One of the fun behaviors I work on in between formal lessons with enrolled Love Wags A Tail board-and-train dogs and pups is catch. Unless I get a dog who’s been around the block and has already learned how to catch, pet dogs and puppies who arrive for training need to learn the skill of catching.
Learning to catch is a good endeavor for your pooch and a skill to share with each other for a lifetime. To start, I’d suggest teaching your dog to sit, so when you ask, “Ready?” that will be the cue to your dog that he should be on the look out. The object is coming. Chosse either a soft food object or a soft toy your dog loves to engage with.
Take your time and toss the object softly towards the dog’s nose. A lot of times the object will bounce off the nose or muzzle to start with, but as dogs and puppies gain confidence, they try to grab the object while it’s in the air. (Case in point in the video above of my Dobie puppy, who, after having had the ball pass him by or bounce off his muzzle a few times, he began trying to catch; and soon after, he did catch!)
Don’t get upset or frustrated if the process of teaching your dog or pup to catch takes longer than you expect, or even if it takes a while for your dog to even start trying. All pets have their own velocity of learning to catch. It can take weeks or even months if your dog is on the fearful side or is less athletic. Go slowly and at your own dog’s pace and be very encouraging.
Once your dog learns to catch from close proximity, you can add distance to the game, and add new toys to the game. Make sure to use soft toys and foods, though. You don’t want your dog to break a tooth.
On a personal note, I had a very competitive female Dobie named Raven who loved to play fetch. One day, I was in the back yard tossing a ball to my male Dobie, Luigi, and Raven’s intense drive to catch the ball kicked in and she lunged up to intercept the ball as Luigi grabbed it. I heard the sound of teeth clashing and shortly thereafter, checked Raven’s mouth. In one full swoop, she’d relocated her front teeth and maybe even lost one! Note the gap. Raven was the most athletic, toy driven dog I’d ever had. So if your dog has the same inclination, keep it in mind when it comes to where you’re tossing the ball or if there are multiple players, to whom you’re tossing the ball. Accidents can happen most unexpectedly.
Teaching your dog to play catch has multiple purposes that last a lifetime. Some include:
1. An anywhere game. When the weather’s inclement, you can play a short-distance game of catch indoors. And when the weather’s nice, go outside and lengthen the distance.
2. Team building. You and your dog will increase your partnership and communication skills between one another as you practice and become a seasoned ball playing team.
3. Fun. A game of catch is fun and rewarding to both our dogs and us!
4. Confidence boosting. A dog can build up her confidence by learning to catch rather than dodging the object.
5. The look. There’s nothing better than the look on a dog’s face when he’s presented with a ball and anticipates what’s coming.
You can teach your dog to play catch just about any time in his life span while he’s still healthy and has the energy to exercise. Puppies can learn when they start getting playful with toys. Remember, you can always start by tossing training food to your pooch as a reward for a good job or as an exercise in learning to catch in and of itself. The main thing is to have fun with your dog while building the skill.
To send your dog to the Love Wags A Tail board-and-train camp for motivational learning with our cast of characters, contact us with your dog training, behavior modification wish list to get started.
Helen Verte Schwarzmann
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Certified in Training and Counseling
Certified Pet Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed
Certified Trick Dog Instructor
AKC STAR Puppy, CGC, and Trick Dog Trainer and Evaluator
Your Board-and-Train Dog Trainer for south and southwest Florida, Southwest Ranches, Plantation, Fort Lauderdale, Weston, Broward, Collier, Lee county
