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Subject: Fetch

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dieterthegsp User is Offline

Cape Breton, NS, Canada

MH
Posts:559

08/23/2009 5:47 PM
Hi guys, im just wondering the best method for teaching fetch to your puppy...i already taught him give paw, sit, lay and stay. I would like him to learn how to fetch next. Im assuming you start small with a toy in the living room or something...just curious how you guys on this board went about teaching fetch. thanks Dan

Properly trained, a man can be dog's best friend. Videos

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7855

08/23/2009 9:45 PM
I started out by getting mine interested in a toy and then tossing it. When they bring it back make a big deal out of it and reward. Typically they will bring it back. Whatever you do don't chase him with the toy. Just quit playing if he doesn't bring it back. He will quickly learn that to continue the game he has to bring the toy back. When he brings it back don't take the toy away immediately, give him a chance to prance around with it and then take it and immediately throw it again. When you are doing this you can incorporate your fetch command and drop commands. Eventually he will also pick up on the commands.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

dieterthegsp User is Offline

Cape Breton, NS, Canada

MH
Posts:559

08/24/2009 8:15 AM
Thanks alot. That was pretty much how i was going to go about it. The one thing is getting him interested in a toy. He has about four or five right now and for most of the day leaves them alone. Maybe i will wait untill i see him playing with one and then try untill he loses interest. Thanks again Dan

Properly trained, a man can be dog's best friend. Videos

MelB

MH
Posts:1217

08/24/2009 9:02 AM
I always start with the "play" fetch much like texas belle. I toss the toy and as the pup runs to get it I say "take it" (I use take it, not the word fetch) when they pick it up and turn to bring it back towards me I say "Yes! Bring it!" with loads of praise when they bring it to me. I don't ask that they have to drop it as I want them to later learn to bring it to hand. Once they are consistantly taking it, and bringing it then I begin to add a "mouth" command to cue them to release it into my hand when they hear the word "Mouth". I never play tug with them over a toy during this type of play time as I don't want them to learn that every time they bring an object we are going to play tug. Tug time is totally seperate and when I invite them to do it, they do not invite me. My dogs know when they hear "Mouth" that whatever is in their mouth better be promptly released. It's helped me numerous times when they've had something they shouldn't and I need it out of their mouth immediately. My female springer literally just opens her mouth and lets her bottom jaw hang slack until I get whatever is in her mouth out of it. On the same token, if she has something she knows she's allowed to have (but I think she has something she can't have) she will clamp her mouth tight and turn her head. I always still look inside, but 100% of the time she was right and it's a piece of food she can have. Of course I apologize LOL.

dieterthegsp User is Offline

Cape Breton, NS, Canada

MH
Posts:559

08/24/2009 9:23 AM
thanks again guys. im so happy i came across this website

Properly trained, a man can be dog's best friend. Videos

Dirtysailor User is Offline

Western PA

MH
Posts:134

08/24/2009 10:16 AM
One thing I did with mine at a young age is throw your toy down a hallway with all the doors closed so that the only place he can bring it is back to you. Just sit at the end of the hallway. Just an idea that worked well for me.

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7855

08/24/2009 10:52 AM
MelB - I use drop in the same way you use mouth. The only difference is if I say drop and I am at a distance, they drop whatever is in their mouth. If my hand is there they know to put it in my hand. If I am setting and don't offer my hand it gets dropped in my lap. If I am standing and I do not offer the hand they put it at my feet if they have been sent out on a retrieve. So, same command with different outcomes depending on the circumstance.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

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