You’re in your ratty old pajamas and your soft soled slippers and you hear “plop” outside your front door; you know the newspaper has been delivered. You’re upset that you have to set your coffee cup down and trek out into the yard for your news. But then a light bulb goes off in your head, “I have a dog! He should fetch the daily news!” If this idea came to you early this morning, read the following steps to have your dog retrieving next weekend’s paper.

Step 1: If your dog doesn’t already know how to fetch, you’re going to need to begin with that training trick. When the paper gets delivered to your house, retrieve it yourself and keep it in the same condition that it arrived in (in the bag, rolled up, etc.).

Step 2: Take your dog to a contained area (ideal situation: your yard is fenced in with invisible dog fence, wood or chain link) and throw the newspaper. Guide your dog to the newspaper and put it in his mouth. As you do this, say a command that you’ve chosen to use solely for retrieving the paper. A few examples might be “retrieve paper” or “newspaper” or “get the paper.” Repeat this exercise several times a day for several days.

Step 3: After a few days of working on Step 2, have your dog sit and stay next you while you throw the newspaper across the yard. Then say the command you’ve chosen and watch him retrieve the paper without further guidance from you. When he returns to you with the paper, reward him with praise, affection or treats (or all of the above)!

Step 4: Because your paper is delivered to your front yard, you’ll want to move this exercise to the front yard. Stand at your doorway and throw the newspaper in the general area where the delivery person throws it. Use the command and reward your dog when he retrieves the paper.

Step 5: Without your dog seeing you, place the newspaper in the driveway and return to the house. Call your dog to you and have him sit and stay. Give the command to retrieve the newspaper. Your dog might look confused because he hasn’t seen you throw the paper. You will need to encourage him to retrieve it even though you have not thrown it. Repeat the command phrase until he goes in search of the newspaper. If he doesn’t go in search of the newspaper, you’ll need to guide him towards it until he spots it. Repeat this exercise until he is able to go searching for the newspaper without having seen you throw it.

Step 6: On the morning that you think your dog is ready to retrieve your paper without further training, lead him to the door, speak the command and watch him retrieve the paper from the spot where the delivery person has tossed it. Be sure to give a lot of positive attention if he is successful.

Pretty soon, you’ll be cooking up some eggs in the kitchen and you’ll hear the familiar plop of the newspaper on the driveway. You’ll holler your retrieve command to your dog, open the door and be greeted with the sight of your faithful friend delivering your news.

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Thank you for your time

Ken Adams