How to teach fetch?

[marc]

Ok, kinda lame, but need to teach Jackie how to fetch. She loves tennis balls more than anything in life, but she wont fetch/retrieve them. She'll either play with them on her own after i throw, or bring it back about 10' short of where i am.

Not trying to structure her play time too much, but need her to bring the ball back to me so i can throw it again.

Linkage, pointers, tips welcome.

[loverocksalot]

LOL been trying to teach fetch for entire time I have had Rocky. He will mostly only play if I have treats. Although this summer he the blank out of me when I took him down to the lake on a long lead and picked up a stick and threw it in the water. First he hates water yet he jumped in and went for the stick. Only brought it cause he was on lead and I could real him in. I got a toy recently that if I get him all riled up and start with treats I can get him to reluctantly bring it but I have to give a firm "here" in a very firm voice. Same goes for frisbee he can catch it but does not really get into the came nor does he like to bring it back.
I am going to really work it this summer like play every day and maybe he will learn to enjoy it. He looses interest fast. A couple of throws and he is done. He just stops and walks away.
Check out that youtube guy I think he has a fetch video. www.youtube.com/user/tab289#p/u/41/Ccw1uwvbx00

[shay19]

I've only had to teach Bruiser to fetch, it's still not great because he's happier just carrying the ball around but what worked for us:

1. Throwing ball, calling back in a happy, baby talk voice or
2. Having 2 balls, throwing one while hiding the other, calling back have him drop first ball throw second. This I use to reinforce recall and trading.

I don't know if these will work for you but Jackie sounds pretty similar to Bruiser so it might? But like I said, it doesn't work every time I throw the ball, but then again Bruiser isn't exactly all there if you know what I mean lol.

[loverocksalot]

That works for some good tips. That has not worked for Rocky. Rocky prefers to find it. Hide the toy go find then he comes running all happy that he found it. Have not tried this outside though.

[sugar]

I saw once someone taught their dog fetch with a water bottle filled with treats. Everytime the dog brought the bottle back they got a bunch of little treats.

[loverocksalot]

Hahaha Rocky would just take the bottle and chew it to get the treats. He wont bring it back.

[sugar]

Mar 9, 2011 12:02:35 GMT -5 loverocksalot said:

Hahaha Rocky would just take the bottle and chew it to get the treats. He wont bring it back.

Yeah, I figure thats what Chubby would do, but I guess it works for some, lol

[marc]

Mar 9, 2011 10:24:05 GMT -5 shay19 said:

I've only had to teach Bruiser to fetch, it's still not great because he's happier just carrying the ball around but what worked for us:

1. Throwing ball, calling back in a happy, baby talk voice or
2. Having 2 balls, throwing one while hiding the other, calling back have him drop first ball throw second. This I use to reinforce recall and trading.

I don't know if these will work for you but Jackie sounds pretty similar to Bruiser so it might? But like I said, it doesn't work every time I throw the ball, but then again Bruiser isn't exactly all there if you know what I mean lol.

Baby talk doesn't work on Jackie with us. Only with complete strangers (go figure).

So i can play the trade game somewhat, but when i call her back, she drops the ball at 10' from me, and comes to me w/out the ball. Maybe a 30' lead and some coaxing?

[loverocksalot]

Worked better to teach rocky to pick up things I drop and hand it too me. But of course clicker and food is involved.

[shay19]

Hmm... The only other thing I can think of that I taught Bruiser is I named his toys. Ball, duck, kong, rope, etc. In the beginning he'd get a treat for picking the right toy.

Now I can ask him "Go find your ______." and he'll go get it wherever in the house it may be and bring it to me. Same concept as fetch other than me not throwing the first one. But after he brings it I can throw it and he'll fetch it again.

So maybe kind of a hide and seek game too like CA suggested. Even if it doesn't get her to fetch the ball she'll know different names for toys .

Also, just a random question. Does Jackie ever bring the ball to you at all, even if you aren't actually playing or anything? Maybe you could reward her (by throwing it or treat) when/if she does. Maybe that would get the concept of "bring it back to be thrown again" in her head?? Just throwing things out there now lol.

[loverocksalot]

Yeah that has worked for Rocky too. we will sometimes play fetch if I toss that toy I asked him to get. Never outside though.

[catstina]

Have you tried getting a cat? Haha, just kidding!

[marc]

Mar 18, 2011 21:44:44 GMT -5 catstina said:

Have you tried getting a cat? Haha, just kidding!

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that was a good one!!