Kroki

Question · Puppy

How do I teach my puppy to fetch?

The short answer

Sit at the end of a narrow hallway and roll a soft toy just a metre or two. When your puppy grabs it, call it back in a happy voice and swap the toy for a treat at your feet. Then throw again straight away, so giving up the toy brings more play. Keep to a few rolls on soft ground, with no long chases while your puppy grows. Kroki, a reward-based training app for puppies and dogs, teaches “Drop” and the recall “Here!”, which make fetch easier.

How to do it, step by step

  1. Find a toy your puppy loves to carry

    Try a few soft toys: a knotted rope, a fleece toy, a small plush. The best one is the toy your puppy picks up and parades around with on its own. Keep that toy for fetch only, so it stays special.

  2. Use a hallway to keep it short

    Sit on the floor at the closed end of a hallway, with your puppy facing you. Roll the toy a metre or two along the floor. In a narrow space there is only one way back with the prize, and that is towards you.

  3. Welcome the return

    As soon as your puppy picks up the toy, praise softly, pat your legs and lean back a little. Moving away invites a puppy to follow. Do not reach for the toy yet; let your puppy come all the way in.

  4. Trade the toy for a treat

    Hold a treat to your puppy’s nose. When the mouth opens, say “Drop”, take the toy gently and give the treat. Then roll the toy again at once. Your puppy learns that letting go keeps the game going.

  5. Stop while it is still fun

    Three to five rolls are plenty for a young puppy. End before your puppy loses interest or starts to run off, and put the toy away until next time. Over the weeks you can move to a quiet garden, still with short throws.

Is your dog already grown?

A grown dog can run further, often has a strong opinion about balls, and may have learnt keep-away long ago. With adult and rescue dogs the work is more about undoing old patterns and keeping the game safe for joints over many throws. The page for grown dogs explains how.

What research says about puppies, play and growing joints

Puppies are built to play with people. In a study comparing play between dogs with play between dogs and humans, dogs were more likely to give up a toy and to show it to their partner when that partner was a person (Rooney, Bradshaw and Robinson 2000). Fetch uses exactly that: your puppy brings the toy because you are the one who makes it fly again.

How your puppy moves while playing matters, too. In a Norwegian study of four large breeds, puppies that used stairs before three months of age were more likely to develop hip dysplasia, while off-lead exercise on soft, uneven ground in that period was linked to a lower risk (Krontveit and colleagues 2012). Short fetch games on grass or carpet fit well; races up and down stairs do not.

The growth plates near the ends of the long bones stay open while a puppy grows. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, they close at about six months or later in small dogs and closer to one and a half years in giant breeds. Until then, keep fetch low and short: rolled toys, gentle tosses, no jumping catches and no ball launchers.

When your puppy will not bring it back

  • It runs off with the toy: make the space smaller and sit closer. Never chase, because that teaches a much more exciting game.
  • It drops the toy halfway: shorten the roll and reward a few steps towards you. The distance grows by itself.
  • It will not let go: show the treat earlier, or swap for a second, identical toy that you start wiggling.
  • It ignores the toy: try a different toy, or tie it to a string and drag it along the floor first.

Keeping young joints safe

  • Roll the toy along the floor or toss it low; no high throws that end in jumps and twists.
  • Play on grass, carpet or rugs, never on slippery tiles or wooden floors.
  • Skip stairs and slopes in the game, especially in the first three months.
  • Leave ball launchers and long, repeated sprints for when your dog is fully grown.

When to see a professional

Fetch is a play game. Get help first if:

The help pages list services in Germany, Austria and Switzerland only. Elsewhere, ask your vet practice who they recommend near you.

Frequently asked questions

At what age can a puppy start playing fetch?

Most puppies can play gentle fetch with short rolls from about eight to ten weeks. Longer throws and real running come much later, once your puppy has finished growing.

Should I use a ball or a soft toy for a young puppy?

A soft toy is better for a young puppy. It is easy to carry, kind to new teeth and does not bounce away in a way that sends your puppy skidding after it.

Why does my puppy run away with the toy?

Running away is the best game in a puppy’s eyes, especially if someone chases. Play in a small space, trade the toy for a treat and stop chasing for good.

How many throws are enough for a puppy?

Three to five short rolls per game are enough for a young puppy. You can play a few times a day, with rest and sleep in between.

My puppy only fetches indoors. How do I take the game outside?

Start outside in a small, quiet space, such as a corner of the garden, and use the same toy and the same short rolls. Add distance only when the return works there.

Can I play fetch with a teething puppy?

Yes, with soft, chewable toys and a gentle trade for a treat. If your puppy seems sore in the mouth, play with a softer toy or skip a day.

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