How to Teach a Small Dog to Fetch in 7 Days

Some dogs fetch the first time you throw a ball. Most don't. Especially small breeds — a Yorkie, Chihuahua, or Pomeranian who's never been taught will chase the ball, grab it, and disappear under the couch. That's not fetch. That's steal.

Here's a 7-day plan that builds fetch from scratch using positive reinforcement. Works on puppies (8 weeks+) and adult dogs.

What you need

• Two identical balls. The two-ball method is the secret. Get a pair of 1.5" squeaky mini tennis balls or rubber fetch balls.
• High-value treats (chicken, cheese, freeze-dried liver — small pieces)
• A hallway or fenced area with no distractions
• 5–10 minutes per day. No more — short sessions beat long ones.

Day 1: Build interest in the ball

Don't throw anything yet. Sit on the floor. Hold one ball. Make it interesting — squeak it, roll it between your hands, act fascinated by it. When your dog shows interest (sniffs, paws, looks), say "Yes!" and reward with a treat.

Goal: dog associates the ball with good things.

Day 2: Pick it up

Roll the ball one foot away. Don't throw — roll. The instant your dog touches it with their mouth, say "Yes!" and reward. Repeat 5 times. Stop.

If your dog won't pick it up, smear a tiny bit of peanut butter on the ball. They'll mouth it. Reward. The peanut butter stops being needed by Day 3.

Day 3: Hold it briefly

Same as Day 2 but wait one second after they pick it up before saying "Yes!". You're teaching "hold" by delay. Then reward.

By the end of the session: dog rolls ball, picks it up, holds for 1-2 seconds.

Day 4: Bring it back (the two-ball trick)

This is where most owners give up. Don't. Use the two-ball method:

1. Roll Ball #1. Dog grabs it.
2. Hold up Ball #2. Make it interesting — squeak it, wave it.
3. Dog drops Ball #1 to come get Ball #2. The instant they drop the first, say "Yes!".
4. Throw Ball #2 a short distance. Pick up Ball #1 while they're grabbing Ball #2.
5. Repeat 5 times.

Why this works: you're not asking them to give you the ball. You're trading. Trading is fair. Demanding feels like losing the ball.

Day 5: Add distance

Same two-ball method but increase the throw distance to 5–10 feet. Stay in a hallway or fenced area so they can't take a victory lap with the ball.

If they run off with the ball: walk away. Sit down. Get bored. They'll come back. When they do, ignore them for 30 seconds, then start the session again. They learn that fetch only happens when they bring it back.

Day 6: Add the cue word

Pick a word: "fetch", "bring it", "go get". Say it the moment you throw the ball. After 20 reps over the session, the word becomes the cue.

Don't skip days 1–5 thinking you can shortcut to commands. Cue words only work after the behavior is established.

Day 7: Test in a new environment

Take it to the yard, the park, or a different room. The behavior may regress slightly because of distractions. That's normal. Drop back to two-ball trading and rebuild within 3–4 reps.

Common problems and fixes

"My dog won't drop the ball."

Use the two-ball method. Don't pry it from their mouth — that teaches them you're a ball-stealer.

"My dog drops the ball halfway back."

Shorten the distance until they consistently bring it all the way. Then add 1 foot at a time.

"My dog loses interest after 3 throws."

Stop sessions earlier. End while they're still excited. Five throws of high-energy fetch beats twenty of declining engagement.

"My dog won't chase a quiet ball."

Use a squeaky ball. The squeak trigger is real. After fetch is established, you can transition to quiet balls if you prefer.

"My puppy gets too rough — chews the ball instead of fetching."

Switch to a spiky chew ball for chew time and keep the smooth fetch ball as a special-occasion toy that only comes out for fetch sessions.

What to expect at Day 30

By the end of week one, your dog should fetch reliably in a low-distraction setting. By week four, you can fetch at the park with a ball launcher and they'll bring it back from 30+ feet away.

Patience. Short sessions. High-value treats. Two balls. That's the whole formula.

Need fetch toys to start? Browse our small-dog toy collection.