A famous trick that dogs do is to fetch and drop a ball from under your feet. It is a way to exercise your dog without sweating a lot. It also allows your dog to discharge any excess energy that he may have in them.
But teaching a dog this trick is much more complex than you might think. The hardest part is how to get your dog to drop the ball on command. Here are important tips that he can follow so that he can teach you the trick effectively. However, keep in mind that these are just tips – it’s up to you whether you want to follow them or not. Anyway, here they are.
Fetching is “not straying”: Most dogs already know how to fetch a ball, but the problem is that they try to keep the ball for themselves. This results in many wasted balls and unfinished game sessions. So the first thing you need to do is teach them how to drop the ball. That way, your pet would know how the game works.
Let it go: There are a few ways to teach your dog to let go. You can use a clicker or a treat to teach your dog. Also, you will need his favorite toy to do the trick.
When your pet picks up his favorite toy, ask him to drop it. Use a clicker and wait for the toy to be released. When they do, give them a treat. Practice until he begins to associate the two actions with each other and knows to drop the toy (or ball) when he picks it up and brings it back to you.
A second option would be to get two balls and trick your pet into looking for them. Throw the first ball and have your dog catch it. If they don’t drop the ball when they return, show the second ball to the dog but ignore it. Eventually, the dog will drop the first ball to focus his attention on the second ball. Throw the second ball and ask them to find it.
Over time, your dog will learn to recognize that when you say “drop it,” he will throw another ball, but can only use one ball afterward.
Do not bore your dog: It is important not to overdo it to your dog, as it will also get tired and bored. Some dogs never get bored. There are also others who, after three times of going to look for the ball, will already want to take a nap. Try to determine when your dog gets bored before taking a nap.
Try to end their game session while they are still interested, as this will only make them look forward to the next game session together.
Maintain control – It is important that you control the game. If you don’t drop the ball, don’t catch it, as this will make them think they’re in control. Just wait for them to drop the ball.