During my holidays this year we stayed with some very close friends out on the west coast. They had been considering adding a dog to their family that includes their 7-year-old son, Jonn. Upon our arrival I was happy to see that they had done their homework and narrowed their breed selection. Although the parents had done the selection process with great care, and had decided upon a Shetland Sheepdog (commonly referred to as a Sheltie), Jonn had only one criteria for his new pet – he had to be able to fetch a ball! Teaching your dog to retrieve can be a very rewarding experience for both of you. You will have more opportunity to interact with your dog and it gives your dog a great physical workout.
It is important when you are teaching your dog to fetch an object, such as a ball, that you start really slow and show your dog what to expect. Lots of dogs come by this activity naturally and your only problem may be making sure he drops it. Start by sitting and playing with the ball yourself for a few days and then hiding it in a kitchen drawer. He should be intrigued by what he is missing. Next, play “keep away”. Toss the ball into the air and sometimes let him near it, and sometimes scoop it out of his reach. Again, this will help to increase his motivation. You know the rule…. they want whatever it is they can’t have.
Once your dog is happy to see the ball, start to roll it on the ground and encourage him to chase it. Once he is chasing it and holding it, it is time to teach him to bring it back. This can require some patience. One method is to wait for him to pick up the ball and then run away from him, calling him to come. If he drops the ball on the way, you can encourage him to pick it back up by going closer to the ball again. If this does not work, and the dog simply stands there holding the ball with a “come and get me” look, it is best to turn your back and walk away and the game is over.
This may sound a bit time consuming but in the long run most dogs will soon catch onto the fact that the game ends if they don’t bring it to you. It is quite important not to chase your dog once he has the ball. You can see that this would turn from a game of fetch, into a game of chase. The use of a retractable leash can be valuable for this exercise. If your dog will not bring the ball, but will hold it consistently, you can encourage them to come back on leash. Once they have arrived with the ball, you can teach them to drop it by trading for a treat or even a second ball.
With all this in mind you can see that most dogs can be taught to fetch a ball. Jonn got his wish…a dog who could play fetch.
