Jackie Phillips, Author: How to Train a Dog to Retrieve a Dumbell for Obedience

Thursday, June 6, 2024

To Begin:

Have bag of treats visible to dog to reward after each successful step

Keep dumbbell in secure place inside house so other scents or liquids can't get on it.

Would be helpful that dog already has experience and knowledge of bringing items like toys or balls and already knows the words "bring" and "drop."

Step One:

Have dog sitting.

Tell dog "Bring" and place at edge of mouth.

Tell dog "Hold" and have them hold for a couple of seconds.

Tell dog "Drop" and release from mouth and give treats and praise.

Repeat this step until dog repeats this several times successfully.

Step Two:

Have dog sitting.

With dumbbell in my hand and placed in front of dog's mouth an inch or two out, tell dog to "bring."

When they reach out for the dumbbell and place it in their mouth, tell them to "hold" for a couple of seconds.

Tell them "drop" and release. Give treats and praise.

Step Three:

Repeat this process and each time the dumbbell is further away out in front and slowly moved to the ground.

For each space that the dumbbell is moved away from the dog, allow the dog to make several successful attempts and then stop the session.

Give treats and praise.

Step Four:

Place the dumbbell on the ground directly in front of them, and allow the dog to successfully performs this several times

Give treats and praise.

Step Five:

With the dog in heel position, throw the dumbbell a short distance of a couple of feet.

Continue to give treats after each successful retrieve

Step Six:

Increase the distance of the throws

Increase the locations of the practices.

Step Seven:

Move treats from bag on ground to in pocket of sweater or outside of site and view

Jackie Phillips, Author