Training your dog to fetch is an interesting activity that keeps your pup engaged. “Retrievers” by name are enthusiasts in the activity of fetching. Yet some dogs aren’t naturally inclined to return toys after being thrown. They might not have been trained to fetch the item during the dog training process. Yet no worries! it’s a skill that can be taught to your pup.
What You’ll Need When Training Your Dog To Fetch
When training your dog to fetch, you may need an array of toys. It helps you to notice what toys your pup likes to have. Some dogs enjoy chasing after a ball while others prefer plush toys. Moreover, you might need to have high-value treats to reward them while training. Plus, if you use a clicker to train your dog, have it ready. Clicker training can be especially useful to help you communicate with your dog in the early stages.
How to Train Your Dog to Fetch

Fetch is a game that many people love to play with their pups. Sometimes you may throw a toy and your dog sits watching you or retrieves the toy but doesn’t bring it back. That’s because your pup has not been trained properly to act after the instance of throwing. While some dogs may simply not want to take part, many dogs just need to learn what’s being asked of them when it’s time to play fetch. You should not teach your pup to fetch right at first while training. It’s the hold command that you have to train your pup with at first.
Teaching ‘Hold’
- Sit on the floor with your dog facing you.
- Hold a toy and show it to your dog.
- When your dog shows interest in the toy, praise or click and give them a treat.
- At this stage, reward any form of interest your dog shows in the toy.
- Gradually increase the criteria for rewards:
- Wait for your dog to sniff the toy, then praise, click, and treat.
- Next, wait until your dog puts their mouth on the toy before praising, clicking, or treating.
- Once your dog consistently puts their mouth on the toy, start building duration:
- Don’t click or praise immediately; instead, wait a moment while their mouth is still on the toy.
- Slowly increase the time by half-second increments before you click, praise, or treat.
- When your dog can keep their mouth on the toy for a couple of seconds, introduce a verbal cue like “hold.”
- Once your dog holds the toy until you click or praise, start moving your hands off the toy briefly, then quickly put them back before your dog drops it.
- Praise, take the object from your dog, and give them a treat.
- Help your dog succeed by progressing at their pace, increasing the hold time slowly.
- It’s better to do many short holds with lots of repetitions than ask for one long hold.
Teaching Fetch
Are you sure that your dog has mastered ‘hold’? Now it’s time to start teaching fetching!
- Hold the toy in your outstretched palm.
- Ask your dog to “hold.”
- If they take the toy, click or praise and treat.
- If they don’t take the toy, practice the “hold” command until they are ready.
- Once your dog takes the toy from your hand, place the toy on the floor in front of them.
- Ask them to “hold” the toy.
- When they pick it up, praise or click immediately.
- Introduce a new verbal cue like “get it” or “fetch.”
- Once your dog consistently picks up the toy, start moving the toy slightly further away.
- Start with the toy right next to you.
- Slowly increase the distance you place the toy, just a few inches at a time.
- Break down the retrieve into small steps so your dog can succeed easily.
- Continue increasing the distance for retrieving the toy.
- Alternate between placing the toy away from you and throwing it.
- Practice fetch with a variety of toys like balls, plush toys, or rope toys to keep things interesting and challenging for your dog.
With your patience and the consistent practice you give your pup, the finished skill will be a smooth-cued retrieve of any toy. The reward isn’t itself the game. But you may continue rewarding the fetching behavior with treats.