Playing ball...

C

Charlie

Forums Regular
Hi all, I play fetch with charlie at least 3-4 times a week, i have 1 question how can i get charlie to bring back the ball. He chases it and then brings it half way back, i have to go get it and his waiting for me throw it again. We can do this for about an hour he loves the ball, he just wont bring it all the way back.

Any idea's?
 
I saw a show somewhere where the guy said you shouldn't go pick it up if Charlie doesn't. He suggested walking up to it, and kicking it around to get your dog's interest in it again. If he picks it up a second time, get really really excited and back away. Your dog's prey drive should have him running to you (hopefully with the toy in his mouth). If not, go kick around the toy some more until he picks it up.

It's still a work in progress for us as my dog brings it back about 50% of the time...and stops and chews on it the other 50% :rolleyes2:
 
I guess I'm lucky. Emma picked up really quickly that she needs to bring a toy back if she wants to play with me. Didn't really have to teach her. It's 99% of the time. The only time she doesn't is if she has had enough. I can't remember how I taught her other than to throw a toy and she would bring it right back. Noah wouldn't - fetch was beneath him, no matter how much I tried to train him to return the ball.

Suggest treating when the ball is thrown and your puppy brings it back.
 
Pretty much what Ashley suggested. Although I did not have to do much coaxing with Trapp.

I first started tossing a tennis ball against a cement storage building we have out back.He was fasinated by the bounce of it,and I just let him have a good time with it.
When he realized I would not throw it,unless he brought it back,it was pretty much instinct with him.

Jasper will bring a ball back only halfway now,but he's getting it.He only focus' on Trapp,and will do what he does.They both will go get the frisbee,and bring it back to me tandum.One on one side,the other on the other side of the frisbee.
 
Bailey loves playing fetch. She always brings the ball back, but sometimes she drops it too far for me to reach. I never pick it up if I cant reach it. I usually say "too far" and stretch my arm out to show her I cant reach. She gets the hint and will pick up the ball and drop it closer to me. Of course not without shaking the ball to death first. ;)
She has a high ball drive and is clicker trained, so she is always thinking "what do i have to do to get a treat or in this case the ball thrown".
 
The puppy class I'm taking suggests that you never go and get the ball or item after the puppy has dropped it. If you do, then your not being a leader and you have just allowed your puppy to teach you how to fetch.

One of the suggestions to solve this was to tie a rope or string around or through the object and if the pup drops it half way, use the rope to bring it back to you. The movement of the object should also attract the puppy back to it.

Also while your initally teaching fetch, start off throwing the ball shorter distances until your pup is bringing the item back to you fairly regularly.

If you do go and pick up the ball, do it after you've ended the game for a while. It's ok to go wash some dishes, eat some breakfast and pick up the ball on the way back to the couch. What's not ok is to toss the ball, have the pup bring it half way back, go get it and then throw it again. It simply becomes part of the game for the pup.

I've luckly never actually had to teach my pup how to fetch, I don't have a command for it though. I toss a ball and 95% of the time he brings it back to me. The other 5% he gets distracted by something on his way back like another toy, food, or a bug and drops the ball. I never actually go pick the item up and toss it again unless the games been ended for a while. I usually grab another item that's close to me and toss that instead. My pup will pretty much retrieve anything I throw at this point, be it stuffed animals, balls, frisbee's, or something he's not supposed to be getting into (doh!)
 
Charlie said:
Hi all, I play fetch with charlie at least 3-4 times a week, i have 1 question how can i get charlie to bring back the ball. He chases it and then brings it half way back, i have to go get it and his waiting for me throw it again. We can do this for about an hour he loves the ball, he just wont bring it all the way back.

Any idea's?
Click to expand...

Thanks for asking this question...I was just about to ask the very same thing! :yes: After much waiting and having mostly given up on Domino ever being interested in toys after buying so many with no luck he suddenly showed an interest in a little soccer ball that I was given for free at a conference. All those expensive toys and he likes the free one the most! :biggrin2:
He will go crazy if I throw the ball for him and chase it endlessly. He will occassionally pick it up and carry it a few meters but has never fetched it back to me. I have tried to walk over to the ball and point at it or look at it without picking it up but he doesn't seem to understand what I want him to do...he is definately still interested in the game (he will wait and look at me eagerly) but will not pick it up.
I have read that using two identical toys is one way to train your dog to fetch but I am not sure how this works.
Also I will reward him with a treat if he picks up the ball and drops it but I am worried that he will start to think that I am rewarding him for dropping the ball as I have to walk over to him first and treat him once the ball has been on the ground for some time.
 
jerros said:
The puppy class I'm taking suggests that you never go and get the ball or item after the puppy has dropped it. If you do, then your not being a leader and you have just allowed your puppy to teach you how to fetch.
...
Click to expand...

Say WHAT? :biggrin2:
I heartily but respectfully disagree with that statement. Anytime any trainer suggests that dogs are thinking up ways to make you not be a leader, I think OMG that statement is so from over 20 years ago :yes:
But I do wonder who all these dogs are talking to that they are always out to take over mankind's leadership :razz:

Mind you, your suggestions are great and I do agree with them, just not what they say in your puppy training class about how to be a leader :biggrin2:
 
Toffee's Mom said:
Say WHAT? :biggrin2:
I heartily but respectfully disagree with that statement. Anytime any trainer suggests that dogs are thinking up ways to make you not be a leader, I think OMG that statement is so from over 20 years ago :yes:
But I do wonder who all these dogs are talking to that they are always out to take over mankind's leadership :razz:

Mind you, your suggestions are great and I do agree with them, just not what they say in your puppy training class about how to be a leader :biggrin2:
Click to expand...

I thought I would throw a vote of confidence behind this as well. Alpha training can be really harsh on a Sheltie. Well, my Shelties. Duncan cringes if I get onto anyone in the house - including someone over the phone!

When Duncan doesn't retrieve the ball, I walk with him and nudge the ball with my foot. Usually he'll grab it right away, looking quite proud of himself. Then, we happy walk to the spot where I wanted him to bring and he then gets a treat/praise. I've gotten so that I really just have to point at the ball for him to lunch for it like, "Oh, right! That's what I was doing!!!"
 
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