How to train a dog to fetch a ball Dog skill training tutorial

Jul 26,2025
7Min

Prerequisites for training dogs to fetch balls

1. All dogs like to please others - including themselves

2. In the entire ball-picking training process, letting the dogs participate in the competition is a very important part

3. Even if a dog is born with the ability to pick up balls, sometimes it needs orders from its owner to do it.

4. As long as your dog's physical strength allows, your dog can retrieve anything on command.

5. Train your dog to fetch the ball as early as possible.

6. Speed ​​up your training as much as possible, but don't be afraid to take a step back, even a few steps, if necessary.

7. Make good time for training. The key is to test the pressure, relieve the pressure, and provide timely rewards.

How to train a dog to fetch a ball

When your dog is trained to be obedient and you can control it, you can start fetching the ball. If he likes the ball, let him get after it. If he likes the stick, let him chase it. In short, it creates interest in what is needed in the first place. Try to get it back. Don’t pay too much attention to what’s in its mouth and ignore the dog. Remember to pet it or praise it. Try other commands: sit, stop, come here. Avoid using negative words like "don't." Maybe it doesn't understand them, but it may cause the dog to throw away what it took. If it wants you to chase it to retrieve something, it will run behind it for a long time, pretending not to care, but it will run towards you. Remember not to ask him what's in his mouth every time.
With the previous training as a foundation, you can now use wooden sticks to train. You need a broom handle, usually prepare a 20 cm long wooden stick, then hold the dog's collar from left to right, hold the wooden stick in your right hand, stretch to the front of the dog's mouth, and say to it: Hold it ( Be patient, sometimes the dog doesn’t understand what you mean). The moment the dog opens its mouth, put the stick in and immediately praise its performance. Don't worry about it spitting it out and just do it again. It is important to give your dog rewards such as snacks in a timely manner.
If it has severe resistance, pull the collar higher and touch the area below the collar with your hands. Doing this will prevent the dog from moving his head at will. Repeat the command patiently and gently, and if it does it, reward it in time. Then change to another action. Don’t force the dog. It’s best to guide it to do it. During this period, it only takes two or three minutes to change six times, with training exercises interspersed in between, or letting the dog rest for a while, or continuing to pick up the ball.

Now, your dog is going to get the stick, so our training needs to add some forced movements. Put the dog's collar up, put your thumb in the collar, and hold the collar tightly. Make a fist and twist the collar clockwise. This action will cause the dog to open its mouth and poke its head forward. Now it has touched the stick! The timing is very important. Once it gets the stick, it immediatelyThat is, let go and reward.

If the dog throws away the stick immediately, you can try to increase the distance between the stick and the dog. Now your dog is able to reach the stick several meters away. Are you happy working with your dog? Remember, the purpose of this training is to teach the dog to lift the object off the ground and keep the stick as low as possible.

How to train your dog to pick up other things

You must be very happy now that your dog has learned to pick up sticks, balls, and newspapers and magazines. It's time to up its game. If you want your dog to start training at any time, remember to bring the training props with you. Now, you can systematically train your dog to retrieve any object using the same method. Remember, if it hesitates even a little bit during the training, you have to step forward immediately and correct it. Don't let your dog take items he hasn't touched before in front of neighbors.

Try it to retrieve a pack of cigarettes, a silk scarf, a leather wallet, or a key ring. Removing the key ring is an improvement for the dog, as he has to get used to the feeling of metal in his mouth. You must always be prepared to correct its mistakes. Train your dog to retrieve coins in the order of one yuan, five cents, and one dime. Be careful not to let it swallow it. When it can retrieve any items it can pick up, start teaching it the names of the items, which can speed up the process. Training progress can get twice the result with half the effort. After all, physical strength and energy are limited, at least for ourselves. Now he can obey commands. However, like other things in life, training a dog is not easy. Patience, resilience, and appreciation are all indispensable.

Train your dog to fetch a ball in the water

If you happen to live near a lake, river, stream, or pond, you can train your dog to fetch a ball in the water Stuff, it's good entertainment. If the dog has learned to swim, you can throw the toy ball a few meters away and then encourage the dog to swim over and pick up the toy ball. Be prepared to wet it with water. The dog will move as close to you as possible to shake the water away. If the above training goes well, he will easily catch the ball from the water.

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