A wee bit of scent obsession?

mysweetkaos · 10-31-2011, 12:44 PM

We have been working on retrieving with our 7 month GSD/Mastiff x puppy. My husband who grew up with labs thinks it's hilarious that we have to train him to play fetch (evidently labs come out of the womb trained

) So Sherman is getting pretty reliable, I've been doing 2 ball with him and it is going very well. So as of the last couple weeks I've tried getting the rest of the family involved. Here's the problem.....he won't retrieve for anyone else. We've done "testing" where my husband/sons and I both throw balls at the same time and he will sniff around and only bring my ball back everytime. He will spend about 2 minutes going back and forth and sniffing them until he finds mine....is that normal? Our Kaos doesn't care if the boogeyman throws it he will go get it. Is there a way to work with his obsession so everyone can play with him? Also, since he loves to smell what other games would be fun where we could put his nose to good use? Thanks in advance!

**jocoyn** · 10-31-2011, 12:52 PM

Start using a chuck it then nobody's scent is on the ball.
Google NOSEWORK that sounds like a fun sporty thing - I have never done it but work a cadaver dog. You could also get involved in AKC tracking for fun.

GSDs are pretty good retrievers usually - the Mastiff thing is probably what has held him back a little - love that 2 ball game though.

mysweetkaos · 10-31-2011, 01:16 PM

I will add a chuck it to our shopping list and try that.....my fear is with no scent on the ball he may be totally disinterested? I searched some nosework....looks like a lot of fun. We do similiar we hide one of his favorite toys and tell him to find it, he loves it! Thanks for your advice!

10-31-2011, 12:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
mysweetkaos Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 1,246	A wee bit of scent obsession? We have been working on retrieving with our 7 month GSD/Mastiff x puppy. My husband who grew up with labs thinks it's hilarious that we have to train him to play fetch (evidently labs come out of the womb trained) So Sherman is getting pretty reliable, I've been doing 2 ball with him and it is going very well. So as of the last couple weeks I've tried getting the rest of the family involved. Here's the problem.....he won't retrieve for anyone else. We've done "testing" where my husband/sons and I both throw balls at the same time and he will sniff around and only bring my ball back everytime. He will spend about 2 minutes going back and forth and sniffing them until he finds mine....is that normal? Our Kaos doesn't care if the boogeyman throws it he will go get it. Is there a way to work with his obsession so everyone can play with him? Also, since he loves to smell what other games would be fun where we could put his nose to good use? Thanks in advance!

10-31-2011, 12:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
jocoyn Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 8,049	Start using a chuck it then nobody's scent is on the ball. Google NOSEWORK that sounds like a fun sporty thing - I have never done it but work a cadaver dog. You could also get involved in AKC tracking for fun. GSDs are pretty good retrievers usually - the Mastiff thing is probably what has held him back a little - love that 2 ball game though. __________________ Nancy www.scsarda.org Grim (Grimmy Bear) & Beau (Bo-dee man) Waiting at the Bridge: Cyra, Toby, Rainbow, Linus, Oscar, Arlo & Waggles

10-31-2011, 01:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
mysweetkaos Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 1,246	I will add a chuck it to our shopping list and try that.....my fear is with no scent on the ball he may be totally disinterested? I searched some nosework....looks like a lot of fun. We do similiar we hide one of his favorite toys and tell him to find it, he loves it! Thanks for your advice!

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