Diagnosis or treatment tried to eat every right to hundred a game of fetch. Why wouldn't they? It's great fun! Teaching a rock solid and reliable retrieve takes a few separate steps to get just right. The following steps teach your dog to be interested object, charge after it when it is thrown, pick it up, return it straight back to you and drop it at your feet. All without any skylarking, sniffing, hesitation or detours! Ok lets get started, we'll build the retrieve behavior step-by-step. Start out simple and slowly build upon your dog's successes this is the best way to shape any new behavior. Step 1. Lets start out by playing a simple and fun game. In a small room free from any distractions, sit down on the floor with your dog. Have a small squeaky toy your hand and some tasty treats your other hand. Ideally the toy be one that your puppy has shown interest toss the toy a small distance from yourself and let your puppy pounce on it you can encourage your puppy if need be. When your puppy grabs the toy you should reach out and take it from his her mouth while saying good puppy. As soon as you have hold of the toy you need to replace it by feeding a treat to your dog. If your puppy won't let go of the toy, simply use the treat as a bribe. Hold the treat just front of his nose and wait for him to drop the toy praise your dog and give him the treat as soon as the toy drops from his mouth. Practice this simple game 5 minute blocks, at least a couple of times a day. This is the crucial first step towards developing a solid and reliable fetch or retrieve your dog. Step 2. we continue the game we played Step 1 but this time we add a release word or cue to the exercise. As you are taking the toy from your puppy's mouth say thank you or thanks and immediately give the treat and praise just as you did Step 1. Repeat this process times. You are building association your dog's mind between your thanks cue and the act of him giving the toy to you. After plenty of practice and continual reinforcement you not have to grab the toy from your dog's mouth, he give it to you upon hearing your cue word. we have got the basic fetch behavior we are trying to shape we just need to build on it a little more. Step 3. we can slowly increase the distance of the retrieve. Start out by throwing the toy a couple of metres from you hopefully your dog continue to pounce on the toy and bring it back to you for his treat. Continue just as you have been, say your release cue thanks and give the treat for every successful retrieve. Important: If at any time your dog does not bring the toy back to you do not chase him or make a fuss. Simply sit and wait patiently until he brings it back to you then treat as normal. Your aim is to make it clear to your dog that order for the fun and games to continue he must bring the toy back to you. If your dog doesn't bring the toy back to you, finish up and try again later on next time go back to the shorter and easier retrieve game as Step 1. Step 4. Continue practicing this game of fetch over and over. Repetition and positive reinforcement are the keys to building and strengthening a solid retrieve. You can now mix up the distance you throw the toy and take your training sessions into different rooms within the house. When you introduce a new object such as a ball to the game you need to start out again at a short distance and increase the distance slowly. Remember to only ever treat and praise your puppy when the retrieve object gets delivered directly to you. Step 5. That's pretty much the retrieve behavior built 4 steps. If you like you can now add a cue at the start of the exercise. Simply say fetch or get it just before you throw the ball. After a while when you say your fetch cue your dog look straight up at you anticipation of a chase. You can also gradually fade the treats now. The game itself be reward enough for your dog. Instead of a tasty treat being your dog's motivation, the next throw of the ball be enough of incentive for him to bring the ball straight back to you. The retrieve is a great exercise to teach most dogs and it only take you a couple