Fetch Training: Teaching Your Dog to Bring It Back

Fetch seems instinctive, but many dogs will happily chase a toy and then... keep it. The chasing is instinct. Bringing it back is trained. Here's your step-by-step guide.

Why Some Dogs Don't Fetch

Retrieving breeds are genetically predisposed; many others aren't. Terriers chase and shake. Hounds chase and sniff. Understanding your dog's tendencies helps choose the right approach and toy. A squeaking Barky Balls might motivate where silent toys don't.

Step-by-Step

1. Build toy drive — make it scarce and exciting with short tug sessions using a Champagne Bottle Plush Dog Toy. 2. Teach pickup — mark and reward when dog picks up a placed toy. 3. Teach hold — gradually delay the marker. 4. Add movement toward you — step backward while they hold. 5. Short toss — 2-3 feet, reward the return generously. 6. Increase distance gradually.

Troubleshooting

Won't pick up? Go back to pickup practice with appealing textures like our Love Bone. Won't return? Use two identical toys — throw one, show the second. Won't release? Practice "drop it" separately. Loses interest? Keep sessions to 5 minutes, rotate between a Dumbbell toy and Hammer Plush Dog Toy.

Start indoors where distractions are minimal. PAWTY's GentlePlush toys are ideal for indoor fetch.

Find perfect fetch toys at pawty.com.