- 1). Select one of your dog's favorite toys. This may include a tennis ball, a squeaky toy or even a sock. Since dogs respond best to short teaching intervals, plan to spend between five and 15 minutes per day working on your teaching.
- 2). Place the dog on a leash and throw the object a short distance. Until your dog picks up the basics of fetching, limit your throwing distance to two or three feet. As the object moves toward the ground, shout "Fetch" or another word with which you want to associate this command.
- 3). Observe the dog's behavior. If it attempts to retrieve the toy on its own, do not intervene. If it picks up the object but does not return to you, call the dog toward you enthusiastically. If necessary, guide the dog gently toward you by leading with the leash. If the dog pays no attention to the toy whatsoever, pick it up and try again until you receive the desired response.
- 4). Hold out your hand and say "Release," or a similar command, as the dog holds the toy in its mouth. Repeat the command if necessary, until the dog releases the object, which you should then catch in your hand.
- 5). Present the dog with a dog treat and offer lots of praise and enthusiasm. Dogs respond very well to treats, but they also respond extremely well to validation from their owners. The combination of treats and praise will help you to condition new behaviors in a short amount of time.
- 6). Repeat the previous steps until the fetching process becomes habitual. As your dog grows accustomed to fetching beloved toys from a short distance, begin increasing the distance (without the leash) and introducing new toys and objects into the game.
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