Fetch ?'s

[OurAdalai]

We can't get our dog to fetch and return with a ball or toy. She will run and get it, but then will only play keep away with it, she refuses to bring it back to us. She's about 8 months old. And has the basic's down, sit, lay down, stay(she's pretty good with) and come(which she has a mind of her own about from time to time but with a stern voice will almost always come). I've always owned retrievers in my past, and they wanted nothing more than to grab whatever was thrown and bring it back and go again, so I'm a bit confused about how to teach this.

[Emoore]

First, never never chase your dog when she has something in her mouth. Keepaway is obviously way more fun to her than fetch. Don't play her game. She plays your game or you don't play.

One of the smartest things I ever did was get a second ball. When you throw the first ball and she goes to get it, you keep the second ball and start playing with it like it's the GREATEST THING IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!!! She'll quickly decide that her ball is boring and she wants the one you have. the millisecond she drops the ball, throw yours. She'll go chasing after it. Pick up the one she dropped, rinse, and repeat.

Play with the 2 balls for a few months, then wean back over to just one ball again.

[OurAdalai]

Originally Posted by Emoore

First, never never chase your dog when she has something in her mouth. Keepaway is obviously way more fun to her than fetch. Don't play her game. She plays your game or you don't play.

One of the smartest things I ever did was get a second ball. When you throw the first ball and she goes to get it, you keep the second ball and start playing with it like it's the GREATEST THING IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!!! She'll quickly decide that her ball is boring and she wants the one you have. the millisecond she drops the ball, throw yours. She'll go chasing after it. Pick up the one she dropped, rinse, and repeat.

Play with the 2 balls for a few months, then wean back over to just one ball again.

I'll try the two balls way, I've actually done it a few times, but just because another ball was there, not thinking of it the way you described. And we do not chase her when she's trying to play keep away. It just seems so disheartening to go out to try to play fetch and only get one throw because she starts keep away right away, and then just have to walk away because I won't chase her.

[jocoyn]

Google "two squeakies" and you wil get the progression. Good to start in a hallway but you can start outside. Great way to get these possessive dogs to return the ball. This is pretty common (Possessiveness) for the GSD but I guarantee you will wind up with a retriving fool if the dog is already chasing and owning the ball.

[Emoore]

Originally Posted by OurAdalai

I'll try the two balls way, I've actually done it a few times, but just because another ball was there, not thinking of it the way you described. [B].

Good. That will make this habit a lot easier to break.