Teaching Fetch?? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

GoofyBritt · 07-20-2011, 07:02 PM

I don't know how to train my full grown dog to play fetch properly. I will throw a toy, he runs and gets it and brings it near us (at least in the same room we are in) and plops down with the toy and chews on it. He won't bring it back to us to throw again. It's frustrating and sad actually. I want to repeatedly throw the toy and him bring it back to us. He needs to expend some energy. Any ideas how I can train him? I have no idea how to do it. I trained him to sit and stay and do high-five. But that's all he knows as I have no idea how to train a dog. :P Help is appreciated!!

Britster · 07-20-2011, 08:03 PM

I had to teach Jackson to fetch. It wasn't really something that came natural to him. I wouldn't say he's a fetching freak or anything but he does enjoy it and burns off some energy. He does it for about 10-15 minutes and then he's kind of done with it. He's even been playing frisbee.

Anyways what I did was take him outside on a 50ft rope line and I'd get him REALLY excited! Like, I'd really act like an idiot. I'd throw the ball/toy/etc and run for it and show him how to do it and act all excited. He started going to get it himself and if he didn't bring it back all the way, I'd give a slight tug on the leash as a reminder. If he did not grab the toy on the way back, I'd kind of 'make' him. Like I didn't keep going to pick it up from wherever he dropped it, I just kept reminding him to bring it all the way.

I did use treats in the beginning so I'd give him a treat when he'd bring it back BUT I wanted it to be a game more than a 'trick' or a 'command' so I used playing as the reinforcer. So I'd let him tug on the frisbee or chew on it for a few seconds, etc. Don't try to teach it as a trick, it's gotta be a FUN game for both you and the dog, so be sure to show your excitement when he brings it back!

FidoTheYorkie · 07-23-2011, 05:55 PM

It worked for Fido just to have lots of treats for him, when he comes with the toy to me I say ''Good boy !'' and give him a little treat (I just use very very small peaces of dog treat so he wont get fat of it), first I had to have him in a leash when I did this and make him come to me, when he realized he got a treat when he gave me his toy he learned this very quickly !
Also when the dog gives you the toy, give him treat right away and throw the toy again ! then he thinks ''Oh when I give her the toy, I get candy AND I get to get the toy again ! ''.

alaskayorkie · 07-23-2011, 10:33 PM

Great advice! Treats work magic.

Another thing I did that helped with "drop it" was to throw one ball and as they're bringing it back, pull out a second one. The idea is to get them to come to you, drop it, and chase the second one. If they still don't want to drop the one they have, make sure the second ball or toy is of a higher value than the first, i.e., maybe a squeaky plush toy.

alleykattkim · 07-25-2011, 07:02 PM

Ironically teaching Chase to play fetch was easier than housebreaking(still working on that one lol) At first there was the leash, I would toss his toy to him, play a little tug of war. not letting him win of course. I would then have him come to me and toss the toy . he would go get it and with a tug on leash he would bring it to me. a week later the leash stayed in drawer. now i ask him if he wants to play, and to get toy. he will bring me the toy, tug of war, i toss it. he runs back with it. I still have to say thank you for him to release it but its still fetch. Good luck and have fun. oh yea. we never did use treats either.

take care, Kim & Chase

07-20-2011, 07:02 PM	#1
GoofyBritt YT Addict Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Grove City, OH Posts: 328	Teaching Fetch?? I don't know how to train my full grown dog to play fetch properly. I will throw a toy, he runs and gets it and brings it near us (at least in the same room we are in) and plops down with the toy and chews on it. He won't bring it back to us to throw again. It's frustrating and sad actually. I want to repeatedly throw the toy and him bring it back to us. He needs to expend some energy. Any ideas how I can train him? I have no idea how to do it. I trained him to sit and stay and do high-five. But that's all he knows as I have no idea how to train a dog. :P Help is appreciated!! __________________ Bentley Bentley is my angel. I never knew I could love a dog so much, he is truly a miracle.

07-20-2011, 08:03 PM	#2
Britster Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 17,814	I had to teach Jackson to fetch. It wasn't really something that came natural to him. I wouldn't say he's a fetching freak or anything but he does enjoy it and burns off some energy. He does it for about 10-15 minutes and then he's kind of done with it. He's even been playing frisbee. Anyways what I did was take him outside on a 50ft rope line and I'd get him REALLY excited! Like, I'd really act like an idiot. I'd throw the ball/toy/etc and run for it and show him how to do it and act all excited. He started going to get it himself and if he didn't bring it back all the way, I'd give a slight tug on the leash as a reminder. If he did not grab the toy on the way back, I'd kind of 'make' him. Like I didn't keep going to pick it up from wherever he dropped it, I just kept reminding him to bring it all the way. I did use treats in the beginning so I'd give him a treat when he'd bring it back BUT I wanted it to be a game more than a 'trick' or a 'command' so I used playing as the reinforcer. So I'd let him tug on the frisbee or chew on it for a few seconds, etc. Don't try to teach it as a trick, it's gotta be a FUN game for both you and the dog, so be sure to show your excitement when he brings it back! __________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier Last edited by Britster; 07-20-2011 at 08:04 PM.

07-23-2011, 05:55 PM	#3
FidoTheYorkie YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hafnafjörður, Iceland , North Europe Posts: 728	It worked for Fido just to have lots of treats for him, when he comes with the toy to me I say ''Good boy !'' and give him a little treat (I just use very very small peaces of dog treat so he wont get fat of it), first I had to have him in a leash when I did this and make him come to me, when he realized he got a treat when he gave me his toy he learned this very quickly ! Also when the dog gives you the toy, give him treat right away and throw the toy again ! then he thinks ''Oh when I give her the toy, I get candy AND I get to get the toy again ! ''. __________________ Sun [Owner] ,Fido [Yorkie] ,Mímir [Chinese Crested] ,Kría [Icelandic cat] ,Skuggi [Forrest cat]

07-23-2011, 10:33 PM	#4
alaskayorkie Banning Thread Dictator Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anchorage Posts: 30,843 Blog Entries: 57	Great advice! Treats work magic. Another thing I did that helped with "drop it" was to throw one ball and as they're bringing it back, pull out a second one. The idea is to get them to come to you, drop it, and chase the second one. If they still don't want to drop the one they have, make sure the second ball or toy is of a higher value than the first, i.e., maybe a squeaky plush toy. __________________ Mike ~ Doting Dad to Jillie, Harper, Molly, Cooper, Eddie (RIP), Lucy (RIP), Rusty (RIP) and Jack (RIP). Check us out on YouTube

07-25-2011, 07:02 PM	#5
alleykattkim Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: tweed ontario Canada Posts: 21 Blog Entries: 3	fetch came easier than housebreaking...lol Ironically teaching Chase to play fetch was easier than housebreaking(still working on that one lol) At first there was the leash, I would toss his toy to him, play a little tug of war. not letting him win of course. I would then have him come to me and toss the toy . he would go get it and with a tug on leash he would bring it to me. a week later the leash stayed in drawer. now i ask him if he wants to play, and to get toy. he will bring me the toy, tug of war, i toss it. he runs back with it. I still have to say thank you for him to release it but its still fetch. Good luck and have fun. oh yea. we never did use treats either. take care, Kim & Chase