Anything a dog puts in their mouth is special, certainly to your canine it is. Therefore it makes sense that the first step in training your canine to retrieve would be to get your dog excited to show you his "Prize Treasure". All your canine must do to learn this step is come back to you with his prize. The focus here is on the Bring, not the Give.
You will need to line up a number of toys and treats. If your dog is too treat focused and will not leave your side if there's a treat on the scene, you have to keep food rewards out of the equation all together. As a result, in cases like this your intensified enthusiasm together with love will be you dog's reward. Begin the training with gently tossing a toy a few feet away from you. Every time your canine brings the toy back to you, lavish him with praise but do not take the toy away from him. When your dog catches on and comes jogging back to you beaming with joy, say to him "Bring".
Keep in mind, patience plus repetition is critical so your pet will understand and learn. Should you discover your dog is simply not understanding this, then perhaps your wonderful furry friend is still playing the keep away game? If so, attempt going into a smaller space within your house, for instance maybe a bathroom. Once again, gently toss the toy. The second your dog picks it up, begin praising or giving him a treat. Resume this game until finally your dog's perspective shifts. When your canine comes up to you, toy in mouth, praise as well as pet him heartily, or maybe give him his favorite treat, being sure to leave the toy in his mouth.
Another solution you might want to try if your dog still does not seem to understand, is to toss him a different toy. Should your dog ignores you when he obtains the toy, try running away from him immediately after he has picked the toy up. In the event that he still will not bring it back, pretend to nibble on a bit of his treat. When he brings the toy back over to you, praise him and give him lots of love but do not reach for the toy at this time. As soon as your dog has the hang of it and is bringing you the toy with the "Bring" command, you are then ready to go on to the next step which is the "Give" training.
Relinquishing a toy would be the trickiest part of the retrieve training, especially if you have chased your canine for items previously. Something to bear in mind is, whenever you run after a dog to get a special toy or other object, you are communicating what is refered to as the "Prize envy", meaning what ever the dog possesses, must have real value if you want it back. Be patient, always be consistent, do not ever lose your temper, even if you know your dog is trying to outsmart you.
The "Give" training is the next step. With your dog's favorite toy or treats in close proximity, call your canine over, present him the toy, and praise him if he takes it. With a treat in hand say "Give" Praise him and reward him the instant he picks the toy up, look at him and state "Give" as you reward the release. In order to best indicate the "Give" order, open your palm and hold it in front of your dog's mouth. Chances are you'll notice that your dog releases the toy as soon as you approach or he may toss the toy on the floor next to you. If he tosses the toy on the floor in front of you, this is satisfactory when starting out, but eventually you may need to become more selective with your rewards if you want your dog to put the toy in your hand.
If you do want deliveries to be made from the dogs mouth to your hand, once more, call your dog over to you from the same spot you started out with. Give your dog the toy and say "Give" while you extend your hand under your dog's mouth. Should your dog toss the toy on the floor, ignore the result and start over from the beginning again, Start over again each time he tosses it on the floor, eventually, he will learn. Once your dog has it figured out, praise and reward him the moment the toy drops into your hand. Remember to always have patience and consistency.
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