CatchDog catches a tossed treat or toy in the air
Eye-mouth coordination. Some dogs are natural catchers; others let treats bounce off their face for weeks before it clicks. Start by dropping a treat from 6 inches above their nose so they learn to look up and time their mouth.
Also known as: Got It, Snag
At a glance
- Tier
- 3 · Advanced
- Time to fluency
- 2–6 weeks
- Practice
- 4× per week, 5 min each
- Equipment
- Small soft treats (large enough to see in the air), Optional: small soft toys
Prerequisites
Your dog should know these words first:
How to teach catch
Lure
Drop a treat from just above the dog's nose, then increase height and arc
- Hold a treat 6 inches above the nose, say the cue, and release it
- The dog should open their mouth as it falls. Mark any catch
- If they let it fall, pick it up. No freebies from the floor
- Gradually increase height, then add a gentle toss from 1 foot
Hand Signal
Hold up the treat and make eye contact before tossing
- Show the treat, make sure the dog is watching, then toss gently
- Toss in a slight arc toward the dog's mouth, not at their face
- Use soft, lightweight treats that are easy to catch
Verbal Cue
The cue word primes the dog to watch and catch
- Say the word to get the dog's eyes on you before the toss
- Build from treats to small soft toys
- Vary the distance: close tosses, then from 3 feet, then across the room
Success criteria
- Unlearned
- Lets treats bounce off face or does not track the toss
- In progress
- Catches on cue from various distances with consistent timing
- Mastered
- Catches treats and small toys tossed from 5+ feet reliably
Common mistakes
- Throwing hard at the dog's face instead of a gentle arc
- Using treats that are too small or hard to track
- Letting the dog eat dropped treats, which removes the motivation to catch
- Getting frustrated with dogs that need many sessions. Some breeds catch naturally, others do not