wont bring the ball back.

[Labman]

Guys i need help with fetch please. If he knew how to play fetch it would ALOT better for both of us. I own a 13 week lab. Hes beautiful. He can chase, and chase well might i say. But he doesnt bring it back. He just plots on the floor and chews it. I thought retrievers have it in them to retrieve. Guess not. Did anyone else have this problem? Also does anyone know how to make him come back? And advice would be great. Thanks guys:)

[bckrazy]

got on really quick to reply cos I've had the same problem with Gonzo... he still sometimes stops to chew the ball or goes to get the ball then plays "catch me if ya can" with me. ;P its all fun.

with your labbie, try tossing the ball, wait until he picks it up and turns toward you, then yell in a super excited voice "bring, [doggies name]!".. then run the other way. when he brings the ball to you, and he will, praise him and make a big deal out of it. Also, dont remove the ball from your pups mouth immediately when he brings it.. just wait for him to drop it, then grab the ball and repeat. Its not really "programed" into any dog to retrieve, you've still got to teach your pup what you want from him. be especially lenient about fetching with a 13 week-old. its totally fine for them to want to just play around at that age ^.^ have fun with your pup!

[heinz57_79]

I may have to try that with Anna and Arthur. :) Anna chases the ball, then gets distracted. Arthur just looks at the ball, then at me, then at the ball and sighs. :rolleyes: I'm getting great at fetch tho, lemme tell ya! :D

[Cinder & Smoke]

Originally posted by Labman

... But he doesnt bring it back.

He just plops on the floor and chews it.

:D
Been there; done that! :rolleyes:

Mine are Con Artists ~
"Wanna play *FETCH*??"
WAG! WAG! WAG! = SURE, Dad - *TOSS* IT!

Couple of "short" *tosses* - they *Fetch* & *Return* :)

*Wind Up* and give it a 100 foot LONG *toss* =
"Dat's purdy FAR, Dad - YOU go *Fetch It!"

GRRRRR! :mad:

I got tired of that!
We now have a "modified FETCHING" Tenny Ball ~
Tenny Ball with two holes punched into it -
and a 100 foot Heavy Cord tied to it!

After the second or third refusal to "Fetch"...
I just *reel in* my Tenny Ball and it's Game Over!

:D

[Karen]

It's funny, because some dogs "get it," and some dogs just don't. Gracie, our beloved (slightly retarded we think) 3/4 Great Dane 1/4 Lab my family got when I was in high school just did not understand fetch. She didn't even understand that she could catch FOOD thrown to her. We finally gave up, after being afraid somebody'd arrest us for dog abuse for throwing bits of hot dog to her and watching them bounce off her face! Once it hit the ground, if we pointed to it, she'd suddenly discover it and eat it. She never was interested in catching or chasing a ball, so fetch wasn't even remotely possible!

He's young, so being a retreiver just means he probably likes to carry stuff around in his mouth. The "bringing that something back to you" is definitely a learned behavior!

[LorraineO]

I have the opposite problem,, My dobie girl wont stop bringing me things,, esp her Kong Balls,,, she will plop it in my lap and her face is in mine until I either laugh and push her away or get up and fill it,,, Ahhh,,, maybe therein lies the problem,, I am a softie and cant NOT fill the kong with her fav snack,,, Cheez Wiz!!!:cool:


Hmm,, perhaps it is *I* need the training eh??:D

[lablvr]

When I try to play fetch with my dog Brownie it seems like he really wants to get it. So i throw it and he goes over and sniffs it. If he does not want to chew on it or tear it up he just leaves it there or puts it in his mouth and brings it somewhere different then drops it. He is a very gentle dog and loves to be petted and loves to eat but we need to train him anyway. He also is afraid of water except the water he drinks.:eek:

[Petluvr013]

My dog likes fetch, but after she fetches it 5 or 6 times she just stops!:eek:

[Toller 42]

My toller/border-collie mix never stops bringing her toys to me, once I was playing with her for an hour and then I told her that's enough and she stopped but you could tell that she still wanted to play. the good thing about playing with her is that she will bring things back to you after you throw them, she's always done this though even when she was 6 weeks!

[Labman]

For all those ppl. that have dogs that bring things back to u is a thing to cherish. My dog doesnt bring it back, i wish he would. Does anyone know an actual method that teaches him to bring it back?

[Toller 42]

have you tried calling him in a really happy excited voice when he goes to pick up the ball, my dog's obedience instructor said that doing that sometimes works!

[MariaM]

Hey, I was thinking about posting the SAME thing labman. My dog will fetch sticks..usualyl once or twice, but won't go for a ball (unless its plastic, which he then won't bring back) or a knotted sock. Something people have done is have 2 toys. They throw one, and when the dog runs after it, you suddenly 'discover'the other one and start making a big fuss out of it. Hopefully they come back with the ball, drop it and want the other one. Never worked with Major, but it might with your puppy.

[LorraineO]

Welll.... according to Dr S Coren,,, if you throw the object and then the dog doesnt bring it back,, perhaps crossing your arms,, and look off to the sky or anywheres but at your dog.... this method is supposed to be helpful after some practice... its like the dog wants YOU to play with him,, not him play with you... get it??

Give it a whirl..... who knows!

[Labman]

ahahahaha yes, ive tried that also. My dont just doesnt care that chase him for it. Ive waited almost 7 mins and he didnt bring it back. Hes a puppy so i will give him a couple more months. I was talking to a couple dog owners and one em had a lab. She said her dog started to fetch at around 6 - 7 months with no training.

[pitc9]

Neither if mine fetch either! Buddy just looks at you with a puzzled look on his face, and Sierra will run after it, like she's going to get it, then just runs right past it!!!!:D

[CorgiLuvr]

Yeah, I had this same problem with my corgi.

All I did was just throw it a foot or two for a while, and when he turned around toward me I praised him a whole lot, then gave the command "drop it" and started throwing it further and further and he eventually learned how to fetch, but don't say anythig to them while they are walking back to you, not even a command, because it will distract them and they might put it down again. Also, he's really young and independent. Just be patient and he will get the idea sooner or later. After all, it is his instinct.

Good Luck!

[Samantha Puppy]

Samantha didn't bring the ball back the first couple times I tried to play fetch with her. I think it's because she was very young. I waited awhile before taking her out and attempting it again and it's like the instinct just kicked in and she brought it back to me. Of course, I praised her like crazy and now she won't stop bringing me stuff.

It could just be because your puppy is just that - a young pup. Give him time. If not, pick up a training book for puppies that includes games like fetch and other fun activities for you both.

[bsherman]

Hi there, I have an old girl, Tawny and when she was 8 weeks old, on her first night at her new home she retreived, we thought it was just a fluke. So when we saw the vet the next day we mentioned it and all she said was she better retreive, its natural. How small is the ball , make sure its not too small, just small enough for your furbaby to carry and don't let her/him keep it. Be sure to make it a big game and lots of fun. It will come. :)

[MariaM]

Hmmm... So you want to teach your dog to fetch a BALL? Well...so did I. But I found out Major doesn't fetch balls. He runs after them and chews on them if they are plastic, or ignores a tennis ball.. He is not starting to retrieve. It could be an age thing, he is 7 months now. But...you also might want to try different toys. Major still won't fetch balls. But he will occasionally fetch sticks, and, if he is 'in the mood' he will fetch a knotted rope toy. That's basically how he learned to fetch..with that toy. I guess this is what I did. I threw it and threw it until he brought it back to me. (again, toy/age thing) Then he would lay down and start chewing, and I'd pet him for a couple minutes. I never offered food, because than he would be so distracted by it that he wouldn't even chase the rope the next time. I just petted him and let him chew it for a while. Then I threw it again and he would go get it, and bring it back to me(usually) Hope that helps somewhat!

[GoldenRetrieverLover_01]

Hi labman!

I have a golden retriever who turned 1 on sunday and he still won't fetch. We have the same problem as you. We throw the ball and then he goes toget it and just lies down with it. The one thing that we tried that kind-of worked was when we went to the beach and took him we would throw a stick in the water and he has no choice but to swim and bring it back. Then you reward him. Whether it be with an excited voice or a treat. Although when we come home he won't fetch then. He's still really young, you can't expect too much from him- wait till he's a little older. Good luck and keep me posted!:)

[cfuh]

:D :D HAHA!! just laughing from reading all the posts...my Sammie fetched at first but then after Maggie came along, she didn't anymore. Maggie, being the lab, will fetch balls non-stop BUT not frisbees. I didn't have to train her at all...lucky me!!! :) :) When she wants to play, she'll get her ball and give it to me. She'll even forget to stop for a drink cause she's having so much fun!!!

Good luck with your fetching!!! ;) ;)