6 steps to teaching your dog to fetch

You want to teach your dog how to fetch but unsure how to approach it without being a certified dog trainer? Don’t worry! Plenty of people who do their own puppy training are successful. Many times they do their own research and have learned through trial and error. We’ve compiled a list of the most proven step to using appropriate dog training to teach your dog to fetch.
Start with chasing then add extra motivation
Some dogs are more naturally prone to chasing objects than other. The first, and most important, step is to get your dog to chase the object you want to teach them to fetch. You can approach this step of dog training one of three ways – affection (including kind words or head pats), play with the object your puppy is chasing or treats. Every dog is different. Regardless of which form of positive reinforcement works best, you’ll approach this phase of puppy training the same. As soon as your dog touches the object, reward and take the object away. Repeat a few times, then toss it further away. Continue until your puppy gets bored. The next time you attempt fetch dog training, try holding your dog back while your throw the object. This increased the excitement of the chase.
Retrieving and avoiding “keep away”
After you can get your dog to reliably chase the object, the obvious next step is retrieving. One of the best ways to make this happen is to use two of the same object you’re using for your puppy training. Once your puppy gets to the object, show them the one in your hand and get them to come back over to you. Throw that object and repeat. This teaches your puppy to be excited to come back to you after grabbing the object you want them to fetch. Make sure you call your puppy when you’re doing this! If your puppy is the type to run away once they grab the object you want them to fetch, try keeping them attached to a long leash. A lot of dog trainers use this tactic. Once your puppy gets to the object, jiggle the rope to get their attention. If they don’t come back, you can “reel” them in. Continue to praise – this is progress!
How to get the object back and find something your dog likes
This can be the hardest part of this type of puppy training. Many dog trainers use keywords like “bring it.” Words like this can really help simplify your training process! Once your puppy gets the object and if they seem hesitant, back up and use your keyword. Once your puppy gets to the original spot, praise like crazy! If they won’t let go, work with keywords like “drop it” to encourage your dog to give you the object back. Use a treat as a last resort to get them to drop the object. The best advice of all is that you need to make sure to pick an object that your dog really likes. If your dog isn’t excited, they won’t want to fetch!
Puppy training and training to fetch in particular, doesn’t have to be hard. If you follow just a few easy steps, like picking an object your dog likes and using positive reinforcement words and actions to encourage your puppy to fetch, dog training can go quickly and smoothly for both you and your puppy. Visit this site for more information : http://akrondogtraining.org…
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