Fun with Fetch

As my mom recently said in her facebook note, I have never learned how to fetch. When I was a puppy, I thought it was fun to run away from her with the toy. She did, too. 10 years later, she still can't break me of that habit. I love a good game of keep away. I'll play it her way two or three times and then I expect her to play it my way two or three times. It seems only fair.

So how do you avoid this dilemma with your own dog? First of all, no matter how great the urge, do not chase your dog. Don't do it during play. Don't do it when they've run off with the remote. And pass that message along to everyone in your family.

Then, when you're teaching your dog to play fetch, get him excited about the toy. When he's interested, give the toy and run backward, patting your legs or clapping your hands to get him to run to you. When he does, praise and reward by playing tug with the toy.

Toss the toy a few feet away. Don't toss it far at first. Build up to that. When your dog runs for it, praise and begin to run backward again. If your dog comes back with the toy, reward by continuing the game. If not, end the game and try again next time. To make the toy more exciting, pick it up when the game is over.

If your dog isn't willing to drop the toy, practice a drop it command with toy like objects. Tennis balls are easiest, but identical tug toys or stuffed toys can work as well. When your dog comes back with one, say "drop" and then produce the other toy. When the dog drops, praise and toss. Repeat until your dog can drop without seeing the other toy. Then, you can phase out the other toy. You can also have your dog trade you the object for a treat, always a crowd pleaser in this house, but it may not work if your dog prefers the ball to the treat. I don't understand it, but those crazy dogs do exist!

If your dog already has some bad habits, you can use these methods to reverse some of the damage. But, like me, your dog might not always be willing to comply. Have fun!

Love, Muggsy