How to Teach a Dog to Remember Toy Names

While it̵7;s true that dogs don̵7;t understand language in the same way as humans, this doesn̵7;t mean they̵7;re not capable of learning a large number of words and commands. With the right approach, a little patience and a lot of enthusiasm, you can teach your pup specific words for each of his toys. Adding words to a dog̵7;s vocabulary is a powerful training exercise that keeps his mind engaged and provides unlimited new challenges.

Things You'll Need

  • Small dog treats
  • Tennis ball
  • Toy rope
  • Stuffed animal
  • Frisbee
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Grab your dog̵7;s favorite toy, since he likely already has a rough understanding of that item̵7;s name. Most dogs know ̶0;ball,̶1; ̶0;bear̶1; or ̶0;rope̶1; as a result of regular playtime with their owners.

    • 2

      Place the item on the ground and prepare your training treats. Ask your dog to bring you the item, using his normal ̶0;find it̶1; command. Use the item name in the command, for example, ̶0;Find the rope!̶1; or ̶0;Get the ball!̶1;

    • 3

      Reward your dog with praise and a small treat the instant he picks up the item. Have him release the item, and then repeat the training steps to solidify its name.

    • 4

      Add another item to the room. It helps if this item is also familiar to your dog.

    • 5

      Ask your dog to find the new item. For instance, ̶0;Find the Frisbee!̶1; or ̶0;Get the bear!̶1;

    • 6

      Reward your dog for selecting the correct item. If he brings the wrong one, simply ignore the action and repeat your command. Only reward your pup for picking up the item you requested.