Introducing ‘Fetch’ – Force-Free Retrieving for Every Dog

As dog owners, we all benefit from the joy and energy our beloved companions bring into our lives. Especially the joy part.  Sometimes the ‘energy’ part can be a bit much!

But what if there was a way to channel that energy, without squashing the joy? And what if that way also kept our dogs in great physical condition with regular exercise, even on days when a long walk isn’t possible?

And what if that way involved just a few minutes of training each day and could create an unwavering focus on you, and culminate in  a means to exercise your dog, under control, in public spaces?  

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Game On!

My new book ‘Fetch’(paid link) shows you exactly how to make all this happen, without force, and through a series of fun daily games.  

With the added bonus of bringing you immense pleasure and pride in your dog, and yourself, as you work through the games together.

Retrieving: More Than Just a Game

Retrieving is so much more than simply throwing a ball. It’s a brilliant way to engage with your dog and hold their attention. And it’s also one of the most effective forms of controlled exercise available to dogs. 

The purpose of ‘Fetch’ is to empower you to teach your Labrador (or any dog!) to retrieve reliably on your command, anytime, anywhere. 

Crucially, you’ll learn to do this without any force, discipline, cross words, or physical manipulation. The process is incredibly rewarding, and above all, fun! 

You’ll transform your dog into a retrieving pro through a series of short, simple games.

Will This Work For My Dog?

Originally I planned to film and photograph my young Lab going through the Fetch training process as I turned my own training notes into a comprehensive game-based course and book. 

But everyone thinks that Labs are born retrievers, even though problems with retrieving are quite common in the breed. 

So to show how versatile this training system is, I decided to photograph and film the entire training process not with one of my Labradors, but with my husband’s Jack Russell terrier, Polly. 

Polly’s journey to becoming a confident retriever forms the heart of this book, demonstrating that with the right approach, any dog can master this skill. 

What’s Inside The Book: Six Stages to Success

There are six training stages in the book, each designed to build on the last and bring you closer to success. 

There’s also a comprehensive preparation section that explains in detail what you’ll need and how the process works. And a detailed troubleshooting section to help you fix any problems along the way. 

Avoid Common Retrieving Problems

Many Labrador, and other breeds too, have some ability to play fetch, but have problems that prevent you really enjoying the game together. Maybe they chase a ball but won’t pick it up.  Or pick it up but won’t bring it back?

Perhaps they bring it back but drop it on the floor and won’t put it in your hand? Or with some dogs the problem is that they love retrieving TOO much and get terribly overexcited and yappy about the whole experience. 

Teaching the retrieve in the structured way shown in this book, helps prevent these problems, and best of all SOLVE them so that you can start having fun together again. 

Take Amazing Photos

The absolute best photos I have of any of my dogs over many years are taken during retrieves, especially retrieves while jumping.

Getting your dog off the ground and sailing through the air with a toy in their mouth is a brilliant way to capture the perfect picture, one that you will treasure for years!

Exercise Your Dog Under Control

Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of Fetch is the way it enables you to give your dog fun filled exercise, off leash, without losing control.

The games teach your dog to focus on you and on the game, so they are not constantly scanning the horizon for something more interesting to do!

Is It Easy?

I think its important to be honest here. This book is not a quick fix.  It is easy in the sense that the goal of each lesson can be achieved by almost any dog, if they have completed the previous lesson.

And it is easy in the sense that neither you, nor your dog need any prior experience to succeed. But you can’t skip steps, and you have to commit to a few minutes daily training, most days of the week, until you complete the process. 

You can stop in the middle and pick up again later if you need to. You’ll probably need to back track a few games if your break was longer than a few days.  

So in all those ways, it is easy. But what I love about it most, is that teaching your dog to Fetch gives you so much more than just a dog that retrieves. 

So Much More Than Fetch

I firmly believe that retrieving is so beneficial to dogs that every single one should have the chance to learn this fantastic and entertaining skill.

This book goes far beyond simply teaching a game; it provides you with the fundamental principles that underpin all effective dog training. You’ll gain a powerful, humane way to train your dog without relying on force or intimidation. As well as a versatile set of skills that will enable you to teach your dog pretty much anything they are physically capable of learning.

I can’t wait for you and your Labrador to start this journey!