How to teach a dog to give me something

In the warm daily life with dogs, we always look forward to establishing closer and richer interactions with them. Imagine what a joyful and heartwarming scene it would be if a dog could understand and joyfully run to fetch something you need. This not only brings convenience to our lives, but also vividly reflects the deep emotions that dogs have towards us. However, learning this skill for dogs is not something that can be achieved overnight. It requires us to invest time, patience, and love to guide dogs in a scientific way and gradually embark on this fun and challenging learning journey.

To teach dogs how to give us things, we first need to ensure that they have mastered some basic commands. The simple yet crucial commands of "sit down," "wait," and "come over" are the cornerstone of subsequent complex training. Taking the "sit down" command as an example, we hold the dog's favorite snack and lift it above the dog's head. At this point, the dog's gaze will follow the snack upward, and the body will naturally assume a sitting position. When the dog sits down, we immediately give the command to "sit down" and reward it with snacks, accompanied by gentle caresses and enthusiastic compliments, such as "Baby, you're amazing". Repeat this process, train for 10-15 minutes every day, and after several days or even a week, the dog will be able to proficiently respond to the "sit down" command. The training of the "wait" command is also quite important. Let the dog first be in a "sit down" state, then we extend a palm, face the dog, and issue the "wait" command at the same time, and then slowly take a few steps back. If the dog can stay still in place for a few seconds, we will reward it by returning to its side. If the dog gets up while waiting, we should promptly return to its side, gently stop it, let it sit down again, and give the "wait" command again. Only when dogs are familiar with these basic commands can we smoothly carry out the training of picking things up.

Next, it is to select suitable training materials. The ideal training item should be one that dogs are interested in and easy to pick up. For example, a plush toy with its soft texture and cute appearance may instantly catch the dog's attention; Or it could be a small ball with elasticity that makes a rolling sound that can stimulate a dog's curiosity and pursuit desire. It should be noted that the size of the item should be moderate, neither too large to be difficult for the dog to pick up, nor too small to be easily swallowed by the dog.

When the dog is enthusiastic about training items, we can start the initial training of picking things up. Place the toy that the dog likes on the ground, stand next to the dog, hold the toy with your fingers, and give the clear and firm command to 'pick it up'. If the dog shows hesitation, we can gently pick up the dog's mouth, help it hold the toy, and repeat the command to 'pick it up'. When the dog successfully picks up the toy, we should immediately give warm praise, such as "Wow, you're amazing, you're really good at picking it up", and reward it with a delicious snack. Then, give the command to "come over" and guide the dog towards us. If the dog successfully brings the toy in front of us, give us rich rewards and praise again. This process may need to be repeated multiple times for the dog to gradually understand the connection between the commands of "pick up" and "come over" and giving us something. The training time should not be too long, preferably 15-20 minutes, to avoid fatigue and boredom in dogs. By doing this training 2-3 times a day for a few days, dogs can initially master the skill of picking up objects and delivering them to us.

Throughout the entire training process, reinforcement training and maintaining patience are key to success. Reinforcement training can be achieved by changing the reward methods. In addition to snack rewards, dogs can also be rewarded with their favorite toys or played an intense tug of war game with them. When dogs encounter difficulties during training, such as being unable to find items for a long time or unwilling to follow instructions, we must not be impatient or scold them. Because dogs are highly sensitive animals, our negative emotions can make them feel scared and uneasy, thereby affecting the effectiveness of their training. On the contrary, we need to maintain gentleness and patience, guide the dog again, and give it more encouragement and support.

Teaching dogs to give us things is a journey full of love and anticipation. Every time the dog successfully completes a command, the flickering light in its eyes and the excited wagging of its tail make us feel the reward for our efforts. During this process, the emotional bond between us and the dog will become even stronger. Let us use patience, love, and scientific methods to help dogs learn this practical skill, create more beautiful and unforgettable moments together, and make dogs a more caring and capable partner in our lives.