Fetching is a favourite activity for many dogs. Some dogs have it in their genes. Others must be shown how it is done before they start enjoying it. As with all other commands, positive motivation and rewarding are important. How to go about it?
Teaching your dog to fetch is a matter of patience. So before you set off for your first training, make sure you have plenty of it. Some dogs take longer to understand the score with the stick, ball or a different object which you keep throwing for them.
You will need some treats, a favourite toy and a string. First, make the dog intrigued, play with the toy and fight over it. If the dog is not interested, try again later.
After a short warm-up game, throw the toy a few metres away from you and say "fetch" or another command, such as "retrieve", etc. When the dog picks it up, say "here". The dog should come to you with the toy and let go of it when you say "drop".
This is the ideal example. But what to do when the dog starts running off with the toy? You have several options.
If you are a sporty type, you can motivate your furry friend to bring the toy to you by slowly running away from him and shouting "here". The dog should instinctively start running after you. When he reaches you, say "drop". Voice-motivation really works.
Are you not too keen on running? Use a string. Tie a piece of string to the toy and say "fetch" but when the dog gets to the toy, you say "here" and start pulling the string with the toy back towards you. Keep rewarding your dog to make him understand the whole fetching process.
Before you start, your furry friend should know basic commands, such as "here" and "sit". And why sit? Because correct fetching starts from the sitting position. As soon as the dog fetches his toy and drops it before you, make him sit again. And reward him.
If your four-legged friend likes to swim, try fetching in water. The advantage is that the dog does not have many options for running off with the toy - unless he gets out on the other side of the river :).
In summer, it is important to prevent the dog from overheating during fetching and from an extreme change in temperature when jumping into water as it could cause a shock.
In winter, make sure that the dog does not overheat inside before getting cold outside. After an activity, it is ideal to go home with the dog. If you decide to continue walking, dress him in a light dog jacket.
Never do fetching on asphalt or concrete. The benefit of them filing their claws is not worth the risk of having their paws burnt. That type of terrain is generally not ideal for dog activities. It is better to choose the woods, a park or water.
Do not forget to take with you a travel bowl and water.
Fetching should be a short activity and it is better to repeat it several times during walking, rather than fetching for an hour without a break. Start with only a few minutes of training to prevent the dog from getting bored.
Good luck and many hours of successful fetching!
It's no secret that dogs like to visit the vet about as much as we like to visit the dentist. For most dogs, it causes stress that lasts for several hours. Thanks to their instincts, they sense it before you even leave for the vet's clinic. How can you...
When we let nature work and we don't interfere with it, it can do wonders. Letting the wolves into Yellowstone National Park and leaving them to their our own fate shows us what a complex system nature is and how dozens of wild beasts can transform...
58-year-old Chris found a new life purpose in rescuing and caring for cats after his son died. It helps him cope with his grief, and it gives him something to do.
Many of us love essential oils, whether it's because of their smell or their curative effects. Every other home has an aroma lamp or diffuser. But did you know what effects these fragrances have on your cats, and that they can seriously harm them?...
You've surely seen the viral videos where cats jump away in fright and are in complete shock because of a cucumber. Would you like to know the reason for this? Are cats afraid of this harmless vegetable, or is there another reason?
This little dog is very dependent on its owner. It is boundlessly dedicated to its owner and will do anything to cheer him up. It's not surprising that it's also referred to as an antidepressant dog. After all, just looking at this dog will put...
Although their appearance and nature is somewhat similar to that of the Norwegian Forest cat and Maine Coon cats, Siberian cats are not as popular. Outside of Russia and the former Eastern Bloc, they are not well known and are not seen very often. In...
Dogs are an inseparable part of our lives. But how to do it when your dream is to travel around the world on a sailboat or any other adventure? Take your furry friend with you. What shouldn’t you forget when preparing for a long journey wherever it...
The second day of Hindi festival called Tihar is devoted to dogs. Their loyalty and devotion is celebrated, they are honoured as companions, guardians and friends. A holiday which is full of lights and colours doesn’t forget about stray dogs and it is...
Brown rats are very cleanly animals. You can see them licking themselves several times a day and thus keeping their fur in a perfect condition. They suffer if their environment is not suitable, even though they can survive it. Many people think they...
For us, devoted dog parents, changes in our lives often include our dog companions. Moreover, the stuff we do to keep our furry friends happy and healthy also commonly influence us as well. We owe them for better life and they deserve to get the same...
It is sometimes fine to disrupt dogs’ routine by an interesting activity and what might be better than to teach your dog some tricks. Dogs hate boredom, even the greatest lazybones welcome some distraction. Here you have a couple of tips for tricks you...
