Fetch

Train your dog with fun and games

by Pippa Mattinson

The thoughtful way to teach a retrieve!

If you know me, you know I'm not usually a fan of 'fetch' ... why? 

Because too often fetch means throw a ball, the dog chases it, the dog brings it back (or doesn't). Repeat for 20 minutes. It looks like exercise, looks like enrichment, but it's often just repetitive chasing that can stress joints and overstimulate the dog's brain.

But retrieve - taught thoughtfully through games and skill-building - is completely different. And that's what this book teaches.

Why this book is different

Pippa Mattinson is a serious dog trainer with 30+ years of experience and a zoology degree. She's not promoting mindless ball-throwing. She's teaching retrieve as a skill, built through games, with positive reinforcement. When taught properly, retrieve becomes:

• A tool for focus and connection (your dog learns to work with you, not just chase)
• A control mechanism (you can exercise your dog in public, on-leash situations)
• A foundation for teaching almost anything else
• Mental engagement alongside physical exercise
• An activity that builds confidence and problem-solving

The difference between fetch and retrieve

Fetch: mindless chasing, repetitive stimulation, joint stress, no real learning involved, prey drive escalation

Retrieve: intentional skill-building, focused engagement, controlled exercise, positive reinforcement, teaches working relationship with handler

This book teaches the latter.

What you'll find inside

• Step-by-step games - Pippa breaks retrieve into manageable steps using fun games. You're building the skill, not just throwing a ball
• Positive reinforcement throughout - no discipline, no cross words. Just rewarding your dog for engaging with the game
• Works for any dog - whether your dog naturally retrieves or thinks fetch is ridiculous, the games-based approach makes it accessible
• Focus and impulse control - as your dog learns retrieve, they learn to focus on you, wait for release, and work within boundaries
• Public place training - once your dog understands retrieve, you can exercise them in controlled settings (parks, training grounds) without needing hours of unstructured running
• Foundation for everything else - retrieve teaches your dog how to learn and work with you. Those skills transfer to any other training
• Practical progressions - clear guidance on when to increase difficulty, how to vary the game, how to keep it engaging without burnout
• Author expertise - Pippa founded the UK's national gundog graded training scheme. She knows what she's talking about

You should read this is you're ...

• Trainers who want to teach retrieve as a skill (not just ball-throwing)
• Guardians wanting to exercise their dogs effectively without hour-long walks
• Guardians of dogs with high prey drive who need an outlet that builds skills
• People training in public places who need control during exercise
• Anyone wanting to deepen their dog's engagement and focus
• Guardians of puppies and young dogs building foundation skills
• Dogs who need mental engagement alongside physical exercise

Why retrieve training is a fun enrichment activity

Retrieve, taught through games, is a great way to build a working relationship with your dog. Your dog learns that engaging with you is rewarding, that paying attention to your signals matters, that working together is fun. This is the opposite of mindless exercise;  it's intentional, collaborative, and builds real skills.

A well-trained retrieve provides both mental and physical engagement. Your dog learns problem-solving, focus, and confidence. That's enrichment, not just tired legs.

A note on fetch and exercise

Repetitive fetch games can stress joints, especially in growing puppies and large breeds. High-volume chasing can also escalate prey drive without teaching control. This book's approach - retrieve as a skill-building game with clear progressions - is much safer and more beneficial than mindless ball-throwing. The goal is control, engagement, and learning, not just exhaustion.

About the author

Pippa Mattinson has 30+ years of training experience and founded the UK's national gundog graded training scheme. She has a degree in zoology and is genuinely passionate about science-based, modern dog training methods. She's written other books including The Happy Puppy Handbook and The Labrador Handbook – books grounded in real expertise.

Book details

• Author: Pippa Mattinson
• Publisher: Ebury Press
• Pages: 224
• ISBN: 9781529909173
• Published: 2025
• Format: Paperback

The bottom line

If you've ever thought your dog should be able to fetch, or wished you had a tool to exercise your dog without the hour-long walks - this book teaches retrieve the right way. Not as mindless ball-chasing, but as a skill that changes how your dog engages with you.

Because done well, retrieve isn't just exercise. It's a foundation for so much more.