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A Five-Week Retrieve Skills Class

Connected Fetch Foundations is a five-week class for dogs 6 months and up that teaches a clear, cooperative retrieve by breaking the skill into small, dog-friendly steps. This class is appropriate for dogs new to organized fetch, as well as teams considering AKC Fetch titles, improving obedience or rally retrieves, or simply wanting a safer, more thoughtful approach to toy play.

Rather than relying on repeated throws, we’ll focus on communication, clarity, and body awareness. Dogs will learn how to confidently take, hold, carry, and release objects while staying connected to their handler. Guardians will learn how fetch fits into the canine prey sequence, why structure matters for safety, and how to build retrieve skills without creating over-arousal or physical strain.

Each week builds progressively, giving dogs time to develop understanding and emotional comfort with objects before distance and speed are added.

Dogs will learn to:

• Take and release objects on cue
• Hold and carry items calmly
• Move with an object without dropping
• Respond to cues while holding an item
• Retrieve with clarity and purpose

Guardians will learn:

• How to structure fetch for sport, function, or enrichment
• Why excessive ball throwing can be hard on a dog’s body
• How to build retrieve skills that support confidence and communication
• How to adapt retrieve work for AKC Fetch, obedience, or rally

This class prioritizes clear communication, cooperative skill-building, and the dog’s physical and emotional wellbeing, making fetch a shared activity rather than a repetitive exercise.

Number of Dogs per Class: 6

Class Duration: 5 classes/1 hour each

Age Requirements: This class is for dogs 6 months and up.