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What? Teach your dog to fetch?!?!
That's what I said - teach your dog to fetch. Dogs aren't born with the knowledge of how to properly play fetch. It isn't an instinct that our modern, domesticated dogs have.
Some people will be appalled, shocked even that I would suggest such a thing. Who trains a dog to play??? Weeeell, I do!
Instinctively, your dog knows on its own how to rough house, play tug-of-war and wrestle. These "games" come naturally to a canine. And while they are perfectly acceptable in the wild (wolves, wild dogs), this kind of rough play should not be allowed in our homes. Why? Let me tell you...
.... playing rough with a puppy, wrestling and tug-of-war games will encourage other unwanted behavior. Such as:
- growling at adults and children, aggression (either dog aggression or towards people), jumping up on yourself or visitors, stealing objects that are not for play (shoes, socks, etc.), destructive behavior in the home, mouthing or nipping and biting. In short, such rough play will lead towards aggression in your dog. It may not show up immediately, but rest assured it will be evident to some degree in the future.
So you ask, what games can I play with my dog, then? My answer will be... you guessed it - FETCH! Some benefits of why you should teach your dog to fetch are:
1) great exercise for your pooch, all that running around!
2) good opportunity for you to work on some obedience training (sit, stay while you throw it, release the dog to bring back the object thrown, making the dog give it to you, etc.)
3) bonding with your dog can happen as you are playing together
4) reinforcing that you are the leader with our method of fetch
Yes, there is a right way and a wrong way to play fetch. Common problems most people face are:
1) your dog picks up the object but won't let go of it - it turns into a game of tug-of-war to get the object back
Note: don't "trade" the dog for a treat (what will you do if you have no treats in your pockets?)
2) your dog turns it into a game of chase, letting you get close and then darting away
3) your dog gets the object and takes off, never looking back
Don't worry, we can show you how to teach your dog to fetch, reliably. Precision K9 offers hands-on seminars every 3 or 4 months on this game. Separate from the other classes, you and your dog will learn how to properly play fetch, and how to get to that point.
Completion of the
Novice Level basic dog training
course is highly recommended, but not mandatory. Your dog must be able to sit and stay on command.
Price: $20
Length of Seminar: 45 minutes
Contact us to enroll in the next Fetch-it! Seminar...
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Photo courtesy of Chad Grenier
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