Structured playtime at home can serve to promote constructive obedience training habits you will use in your day-to-day with your puppy.
In our part one, we covered playing a game of Tug with your puppy, and also the very useful command “Drop-it”, plus a few helpful playtime tips! Now, we’re moving on to possibly puppies’ second favorite game: Fetch!
You can visit our Part 1 How to Play with Your Puppy blog by clicking here!
Playing Fetch With Your Puppy!
“Fetch” is a great interactive way to play with your puppy, get them much-needed exercise, and work on their recall. In the beginning, we recommend start working indoors, in a smaller controlled area where you can quickly go get your puppy if they aren’t coming back to you right away! Also, don’t immediately toss the toy ten, fifteen, or twenty feet away, start at around two or three, and slowly start building up from there.
Puppy training and yes even playing “Fetch” are all about building on previous obedience commands and good behaviors. If you haven’t already, prior to diving into teaching your puppy “Fetch”, take some time to train them the “Come” command. Take a moment to look through our blog “Puppy Training 101: How to Get Your Puppy Responding to Come!” When you throw a toy for your puppy to retrieve, you will use their name and “Come” to get them to return to you.
Here’s the game step-by-step:
Start with your puppy on their Place cot or bed next to you.
Take your puppy’s toy and toss it for them, saying “Fetch” as you throw it or when you want them to go retrieve it.
Once your puppy collects the toy, immediately call them back and say “Come!”
When your puppy does come back, you’ll want them to complete fetching the toy by asking “Drop-it”
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Troubleshooting “Fetch”
@badu.thedachshund
It all sounds pretty simple and straight forward right? Here’s the thing, sometimes when you’re teaching your puppy to “Fetch” or retrieve something you have thrown for them unless it’s a natural response for them to return to you, your puppy might want to keep the toy away. This behavior is motivated by play and there’s nothing more exciting for your puppy than you chasing after them! Not so much for you. Instead, try this:
Follow the same steps from before through the third bullet
After using the “Come” command, reinforce it by adding in “Place”
Once your puppy gets to their place, you’ll want them to complete fetching the toy by asking “Drop-it”
“Place” Command to Teach Fetch
Why do we utilize the “Place” command in this situation? The “Place” command helps your puppy learn to target something a.k.a. their place cot. This creates a fun play routine that also reinforces their recall while they have a toy.
Note: We do recommend that you train your puppy the “Place” command prior to “Fetch” as it will be a useful tool for you! You can visit our blog, “Puppy Training 101: How to Teach Your Puppy Confidence for the Real World!”
A Few Helpful Tips!
1. Keep Your Puppy on Leash
During the first few Fetch sessions with your puppy, keep them on leash. You can attach it to their harness or flat collar as the leash is really there to make sure your puppy doesn’t decide to go rogue, grab the toy, then run and hide with it! Instead, it will help you guide them back and regain their focus on you, as they learn how they’re supposed to play Fetch.
2. Utilize Your Voice & Energy
Adjust your energy and tone of voice to help control your puppy’s actions! Use a more excited tone with higher energy to motivate a lazier pup, and if your pup is too excited, drop your voice to a calm, more neutral tone, and slow down your own energy and body movements to lower your pup's excitement.
3. Short Distances First
Avoid the temptation to take your puppy to the yard or a park and launch a ball as far as you can! Start indoors with tossing the toy short distances of a couple of feet first, and have
your puppy’s leash attached if they haven’t quite mastered “Come” yet. This will save you from having to chase after your puppy if they decide to confiscate the toy, and reinforce returning to you each time as you build up the distance.
4. Try Out Different Toys
If your puppy isn’t showing initial interest in a certain toy, that doesn’t mean they aren’t interested in playing “Fetch” with you! Switch it up and try toys with different textures. Soft and plushy or tough rubber they can chew on. Not all pups will go for a ball right away, so try with their favorite toy first and experiment with different squeaky sounds if needed!
You’re set to start teaching your puppy to play (and love) “Fetch”! Along with tug, these games will not only strengthen your puppy’s obedience but build their working relationship with you. As your puppy grows up and really masters this game, you will be able to bring “Fetch” to a whole new level, playing outdoors, off-leash, and much farther distances!
P.S. Join us every Wednesday at 1 pm PT on @thepuppyacademy Instagram for a live trainer q&a!
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