Retrieve
“Retrieve” is an exercise used in various situations. Competitive obedience and trials require that the exercise be performed to a very high level of precision. However, many dogs thoroughly enjoy games that involve retrieving a ball or a toy.
There are two distinct ways of teaching your dog to retrieve. It depends what you want from this exercise. You could just teach a “play retrieve” where the dog chases after a toy and learns that if he brings it back, you’ll throw it again, and the games continue for as long as you wish. However, make sure that the game stops when you want it to, not when your dog has had enough (you are the one in control). You can also teach a “formal” retrieve, as set out below.
Step 1
Teach your dog to hold the article to be retrieved by initially clicking-and-treating any interest that he displays when you show him the object, which could be something like a toy, dumbbell, or even a piece of rubber pipe.
Step 2
Gradually progress to expecting him to nose it before you click, treat, and praise. By working on this in stages, stalling the click-and-treat as you expect more of a response, he will eventually pick up the article.
Step 3
Encourage him to take the article in his mouth, until eventually he picks it up and holds it. Some dogs learn this very quickly, but others may take much longer. Try to be patient and enjoy watching him discover what is required. Work on this for brief periods at at time, or he may get bored.
Step 4
Put the article in different places on the floor around you. Click-and-treat every time the dog picks it up and gives it to you. When he is doing this reliably, introduce the cue word (“fetch”) as he goes to fetch the article. Increasing the distance every time, progress to throwing the article away from you. When he goes off to fetch it and brings it back, click and reward him with a treat.
Some dogs, such as gun dogs, tend to be “natural” retrievers, and generally will be easier to teach how to retrieve things. This exercise makes the dog use his mind and can benefit his coordination. It also involves the use of previously learned behaviors like “sit” and “wait.” Dogs that enjoy retrieving when out on walks will get lots of healthy exercise from running back and forth, collecting a toy and returning it to their owners. If your dog tends to be more interested in other things than in you when out walking, getting him interested in playing retrieval games with you will teach him that all-important exercise of focusing on you. He will grow less likely to run off after other dogs or distractions.
Step 5
With the dog sitting by your side, ask for a “wait” and make sure he can see the article in your hand.
Step 6
Throw the article a short distance away and send him out to “fetch.” When he returns with the article and gives it to you, click, and then give him a treat.
Dogs that are not natural retrievers may require a great deal of time and patience in order to learn what “retrieve” is all about—a challenge, if you enjoy one. For the non-retrievers, steps 1, 2, and 3 are the biggest hurdle to overcome, so try these tips. Use very special treats and initially click-and-treat any interest in the article quite a few times, and then withhold the click and wait for your dog to do something else. Through previous training exercises, he has learned that the presence of the clicker means there is a reward for the right behavior.
Step 7
As you progress, you will be able to teach your dog to sit and wait (without holding his collar) until you tell him to “fetch.” You can also teach him to return by coming to sit in front of you and holding the article in his mouth until you take it from him. When you first try the latter of the exercise, he may drop the article and then sit. If he does, as a separate exercise, teach your dog to sit while holding the article in his mouth (see Step 8.)
Step 8
You will have taught him earlier to hold the article in his mouth, so ask your dog for a “sit,” and then encourage him to take the article in his mouth, and hold it for increasing amounts of time (two seconds, five seconds, and so forth) by gradually holding back on the click-and-treat.
Back to "Further Training"When teaching “retrieve,” your dog will also realize that the click has something to do with the retrieve article, and he is likely to do something else, such as touch it with his nose or perhaps even pick it up in his mouth. Take whatever he offers you and click-and-treat several times before withholding the click again and waiting for him to try something else. It is a fascinating way of watching him learn. Eventually he really will pick up the article, willingly offer it to you, and even sit and wait. This may take some time to perfect—after all, your puppy is handing over his favorite toy—so don’t give up!