Rat terrier training for helper dog

Question
Greetings, I have been blessed by a year old rat terrier that was a throw away dog, and vet believes also a puppy mill dog. I am 67 and use a power chair/crutches. My"Elmer" is very eager to please, learns fast with praise and small treat. I am having extreem difficulty teaching him to pick up and bring it to me, different items.  He did not know how to play or fetch when he found me about two months ago, and is now eager to play and fetch a ball. Do you have some suggestions how I could get him to learn this task.  He has learned how to walk beside my chair and with me with my crutches without any tugging or crossing over. There are many other general behavioral tasks he has learned well also.  Though he still shows he has some  baggage, I feel very blessed having him, and want to start advancing his training, as my condition will progress to where I will need his assistance even more.  Thank you for your time. Julie

Answer
Julie,
Yes,  oh you will love what I am going to tell you.  You can teach him practically anything if you clicker train your dog.  Get a book on it.  I actually can't recommend one since I haven't read any, but get one anyway.  
First thing is to click and treat about 20 times till he knows that when you click a treat is coming.  Now to do this you must treat immediately when you click, timing is essential here.

After you are POSITIVE he realizes that clicking means treat then wait for him to do something he does automatically like lift a paw.  the second he lifts his paw be ready and click and treat.   when he starts to pick up his paw so that he will get a treat, it is time to make him lift it a little higher.  when he lifts his paw don't click right away, he will get a bit frustrated but you keep waiting until he either on purpose or accidentally lifts the paw a little higher, then click and treat.  Do this for about 4/5 days until you are very sure he is doing it on purpose.  You can name the action at this time and start to say lift paw"  and then click and treat when he does.

Ok now here is where the beginning of bringing something to you begins.   Get a dowel from Home Depot or get a broom handle that is small or something similar to a dowel.  Paint the end black.  Now the idea is to have him touch the black end of the dowel,,, but wait ;;;;  first you must click and treat when he just looks at the dowel.  then when he puts his nose on it then finally work him down until you only click and treat when he touches the black spot.  do this for a few days until he is an expert and tell him to mark or touch black or something.

Now get a paper plate and you guessed it, put a black spot on the center of the plate.  Hold the plate until he investigates and say touch or mark and only click when he touches the black spot.  Now put the plate on the floor and have him "mark" and only click when he touches the black spot with his nose.

Next hold another paper plate and put it near his mouth click and treat when he touches it and you can keep this progression up until he is holding the plate.  Are you getting the concept?  well he will too after about 4 weeks.

Now get him not only to bite the plate and hold it, but now put the plate with the spot on the floor and send him to mark.  also if you have named holding the plate as fetch" or if he knows that, then this should come together.

I hope you have this my fingers are tired lol
write again if you need me
nancy