I once had a client confess to me, sounding rather frustrated and a little bit hurt, that their Labrador did not know how to play fetch. I told them that the lab was clearly defective, but the problem should be covered under the manufacturer’s warranty and that they could send him back for a software update. Surprising though it may be to the layperson, dogs – even retrievers – are not born automatically knowing how to play fetch!   And people, despite the best efforts of their canine companions, can sometimes do a fantastic job of squashing the innate love that instinct has already given many dogs.   The absolutely, positively, totally, number one, most important thing to remember about fetch is that it is a game .   We are doing this to have fun with our dog, folks.   Lighten up.   (I am not talking about the retrieve portion of obedience or schutzhund, or hunting dogs retrieving birds.   Although y’all could stand to lighten up a little too, just saying.   It’s still sup