Training your dog to retrieve reliably is fun

Dog training should be fun! Knowing how to train your dog to retrieve can really help to improve your relationship with your dog.. What do we mean by “retrieve”? When I talk about retrieving I’m not talking about retrieving birds, although this technique could be expanded to include birds too, if that’s what you’re into. However,at an introductory level, retrieve means going and getting a toy that you throw and bringing it back to you on cue, or getting a named object and bringing it to you. Retrieving objects is fun and it’s really great exercise that involves a lot of mental focus and enrichment. A solid retrieve is taught through many rewarded repetitions, in short sessions until the dog enjoys fetching and does it reliably.

Retrieving has good side effects

Behavior that is repeatedly reinforced tends to become very likely to reoccur. A bonus benefit of teaching a retrieve is that the dog starts to associate coming to us with a super fun game where he can win prizes.

Your dog becomes less likely to buzz off to do his own thing because his relationship with you provides entertainment, exercise, mental stimulation, and yummy snacks. What dog would turn down a snack?

Retrieves can be practiced anywhere

Retrieves are an easy exercise that can be practiced in the home, in the backyard, or wherever you are (using a 33-foot Biothane long line or check cord when needed). It is a particularly handy form of exercise for dogs who may not be getting out for their leash walks or off-leash runs due to reactivity, inclement weather, or human-related reasons.

What You Will Need:

• Your dog on a 6 foot leash (just at the beginning)
• Your dog’s favourite small toy (my pointers like squeaky toys)
• A clicker (If you need to learn how to clicker train, check out this link: How to Use a Clicker to Train Your Dog
• Delicious treats in a bag or training pouch (My dogs love Freshpet Fresh Dog Food) Freshpet is a very convenient high value dog training reward)

How to train your dog to retrieve- Here is What You Do:

We always set the dog up for success, so always begin with your dog on a leash at first to prevent him from going and finding an easier way to reward himself. Start with a favorite toy, instead of a ball or bumper. Quit after 3 or 4 successful repetitions (Always leave ’em wanting more!). Don’t correct failures. Instead, figure out what you need to do to make it easier for your dog to engage and learn (ie. Moving to a less distracting environment). Here are the essential steps to train your dog to retrieve.

1. Tuck a treat between your middle two fingers on your right hand. Have a handful of treats and your clicker in your left hand.
2. Hold your right hand perpendicular to the ground and low enough that your dog can easily “find” it. Look at your hand and not at the dog. Don’t chase the dog around with your hand. He’s on a leash so pretty soon he will notice your hand there.
3. As soon as the dog touches your hand to get the treat, click and give him the food reward. After 6 successful repetions in a row, start just holding your hand in the same position as in the last step, but with no food in it. As he touches your hand with his nose, click and reward right away, getting one treat from your left hand. After 6 successful repetitions in a row it will be time to increase the challenge a little.
4. Tuck a treat in between your hand an a favourite toy in your right hand. Hold your hand in the same position as before. When your dog comes in to touch your hand, he will touch the toy instead. As soon as he does, click and give him the food reinforcer. After 6 successful repetitions in a row it will be time to increase the challenge a little.
5. Now have just the toy in your hand. Click and reward as soon as he comes in to touch the toy. After 6 successful repetitions, move to the next step.
6. Tease him a little with the toy so he will grab it with his mouth. After he has grabbed it in his mouth 6 times in a row, move on to the next step.
7. Say “Get it” as you playfully tease your dog with the toy. When he grabs it, click, praise, and offer a food reward. After 6 successful repetitions, move to the next step.
8. Drop the toy on the floor beside or in front of you. Look at the toy, not your dog, and playfully say “Get it” As soon as it’s in his mouth, click, praise, and offer a food reward. Repeat 6 times in a row before moving on the the next step.
9. Next toss the toy just a foot or two away. Look at the toy, not your dog, and playfully say “Get it” As soon as it’s in his mouth, click, praise, and offer a food reward. Repeat 6 times in a row before moving on the the next step.
10. Next toss the toy a few feet away as you say “Get it!” Look at the toy, not your dog. As soon as it’s in his mouth, click, praise, and offer a food reward. Repeat 6 times in a row before moving on the the next step.
11. Continue to toss the toy a little further away every 6 times.
12. When your dog is really good at fetching in a non distracting environment, practice in a few different environments, starting on leash and then progressing to a longline.
13. Now that your dog consistently fetches in different environments, start to switch up the items, so if you want him to fetch a ball or a dog training dummy, then start with the familiar fetch toy and then when he is really into the game, try the ball or dummy.
14. Once the retrieve is super solid using food rewards, begin rewarding with foof every other time, every 3 retrieves, every 5 retrieves. And the rest of the time rewarding with enthusiastic praise and another chance to fetch the toy. After that, you’ll start making the food rewards really random, so he isn’t sure exactly when he will get one, but boy, will they be worth it when he gets them.