Game #5 · Health & Fitness
Classic Fetch
Builds cardiovascular health, speed, and retrieving manners.
- What you need:
- A ball or toy your dog loves, and an open space.
How to play
- Show the toy to get excitement, then throw it a short distance.
- When your dog grabs it, call them back enthusiastically.
- Trade the toy for a high-value treat so they learn to release it.
- Gradually increase the throwing distance as they get better.
Coach's notes
- Warm up with 2 minutes of walking before the first throw — cold sprints hurt shoulders.
- Throw low and rolling, not high — dogs bail out of high catches onto stiff front legs.
- Cap sessions at 10 minutes; obsessive fetchers will run themselves into injury.
- End with 30 seconds of sniff time to bring arousal down.
If your dog loses interest
Quick fixes when engagement drops mid-session.
- Won't bring it back? Play with two identical toys — trade the second one for the first each time.
- If your dog drops the toy halfway, run backward while calling them to trigger the chase instinct.
- Losing interest after 3 throws is normal — end the session before they quit so they beg for it next time.
Why it works
Sprint-recover intervals mirror the exercise structure Zink recommends for cardiovascular fitness without the repetitive strain of long-distance running.
References
- [8] Zink, M. C., & Van Dyke, J. B. (Eds.) (2018). Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
Which cognitive muscle is your dog's strongest?
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