Teaching dogs to play ball

anniec610

my dog seems to think that fetching the ball then making me run after him is more fun than giving it back ! any advice would be fab as my legs are tired now!:j

CocoPopsLover

anniec610 wrote: »

my dog seems to think that fetching the ball then making me run after him is more fun than giving it back ! any advice would be fab as my legs are tired now!:j

lol! Sorry..I had a mental picture going!

Dogs are so funny! I love them so much!

My little sunshines :rotfl:

sarabe

Throw the ball, not too far and as soon as the dog picks it up and turns back to you, run away.

As he starts to catch you up about turn and go the other way.

If you move quite fast he will probably chase you whilst still holding the ball.

Change direction several times.

When you stop running the chances are that the dog will be quite close and drop the ball.

My Grandparents dog will fetch its the relenting bit so you can throw it again is the problem.

To get a dog to give the ball, the secret is not to want it.

If the dog comes close to you but won't give it then just praise and stroke the dog but stay away from his face and the ball. Make no attempt to take the ball.

Eventually he will drop it. It might take a few minutes, it might take a week.

If the dog likes to drop it and dare you to pick it up, grabbing it as you go for it, then just point to the ball and tell him "pick it up" which he will do as your hand moves towards it to point and then praise and stroke and repeat it all again.

You just need to take the competitive element out of it.

peachyprice

What type of ball are you throwing?
My dog will only retrieve this kind, he just won't run with anything solid like a tennis or rubber ball in his mouth. I don't even know where we got it but it's his all time favorite and great for playing grrr with too.

edinburghgirl

get a collie or collie cross-psychoticly obsessed with any type of ball ours can root one out anywhere favourite place is the trees at the local golf course-an average return of 5/6 balls every time

CocoPopsLover

PEACHYPRICE- Yes I was using a ball that comes with that stick thing from the pet shop and i have been using a tennis ball too.

I think my madame would run away with that pretty ball and not come back! Its too pretty to share! lol

Sagz_2

I've used Sarabe's methods with great results and I've also had success teaching the dog to fetch the ball and put it in a cardboard box:
First get the dog to hold the ball, then hide a treat in the box - dogs head goes in the box, drops the ball to eat the treat. Once that part is taught build on it so that the dog has to hold the ball, walk over to the box, drop, eats treat. Then get the dog to run some distance to drop and get the treat. Next roll the ball away from you so the dog goes to get the ball then has to bring it back to the box.

This is a great game for lazy owners ...... I had four dogs bringing 4 different toys back to the box beside my sun lounger

Zooxanthelle

My staffy x has just about got the idea of chasing the ball..... until it rolls into a hedge or slightly out of sight. Then as far as she is concerned it never existed and just stares at me scrabbling around on my hands and knees trying to find this damn ball!!