When will he start to catch? I feel bad bouncing things off his face.

[TaZoR]

I was just wondering when your dogs began to catch things you toss? My dog looks kinda bewildered about it, i feel like maybe im gonna have to strap a lil helmet on him and send him off on the short bus.. Sometimes he seems pretty smart, and sometimes jus a distracted window licker. Haha...im jus kidding...but seriously, i cant get him to catch a ball at 13.5 weeks..is he too young or should i keep trying now and then. Its been 13 yrs since i had a shep. Puppy so i forget

[LaRen616]

Malice does the same thing and she's 7 months old! It's hilarious!

[Dakotasmom23]

Play "catch" with softer, larger things (like a small stuffed animal) and then build up to a tennis ball. My 15 weeker has been catching/retrieving since 9 weeks but we started with stuffies.

[Sherlockhomey]

My guy is 15 weeks old and he is just now lunging at toys I throw at him...he still not coordinated enough to catch anything (he is always reacting too late ) but at least he is trying...

But I second having ur pup start catching soft toys first.

[Cassidy's Mom]

Um, Halo is 3 years old and I just started teaching her to catch a ball tossed at her face. I threw balls for her to chase from the time she was little, but I never saw a reason to have her catch them out of the air until we got into flyball and she had to be able to catch the ball when she jumped on the box and triggered it.

If this is something you really want him to learn, how about starting with catching treats rather than a ball?

[mysweetkaos]

Give him time....I too thought Sherman was "special" for quite awhile. At 10 months he can now catch about 98% of things thrown from balls all the way down to tiny pieces of kibble.

[s14roller]

It'll take some time =)

I think mine starting catching well-thrown tennis balls around 10 months.

[BlackGSD]

I think he is too young.

I teach mine to catch with stuffed toys. I have the pup sitting in front of me while I am sitting on the couch. I hold the toy and move my arm like I'm tossing it to them but I DON'T LET GO. Just act like I'm tossing it right to their mouth do all they have to do is open their mouth to get it. At the same time, I say "catch". If they are toy motivated, and have any brains at all, they catch on real quick. I don't di this with food as I don't EVER want them snatching food ftom my hands. Aftet they have mastered catching a toy, THEN I advance to smaller things like treats.

[PaddyD]

Start by having him take the ball from you.
Then drop it in his mouth from a couple inches.
When he can do that 100% make it a couple more inches.....
... then a couple more... then .....
That is how I taught my kids to catch before they could walk.
Use a lot of praise. No treats, catching the ball is the treat.
Then do the same with treats. Start at a couple inches ...........
You can also try not throwing straight at him, make him turn his head slightly,
that makes it more like prey.

[Hrachia]

Originally Posted by TaZoR

I was just wondering when your dogs began to catch things you toss? My dog looks kinda bewildered about it, i feel like maybe im gonna have to strap a lil helmet on him and send him off on the short bus.. Sometimes he seems pretty smart, and sometimes jus a distracted window licker. Haha...im jus kidding...but seriously, i cant get him to catch a ball at 13.5 weeks..is he too young or should i keep trying now and then. Its been 13 yrs since i had a shep. Puppy so i forget

Im pretty much there with you. Just got my little one this sunday. And hadn't had a dog for 4 years since my last one past. But at the end everything they learn, the owner is responsible to slowly but surely teach them.