How to Train Your Dog to Help Gathering Eggs

By Mikki Smith
Published on November 1, 1987
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PHOTO: FOTOLIA/QUASARPHOTO
Most dogs learn "pick up" readily. Just place an object the dog likes—a favorite toy, a small soup bone, whatever—within the dog's reach.

Putting your pet on hen-fruit patrol can be easy and helps with chores by having your dog gathering eggs while also having fun.

How to Train Your Dog to Help Gathering Eggs

I don’t have to worry about gathering eggs any more because I’ve trained my dogs to collect them for me. It’s a game we play. Dogs really like to work, and it’s fun to teach them to help you. Mine fetch firewood and the mail, carry backpacks and work as lifeguards (I live on the shore), while also serving as faithful companions and guardians. For them, gathering eggs is a pleasant diversion.

Any dog past the playful puppy stages–even or eight months–and large enough to comfortably handle an egg in its mouth can learn the game. (Of course, if you’re working with an older dog you should always check its teeth for decay or damage before starting any fetch-and-carry training.) I usually work with Bouviers, but I’ve taught “egging” to collies and mixed breeds too–the kind of dog doesn’t really matter. Females, however, do seem to have a lighter, maternal grasp–particularly if they’ve experienced motherhood. So I prefer to use a female for delicate fetching tasks. Males are able to gather eggs, but females seem to perform the task with less effort.

In any case, don’t worry: Eggs aren’t as fragile as they seem. In all my training sessions I’ve had only one egg broken (by a rambunctious pup). So don’t be nervous–you and your dog aren’t going to end up with egg on your faces. To start, your dog should already respond to basic commands such as “down,” “come,” “stay,” etc. Any previous fetch-and-carry experience is helpful, but not necessary. To become a successful egger, the dog needs to learn only three special commands: “pick it up,” “easy,” and “release.” (Of course, if your pet already responds to instead of “pick it up,” for example, or “let go” in stead of “release,” there’s no need to teach the new ones.)

Most dogs learn “pick up” readily. Just place an object the dog likes–a favorite toy, a small soup bone, whatever–within the dog’s reach. Then point to the item while giving the command “pick it up,” and lavishly praise the dog when it picks up the object on command and brings it to you. I’ve been training dogs for over 15 years and have never encountered one that wouldn’t respond to “pick it up” almost immediately.

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