Laundry Day Assistant: 7 Steps to Teach Your Dog to Load the Washer

Gearing Up for Success: What You’ll Need

Before you jump into training, a little preparation goes a long way. Setting up the right environment and having the right tools on hand will make the process smoother and more enjoyable for both of you. Think of it as setting the stage for a stellar performance!

The Essentials List:

• High-Value Treats: We’re not talking about their everyday kibble. You’ll want extra-special, pea-sized treats that your dog absolutely loves. Think small pieces of chicken, cheese, or their favorite soft training treats. The goal is to make them say, ‘Wow, it’s really worth my while to do this!’
• A Clicker (Optional but Recommended): A clicker is a fantastic tool for marking the exact moment your dog performs the correct behavior. This precision communication can speed up the learning process significantly. If you’re not using a clicker, choose a consistent verbal marker word like “Yes!” or “Good!”.
• A Laundry Basket: A low-sided plastic or wicker basket works best to start. It should be easy for your dog to access the items inside without having to jump or struggle.
• Dog-Safe ‘Laundry’: Start with items you don’t mind getting a little slobbery. Old t-shirts, dish towels, or even a single sock are perfect. Avoid anything with buttons, zippers, or delicate fabrics that could be a choking hazard or easily damaged.
• A Front-Loading Washing Machine: This trick is designed for front-loading washers, as it’s easier and safer for a dog to drop items into the drum.
• Patience and a Positive Attitude: This is the most important tool in your kit! Remember, this is a game. Keep sessions short (5-10 minutes max), stay upbeat, and celebrate the small wins. Your dog feeds off your energy, so if you’re having fun, they will too.

Expert Tip: Before you even begin, make sure your dog is comfortable in the laundry room. Spend some time just hanging out in the space, giving treats and praise, so they associate the room (and the big, noisy machine) with positive things.

The Foundation: Mastering ‘Take It’ and ‘Drop It’

You can’t build a house without a solid foundation, and you can’t teach a dog to do laundry without mastering a few prerequisite skills. Before we even approach the washing machine, we need to ensure your dog has a reliable ‘Take It,’ ‘Hold,’ and ‘Drop It.’ These are the building blocks for our entire laundry-loading sequence.

Teaching ‘Take It’ and ‘Hold’

1. Start Simple: Hold a favorite toy or a training item (like one of your designated laundry towels) in your hand. As your dog shows interest and sniffs it, say “Take It!” in an encouraging tone.
2. Mark and Reward: The moment their mouth touches the item, click (or say “Yes!”) and give them a treat from your other hand. At first, you’re just rewarding the touch.
3. Build Duration: Gradually wait for them to put their mouth more fully around the item before you click and treat. Once they are comfortably taking it, start building a ‘Hold.’ Give the ‘Take It’ cue, and then wait just one second before clicking and treating. Slowly increase the duration they hold the item before the reward. Your goal is a calm, gentle hold, not a game of tug-of-war.

Teaching ‘Drop It’

1. The Trade-Up Game: Once your dog is holding an item, present a high-value treat near their nose. The moment they open their mouth to take the treat, causing the item to fall, say “Drop It!” and let them have the treat.
2. Practice Makes Perfect: Repeat this process many times. Your dog will quickly learn that ‘Drop It’ means ‘let go of what’s in my mouth to get something even better!’
3. Fade the Lure: Eventually, you can start saying “Drop It!” without immediately showing the treat. When they drop the item, then produce the treat and praise them enthusiastically.

Important: Never get into a tugging match to get an item back. This can encourage possessiveness. The ‘Drop It’ command should always be a positive trade, not a confrontation.

The 7-Step Plan to a Pawsitively Perfect Helper

Alright, the foundation is set, and the treats are ready. It’s time for the main event! We’re going to break this down into seven simple, manageable steps. Remember to master each step before moving on to the next. Keep it fun and positive!

Step 1: Target the Basket

Place a single piece of ‘laundry’ in the basket on the floor. Use your ‘Take It’ cue to encourage your dog to pick up the item from the basket. The moment they do, click and treat. We’re just teaching them that interacting with this basket and its contents is a great thing.

Step 2: Carry the ‘Laundry’

Once your dog is confidently taking the item from the basket, take one step back. Encourage them to take the item and bring it to you. This is a mini-retrieve! When they bring it to you, use your ‘Drop It’ cue and reward them heavily.

Step 3: Introduce the Washing Machine

Now, move the game to the laundry room. With the washing machine door wide open, sit on the floor next to it. Place the laundry basket a few feet away. Ask your dog to take an item from the basket and bring it to you, rewarding them for doing so right next to the machine. This helps them get comfortable working in close proximity to the appliance.

Step 4: Target the Drum

This is a big step! Hold a piece of laundry right at the opening of the washer drum. Encourage your dog to ‘Take It.’ As they do, their head will naturally be oriented towards the drum. Next, hold the item just inside the drum and ask them to ‘Take It.’ When they put their head inside to get it, give them lots of praise and a jackpot of treats! We want them to think putting their head in the washer is the best game ever.

Step 5: The ‘Drop It’ Inside

Now we combine skills. Ask your dog to hold a piece of laundry while standing in front of the open machine. Lean in with them and point to the inside of the drum. Use your ‘Drop It’ cue, encouraging them to drop the item inside the machine. If they drop it on the floor, that’s okay! Just pick it up, give it back to them, and try again. The moment the item lands inside the drum, have a party! Click, treat, and give tons of verbal praise.

Step 6: Increase the Distance

Place the laundry basket a foot away from the machine. Point to an item in the basket, cue ‘Take It,’ then walk to the machine and point inside, cueing ‘Drop It.’ Gradually increase the distance of the basket from the washing machine until your dog can confidently pick up an item from across the room and deposit it inside.

Step 7: Add the Verbal Cue

Once your dog is reliably performing the entire sequence, you can add a verbal cue like “Do Laundry!” or “Load it Up!”. Say the cue right before you point to the basket to start the chain of behaviors. Soon, the verbal cue alone will be enough to initiate their laundry assistant duties!

Troubleshooting Common Laundry Day Hiccups

Even with the best plan, you might run into a few snags. Don’t worry, it’s a normal part of the training process! Here are some common challenges and how to work through them with a positive approach.

The Problem	The Solution
My dog is scared of the washing machine.	Go back to basics. Spend time near the machine (when it’s off) just playing and giving treats. Feed their meals near it. Tap on the machine and give a treat when they investigate. Never force interaction. Let them approach in their own time. The goal is to change their association from ‘scary metal box’ to ‘fun treat dispenser.’
My dog chews or shakes the laundry instead of holding it gently.	This often means the dog is overly excited and thinks it’s a game of tug. Use less exciting items (like a plain towel instead of a fun sock) and focus on rewarding a calm, still ‘Hold.’ If they start to chew, use a calm ‘Uh-uh’ and reset. Shorten the duration of the hold before they have a chance to start chewing.
My dog drops the item before reaching the machine.	You’ve likely increased the distance too quickly. Go back to the previous successful distance and practice there. When you try to increase the distance again, do it in smaller increments—literally just a few inches at a time. Also, ensure you are rewarding a solid ‘Hold’ before you add travel.
My dog puts their paws up on the machine, but won’t put their head inside.	This is a confidence issue. Make putting their head in the opening a super high-value game. Smear a tiny bit of peanut butter (xylitol-free!) or cream cheese on a long-handled spoon and let them lick it just inside the drum. You’re not luring the laundry behavior, you’re just building a positive association with the space itself.
My dog just won’t let go of the item (‘Drop It’ isn’t working).	Your ‘Drop It’ needs more practice away from the laundry game, and the treat you’re offering might not be high-value enough. Go back to practicing the ‘Trade-Up Game’ with various toys and items, ensuring the reward is always better than what they have in their mouth.