Instructions on Teaching a Dog to Catch & Fetch a Frisbee

Playing frisbee is an excellent way to interact with your dog. This game teaches basic obedience skills, builds trust and provides your dog with valuable exercise. Many dog breeds, especially border collies and retrievers, instinctively chase and retrieve flying objects. Other dogs need to learn the basics of frisbee in order to master the game. Reward-based training using a clicker and dog treats is the fastest, simplest and most fun way to teach your dog to play games.

Things You'll Need

  • Frisbee
  • Training clicker
  • Dog treats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Encourage your dog to chase and catch the frisbee. Most dogs, particularly retrievers and herding dogs, will instinctively chase flying objects. If your dog does not chase the frisbee, place the frisbee in its mouth, click the training clicker and give the dog a treat. Repeat this exercise several times for a few days. Then throw the frisbee a short distance. Once your dog has associated the frisbee with a treat, it should chase it. Gradually increase the distance you throw the frisbee, periodically giving the dog a treat reward for chasing it, until your dog reliably chases the frisbee every time you throw it.

    • 2

      Teach your dog to bring the frisbee back. Many retrievers will instinctively bring the frisbee back but will not drop it. To encourage these dogs to drop the frisbee, trade the dog a treat for the frisbee. If your dog does not bring the frisbee back, approach your dog and trade the treat for the frisbee. After your dog begins to drop the frisbee when you approach it, begin calling your dog to bring the frisbee back to you. Click the clicker and give it a treat when it brings the frisbee. This is the most difficult part of the retrieval training process and typically takes several weeks to perfect.

    • 3

      Teach your dog to catch the frisbee in mid-air. Though some dogs will begin jumping for frisbees on their own, many have to learn how to do this. Begin by rolling the frisbee to your dog and giving it a treat for grabbing it. Then toss the frisbee a short distance, again giving your dog a treat. Gradually increase the distance you throw the frisbee, but never throw the frisbee directly at your dog's face while your dog is learning the game. If the frisbee hits your dog in the mouth, your dog can be injured and may become afraid of the frisbee.