Introduction: Teach Your Dog to Fetch Beer

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A DOG wants nothing more than to please his master.

Teaching it to bring you a beer from the fridge is all about breaking it down into separate little steps, repetition, reward, and then linking it all together.

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Step 1: Will It Learn This Trick?

First of all, it is helpful if you have a dog that likes to carry things in its mouth. Any dog will do that, within limits, but some may take a little more coaxing. Any Labrador or retriever or hunting dog with a soft mouth (grip) can learn this trick.

Step 2: This Is Step One, Playing Fetch

 Use a tennis ball or his favorite toy and make sure your dog will pick it up in his mouth. If it won’t, place it in his mouth and then reward him with a snack. Repeat until you can set the object on the ground.

Replace the object with an empty beer (or you favorite beverage) can. Keep working at it, introducing the can only occasionally at first until he gets the idea, then use only the can.

Step 3: Retrieving a Can on Command

Place a can on the floor, bottom side up (unless you don’t have issues with dog slobber in your beer), next to your refrigerator.

Point to the can and tell him “get me a beer”.

A retriever should have no problem with this step but it could take several days with a different type of dog.

Step 4: Opening the Fridge

Start with a rope. Get him to tug on it. When you have that, tie the rope to the fridge door handle and while still holding it in your hand get him to tug again. Once the door opens give him a snack.

Place the snack on the bottom door shelf and close the door. Get him to open the door, and point out the snack. Once he finds the snack and eats it, repeat this process until he has it down.

Step 5: Getting the Beer

Replace the snack in the door with the beer can and repeat the process. You may have to encourage him to grab the can, because he will be looking for the snack when he gets the door open, so have a snack hidden in your hand ready to feed once he does grab the can.

Step 6: Bringing the Beer

Gradually move away from the fridge so that when he gets the can he will bring it to you. Keep stepping back until you are seated on your throne in front of the television.

Step 7: Closing the Door

He left the fridge door open when he brought your beverage. Just tell him to “close the door”. To teach that, just place a little snack on the floor, between the fridge and the open door, be sure it is not open too widely at first. Put him on the other side of the door and point out the treat. He will nudge the door to get the snack and it will close. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Reward your dog.