My Dog Won’t Fetch
Fetch is the universal game to play with the family dog, right? So why won’t he do it?
Which Part is the Problem?
Fetch usually falls apart in one of three ways:
The dog chases after the toy, but won’t grab it
The dog chases after the toy, grabs it, but won’t return with it
The dog chases after the toy, grabs it, and returns, but won’t release it
Which Part is Your Dog’s Favorite?
Fetch is actually made up of several different components:
Chase the moving thing
Grab/hold the thing
Chomp/chew the thing
Tug on the thing
One reason fetch might not be working for you is because you and your dog prefer different parts of the game.
We humans tend to focus on repetitive throwing, but not every dog adores Chase.
That doesn’t mean your dog can’t learn to retrieve an item, but it’s worth asking your dog what kind of play he enjoys — playtime is supposed to be fun for him after all.
Your dog might be thinking, “man, I really love the chomping part of this game. So, I’m going to stay away from the human because as soon as I get over there, she pries my mouth open and takes away my treasure.”
When I play with dogs, I try to observe their preferences and defer to those.
If the dog really likes the chase part, [Flirt Pole] might be a better game. The dog gets to do LOTS of chasing and I don’t have to keep walking out into the yard to retrieve the toys he’s chased then ignored.
If grab, hold, or chew are where it’s at for the dog, I let him do more chewing on his own and ask for less chasing.
If tug is the dog’s jam, we do mostly that with the occasional chase.
It’s also worth noting that fetch problems might not just be about your dog’s preference. Your dog might have physical issues related to any of the components—issues that make those components uncomfortable to perform.
Getting Him to Drop It
Regardless of which part they prefer, I usually always have to get the toy out of their mouth at some point. Here’s a super easy way to do it.
Stock your bait bag with medium to high value treats (Ziwi Peak Air-Dried food is a great option)
Toss the toy for your dog to chase
When he returns with it, initiate a game of tug for 3-5 seconds
While holding onto the toy with one hand, grab a treat from your bag with the other hand
Hold the treat very close to your dog’s nose
When he releases the toy, feed the treat and pull the toy to your shoulder
Resume play
“My dog still won’t drop the item.”
Try a better treat like freeze dried raw meat or tiny pieces of cheese. And make sure to ask him which part of the game he likes best!
