Go Fetch! Finding and Retrieving Tricks Part 2

Finding toys

Now you can progress to something just as fun but a little less tasty: toys. For

this trick, you need a clicker if you use one, some good treats, and two distinctly

different toys. I use a ball and a little stuffed cow toy in this example,

but you can use whatever toys your dog loves.

Place the cow in the center of a room and remove all other toys. The instant

your dog approaches the cow, say “Find–Cow” and then click/praise and

reward. Suddenly the cow will have great value . . . treat value, that is. Once

your dog shows interest in the cow reliably, ignore simple interest, only

clicking/rewarding mouthing or carrying the cow.

Also say “Find your cow” every time your dog picks up the toy on his own.

Praise him enthusiastically.

Once your dog is associating a word with a toy, practice this:

1. Hold the toy in front of your dog, clicker in the other hand and treats

lined up on a nearby table.

2. Say “Find your cow” as you hold the toy in front of your dog. When he

reaches for it, click, treat, and praise.

3. Repeat a few times, then tell your dog to “Stay” as you place the cow

a few feet in front of him. Repeat “Find your cow” as you point to it.

Click and reward any contact.

4. Continue to move the cow farther from him and progress to hiding it

out of sight.

That was the easy part. Now the trick gets a bit more difficult:

1. With your dog in a “Sit–Stay,” place the cow and another toy (a ball)
in front of him, about 3 feet apart.
2. Command “Find your cow.”
If your dog picks the ball, don’t correct him or sound disappointed.
Calmly take the toy, replace it, show your dog the cow, and say “Cow.”
3. When he makes contact with the cow, click/praise and reward —
make a big fuss. What a genius!
4. Practice Steps 1–3 a few times at each session, sometimes sending the
dog for the ball and sometimes for the cow.
Don’t alternate the toys; that’s too easy and your dog will quickly catch
on. Progressively place the toys farther away.
Although I encourage you to use treats initially to motivate your dog, you’ll
be able to phase them out as soon as your dog gets a mental image of what
you’re expecting.
When your dog has mastered the art of association, you’re ready to test his
brain some more. Place one toy 3 feet from you, and the other 10 feet away.
Send your dog for the closer one at first, and then send him for the one farther
away. Switch the toys’ locations and vary which one you send him to.
At this point, you can apply the dog’s discrimination abilities to other
objects, such as car keys and the remote control (see the next two sections).
You can also help your dog identify other toys or bones; just follow the same
routine!

Finding the keys
How much time do you spend around your house looking for your keys?
Wouldn’t it be great if you could just send your little genius detective after
them? Here’s how:
Place your keys in a small room, like a bathroom. Click/praise and reward
movement toward the keys. Progressively reward greater interaction with
the keys. Once your dog identifies the keys reliably, add the word “Key” as he
interacts with or carries them. Onward!
1. Line up some treats, grab the house and/or car keys, and round up the
clicker if you use one.
2. Place your dog in a “Sit–Stay” position, and let him sniff the keys as
you say “Sniff.”

3. Toss the keys a few feet out and release your dog. If he goes for the

keys, click/praise and reward. If not, ignore your dog and do more

work in the bathroom.

4. Once your dog reliably goes to the keys, instruct “Find the keys.”

5. Progressively extend the distance at which you place the keys in front

of you. Leave your dog with a “Stay” command, walk out and place

the keys, walk back, and release your dog from your side.

6. Once your dog really understands Step 5, you can start to hide the

keys in another room.

When you hide the keys, place them in plain sight and follow your dog

while he searches. Reinforce with a click and/or a treat the second he

locates them.

When practicing this trick get a bulky key chain — something your dog can

sink his teeth into and grasp easily. You definitely don’t want your overly

enthusiastic dog swallowing your car key by accident!