing your dog to have the treat unless he leaps forward in an effort to catch and catches the treat in mid-air. Repeat several times in 5 to 10 minute sessions.
Reward
Once your dog catches the treat mid-air, allow him to have to treat and offer him lots of love and verbal praise for a job well done. If after about 10 minutes he does not catch the treat, move him to a different position. Give him a simple command, such as ‘sit’, and give him the treat he worked so hard to get.
Retrain
Continue to work with your dog in 5 to 10 minutes sessions a few times a day until he gets the hang of catching the food in his mouth.
Written by Amy Caldwell
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 10/27/2017, edited: 01/08/2021
More articles by Amy Caldwell
Training Questions and Answers
Scarlet
Standard Poodle
6 Years
Question
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0 found this helpful
My dog loves treats and will do anything to get it but when I throw the treat to her she flinches so it will drop. She sometimes backs away from it. What should I do?
April 11, 2018
Scarlet's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1128 Dog owners recommended
Hello Cameron, To get Scarlet used to catching treats try standing right in front of her with the treat only a few inches above her head. Drop the treat right onto her mouth while she is looking up. Keep the treat just three or four inches above her mouth at first and make sure that she is looking up at it when you drop it. When she can catch it from there without flinching, then gradually raise the treat higher and higher each time, so long as she is comfortable and having fun, until you are holding it a couple of feet above her head when you drop it. Expect this to take her several days or a couple of weeks to work up to. When she can catch the treat from two or so feet above her head then take a step back from her and toss the treat to her from in front of her, in an upward arch from just a short distance away, such as one foot. When she can catch treats from in front of her too, then gradually back up a bit every time that you practice this with her if she is doing well. Do this until she can catch the treat from the distance that you are trying to achieve, taking it one step at a time as she improves. It might also help to use larger, softer treats at first, so that it does not hurt if it hits her. I like freeze dried meat treats for this because it is light weight and dogs tend to love them. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
April 12, 2018