petorama

Ask Yvette

Dear Yvette,

How do I get my dog to bring the ball back for a game of fetch? When I throw the ball, Jake runs to get it. Then he picks it up and runs around me for a while. I ask him to bring it and he comes close. But never close enough so I can reach him. When I reach for his collar, he starts darting back. I think Jake wants to play, but I end up chasing him. Please help me teach Jake to fetch.

Patty

What you described is pretty typical. Some dogs seem to learn how to play fetch automatically. They are the exception. The average dog learns to play, “Catch me if you can.” Not sure if it makes you feel better, but your dog is pretty normal.

When people begin to teach a dog fetch, they usually start by tossing a ball as far as they can. They encourage the dog to get it. The dog runs to get the ball then darts around. The owner starts calling the dog. The dog has no idea what the owner wants. When the dog does not come back, the owner starts to chase the dog.

Who's teaching whom? Generally, the dog learns that the owner will start playing a game of chase if you do not bring the ball. The dog is having fun. The owner may or may not be. It can be fun if you are an easy-going person. But then again, it is not what you had in mind.

There is an expression my child's gym teacher uses a fair bit. No, your dog is not a child. But the expression applies 100% when you are teaching your dog to play. The expression is:

Control, control, control!

You must control the game. If you do not, the dog will not learn the rules very well. You cannot outrun your dog. You cannot out muscle him. So you need to know how to teach and maintain control from the beginning.

Doing this is not that difficult. The technique is called back chaining. You begin the exercise by teaching the last step, first.

For fetch, this means you teach your dog to drop the ball in your hand first. Treats come for dropping the ball in your hand. You may have to occasionally give a treat for taking the ball. Some bright dogs start to refuse to take the toy. Smart dog, but not what you want.

You do not throw the ball anywhere until your dog can drop the ball on command. You teach the control aspect of the game before you put speed into the mix. Take – Give – Take – Give. No throw. Just dropping the ball.

When your dog is able to give and take the ball on command, in your hand, with different toys in different environments you move to step two. You put the ball on your lap and have the dog pick up the ball and put it in your hand. When that's under control, then you practice having the dog bring you the ball from the floor in front of you. Then you start some easy short throws. The treat still comes for the drop into your hand. Before you know it, your dog will be running for the ball, and dropping it nicely into the palm of your hand.

Yvette is an award winning pet writer and pet behavior columnist. She also is the author of Meeting Milo, a North American dog bite prevention program to reduce the approximately 2 million children bit by dogs annually. She is the owner of AwesomeDogs.ca and works as a behavior consultant in London, Ontario.

This column was originally featured in The Londoner
See more of Yvette... www.awesomedogs.ca
www.meetingmilo.com

Yvette has 2 dogs of her own, KIKI and KAYA. Take a look...

Previous Questions

• Dear Yvette, Our puppy Samson has attitude gal...
• Last week, we discussed why many dogs do not under...
• Dear Yvette, My dog will only sit when asked s...
• Holy smokes - but there seem to be more pet food r...
• If your neighborhood is anything like mine, then a...
• View All Questions