From Fetch Flop to Fetch Champion
The step-by-step guide that turns fetch failures into fetch fanatics
Fetch is an amazing fun game for dog and owner!—it's also an incredibly useful foundation for teaching all sorts of games and practical behaviours. You can expand this skill to have them tidy up their toys, fetch your slippers, bring you the newspaper, or even help with household tasks. It's entertainment and training rolled into one!
By breaking fetch down into individual components and teaching each one separately creates much more success than just throwing a ball and hoping for the best. Here's the method I use that can transform even the most toy-disinterested dogs into enthusiastic fetch partners who are ready to learn all sorts of helpful tricks.
Why This Method Works ✨
Traditional fetch "training" often involves a lot of chasing your dog around the yard, pleading with them to drop the toy, or dealing with a pup who runs away with their prize. This step-by-step approach eliminates those frustrations by:
Teaching each behavior clearly before combining them
Making every step rewarding for the dog
Giving the dog specific jobs to do rather than vague expectations
Building genuine enthusiasm for the game
Training tip: Keep each training session short—5 to 10 minutes maximum. Dogs learn better in short, frequent sessions than long marathon training periods. Always end on a positive note while your dog is still engaged and successful!
Step 1: Build Toy Engagement 🧸
Before your dog can fetch, they need to actually want to interact with the toy. This isn't always automatic, especially for dogs who aren't naturally toy-motivated.
How to do it:
Start with the toy in your hands, not on the ground
Move it in slow, enticing ways—drag it along the ground, wiggle it gently
The moment your dog shows any interest (looking at it, moving toward it, sniffing), mark with "Yes!" and reward with treats
Gradually ask for more interaction—touching it with their nose, then their mouth
Keep sessions short and end while they still want more
Pro tip: If your dog isn't interested in toys, try different textures, sizes, and types. Some dogs prefer crinkly toys, others like rope toys, and some are motivated by balls that bounce unpredictably.
When to move on: Your dog is ready for the next step when they consistently show interest in and interact with the toy during multiple short sessions. Don't rush—solid foundation skills make everything else easier!
Step 2: Teach the Hand Touch 🖐️
This is the secret sauce that makes the recall portion of fetch actually work. The hand touch gives your dog a specific, clear job to do when they return to you.
How to teach hand touch:
Hold your hand flat, palm facing your dog, about 6 inches from their nose
Wait for them to investigate and touch your palm with their nose
The instant they make contact, say "Yes!" and treat
Add the cue "touch" once they're reliably doing the behaviour
Practice until they can touch your hand from a few feet away
Why this works: Instead of your dog returning and then standing there wondering what to do next (or running away again), they have a concrete behaviour to perform that earns them a reward.
Why it’s useful: Touch is great for getting your dog’s attention, it can help build confidence and create better communication.
When to move on: Your dog is ready for the next step when they can reliably touch your hand from 3-4 feet away on the first cue, getting it right at least 8 times out of 10 attempts.
Step 3: Master the Return 🏃♂️
Now we combine the hand touch with coming back to you, but we're not using the toy yet.
How to practice:
Start just a few feet apart
Call your dog and immediately present your hand for the touch
Reward generously when they come and touch
Gradually increase the distance
Practice in different locations and with mild distractions
The hand touch acts like a magnet, drawing your dog directly to you and positioning them exactly where you want them for the eventual toy exchange.
When to move on: Practice this until your dog comes running to you and immediately touches your hand from various distances and in different locations. They should be doing this reliably and enthusiastically!
Step 4: Teach Pickup and Hold 🦴
Many dogs will chase a toy but won't actually pick it up, or they'll grab it and immediately drop it. We need to teach this as a separate skill.
Starting small:
Begin with the toy in your hand, encouraging your dog to grab it
The moment they put their mouth on it, say "Yes!" and reward 🎉
Once they're reliably grabbing it from your hand, place it on the ground nearby
Reward any interaction with the toy on the ground—sniffing, touching, and especially picking up
Building the pickup: Focus on rewarding the moment they pick up the toy from the ground. We want them to learn that grabbing the toy is rewarding, but we're not asking them to hold it for long periods—that would work against bringing it back to us!
When to move on: Your dog should be consistently picking up the toy from the ground in multiple short sessions before you move to the final step. If they're only doing it occasionally, spend more time here—it's worth it!
Step 5: Chain It All Together 🔗
Now comes the magic—combining all these separate skills into the full fetch sequence.
Start simple:
Place the toy just a few feet away
Send your dog to get it (you can use "get it" or whatever cue feels natural)
The moment they pick it up, call them back and present your hand for the touch
When they return and touch your hand, give enthusiastic praise and treats
Take the toy gently and either throw it again or end the session on a high note
Gradually increase complexity:
Throw the toy further distances
Practice in different environments
Add distractions slowly
Always end sessions while your dog is still enthusiastic
Troubleshooting Common Issues 🔧
My dog won't bring the toy back: Go back to practicing the hand touch and recall without the toy. Make sure these skills are solid before adding the toy back in.
My dog drops the toy before reaching me: Practice the "hold" part more, and make sure you're rewarding them the instant they reach you, before asking them to give up the toy.
My dog isn't interested in toys: Experiment with different types of toys, make yourself more exciting than the toy, and consider using food-dispensing toys or toys you can put treats inside.
My dog gets too excited and won't listen: Keep sessions shorter, use lower-value toys at first, and practice in less stimulating environments before moving to exciting locations.
The Payoff 🎉
This method takes more upfront time than just throwing a ball and hoping for the best, but the results are worth it. You'll end up with a dog who:
Reliably brings toys back every time
Doesn't make you chase them around the yard
Actually enjoys the game instead of just tolerating it
Has learned valuable skills (like hand targeting) that are useful in other training contexts
Remember, every dog learns at their own pace. Some might master this in a few sessions, others might need weeks of practice. The key is keeping sessions positive, short, and ending on a successful note. Happy fetching!
If you decide to use this method to teach your dog fetch, let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear about your progress!
This is great. When they do the touch. Should they actually tough their nose to your hand? I think this would confuse my dog. Can they just sit! Or is the touch integral to the sequence?
Fun!