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!
Heroparkour is a great sport for problem dogs. Since a great part of problem behaviour has roots directly in timidity. Such dog is unable to handle more complex situations of ordinary life due to fear. It doesn’t believe non-standard conditions.
The use of dogs in search and rescue (the so-called SAR) is an integral part of natural disasters, mass accidents or, for example, when search for missing people. Do you know, when the first dog rescuers appeared?
Every dog has its individuality and is unique in its own way, so even the period of growing up can differ significantly in every individual. I know dog owners, who didn’t know what to do with puberty excesses of their otherwise loved four-legged...
A handy assistant not only for dog owners, who need to work on training with their dog, but also for sport cynologists who, on the other hand, are refining the discipline called the “track” with their dogs. The original purpose of the long cord with a...
One dog isn’t enough for you and you’re looking for an excuse that will help you vindicate having a whole pack at home? One option is to become a musher - a dog sled racer. For adrenaline lovers, who’d love to ride through the landscape on a sled using...
Of course there are more apps, we chose only the ones for you that intrigued us the most. Have you tried an app or have you got a favourite one that you could recommend to others?
It’s like a rollercoaster ride with outside temperatures this winter, once you’re up and then back down. All the more attention should we pay to the care for our dogs. Since it’s not only us, people, who don’t take well to the changing temperatures.
Unfortunately, in the life of dog owners, even unpleasant situations occur, which aren’t only an intervention in the life of your dog partner, but also affect your wallet. For example, if the dog gets hit by a car or it is otherwise injured and the...
With changes of the temperatures accompanying the autumn, higher demands are put on the organism and thus its immune system. That’s why it’s not unreasonable to start and boost the immunity already now. Remember, that prevention is always better and...
Before we get to winter sports that you can do with your four-legged buddies it’s good to remember the care that you shouldn’t forget about in this period.
If you’re planning to go abroad, even just for a few days, then definitely don’t forget about the animal’s passport. When you’re packing this dog passport, make sure that you check off-hand, that your four-legged friend has all its vaccinations valid....
Kittens, as well as a number of other animal offspring, are born blind. Their eyes open around the tenth day of their life and only after another week, they are fully functional. Even though the sight in a cat belongs among the best-developed senses,...
