Your Dog — November 2017

38 Your Dog November 2017 http://www.yourdog.co.uk

TEACHING THE RETRIEVE

One of the great things about teaching

your dog retrieve games is that there is no

one way to do it. All dogs are different, so

the bits they’re going to fi nd easy and the

bits they’re going to fi nd hard will vary.

Basically, there are four parts to it:

chasing the thing, picking up the thing,

bringing the thing back, and letting go

of the thing so you can throw it again.

Training a retrieve is about working with

your dog in a real partnership to fi nd out

what works. The game is a two-way thing,

and so is the training.

Before you begin, have some treats

ready and choose the item you are

going to train your dog to bring

back. It should be a toy your

dog loves, which is soft, easy

to pick up, and something

he’s going to be happy to

fetch. Find a secure and

not-too-big space, with no

distractions, and without too

many escape routes or hiding

places (in the house is ideal).

1

Get your dog interested in the toy and then

throw it a very short distance away and see

what he does.

2

Most dogs and puppies

will chase the toy and

pick it up. Encourage yours

to bring it back to you, and

then swap the toy for a treat.

If you need to, have two

identical toys and swap one

for the other.

4

Move into

the garden

to practise, and

eventually out

on your walks.

In each new

location, start by

getting the dog

interested in the

toy and playing

with it. You will

be competing

with distractions

now so you

may have to

work harder!

6

The same rules still apply — never

chase him. If he won’t bring it

back, it’s better for you to run in the

opposite direction, as he is more likely

to chase you with the toy.

u are

g

Always reward

a good retrieve with

a treat — giving up

something should

always be rewarding

for your dog.

s

r your dog.

d to, have two

oys and swap one

er.

NEXT

ISSUE

How teaching ‘waits and stays’ can improve your

dog’s life skills.

5

Once he is interested and

focusing on the toy, you can

throw it a little way, exactly as

before, then encourage him to

bring it back.

7

Each time you practise,

encourage your dog to bring the

toy all the way back to you so you

don’t have to bend down or stretch

for it. This is closer to a more formal

retrieve but it is also easier on your

back. If you struggle to get him to

bring it back to you, again take

a second identical toy. Ignore your

dog and play with the other toy,

which will instantly become more

interesting because you have it!

Practise lots, and have fun!

While lots of dogs love these kinds of

games, not all will think retrieving is

fun. Some will look at you as if you are

mad, and quite possibly think that if you

wanted something, why on earth did

you throw it away? Like us, dogs have

different ideas of what they like doing.

If you discover your dog has no interest

in chasing and retrieving things, don’t

worry — you just have to be inventive

and fi nd other games he may enjoy

far better.

3

Never chase your dog,

or reach out for the toy.

Wait until he brings it to

you and reward when he

does. Repeat this until he

always brings the toy back

for you to throw.

36-38 yd basic CS(SW).indd 38 22/09/2017 12:37