How to Train Your Dog to Fetch Objects by Name

If you are lucky enough to have a dog that loves to play with toys and enjoys a good game of fetch, why not kick it up a notch?

Playing fetch is a great game to play with your dog. Not only does it teach you dog discipline, it is also a great way to add plenty of fun exercise to his daily routine. Okay, so playing fetch is a pretty normal skill for the average dog to learn. But then again, maybe your dog is not exactly the average dog and needs something a little more challenging.

Did you know that Chaser the Border Collie is capable of identifying 1,022 different items by name? While your dog may or may not be able to reach this level, there is no reason he can't learn to fetch a wide range of items when you call them out by name. Imagine how much fun the two of you are going to have showing off this neat trick.

The trick is to teach your dog to recognize a range of items by their names and then fetch them when you tell him to. Of course, before you can teach him this trick, he must already know how to follow a wide range of basic commands, including ‘sit’, ‘stay’, ‘come’, and of course, ‘fetch’. The basic concept is that your dog will learn to recognize an item when you call out the appropriate name.  

One of the great things about teaching your dog this trick is that you can teach him to act as your personal butler. At the same time, this trick is a good way to get your dog to exercise more frequently. For example, you can go out in the backyard and toss different toys or items around the yard and then have him fetch each one when you call out its name.

Getting started training your dog to perform a new trick is never easy, but it will always go better if you and your four-legged friend are properly prepared right from the start. There are a few things you might need to make the task of training your dog to fetch specific items as you call them out, including:

• Numerous objects: You will need them to help train your dog to fetch the right item when you call out its name.
  
• Treats:  To reward your dog when he brings you the right object.
  
• A quiet place to work: Any type of training is always best done when there aren't any distractions that will interfere with your dog's focus.
  
• Patience: Any type of training takes a certain amount of patience, this one even more so.
  
• Time:  This trick is going to take a while, so be sure you have time to work with your pup at least once per day, more is better. But keep the training sessions short so your pup doesn't lose interest.