Fetch

[Britian]

Ive had my Australian Shepherd for about 4 months now, I know she is a very active dog so I have been trying to play games with her to wear her down. Recently I have tried the game of catch, she chases the ball, and will even mouth the ball but when it is thrown she will not pick up the ball, she merely touches it with her snout and then runs back.

Anyone know of any tips to get her to bring back the ball or even a frisbee.

-Britian

[Sunnypup]

Some people recommend cutting a hole in the tennis ball,and sticking a treat in it. When she goes to it, follow her, and take the treat out. Make a big deal over her having touched the ball, praise her like crazy, then give her the treat. Do this for a few times, then let her go after the ball by herself. If she picks it up, go to her and give her the treat, praise like crazy ect. Do that for four or five times if she seems to have gotten it. Then throw the ball, and let her go after it. Let her pick it up but don't go to her. Call her to you. She should come, and when she does, take the treat out and praise her like crazy. After a while like that, you shouldn't need the treat in the ball, just a few treats on hand for when she brings the ball back. Then eventually you'll only need a treat for once in a while to reinforce the recall. :) Good luck. My aussie LOVES fetch, and is getting great with a frisbee...but don't try the whole catch it up in the air thing until she is 1 1/2 to 2 so that her joints and back don't get hurt. Have fun! :)

[Britian]

that makes sense, She is actually already 2 we recieved from a breeder/shower who was not going to show because she was alittle too tall. Shes the biggest lover ever and cant get enough affection. I will give this a try tomorrow and hopefully it works. Thanks!

-Britian

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sctm/v71/187/8/40600498/n40600498_31362804_2927.jpg

[Sunnypup]

OH SHE'S GORGEOUS! What a pretty girl. You're in for so much fun. Good luck!

[RedyreRottweilers]

Here is how I do it:


To start you will need an object that is very easy for the dog to grasp and hold. I use a dumb bell. You could use a properly sized dowel or other sort of retrieving dummy.

If you use a piece of doweling, cut it about 8" long.

Get ready MANY MANY pieces of some reallly tasty sort of bait, cut into small pieces.

You will also need something to mark the behavior with. Some people use a clicker. I use the word "YES!"

Make sure you have something cool to drink, and something you like on the TV.

Sit in your favorite chair, with the treats nearby, and the dowel, or dummy, or dumb bell held between your knees. Wait for the dog to come close to the object. Set a target distance of say, 6". When the dog reaches this target distance, mark the behavior, and treat.

The dog will, guaranteed, approach this area again sooner than later. Again, mark and treat. Mark for looking at the object as well. If the dog happens to accidentally TOUCH the object in any way, JACKPOT the dog, by praising a LOT and giving a handful of treats one right after the other as quickly as he can eat them.

If the dog takes too long to come towards the dumb bell, reduce your "criteria".

Mark and reward any time she comes towards you, or looks at the dumb bell.

You want to find as many reasons to mark and reward her really fast in the early stages as you can. You can then RAISE your criteria, and the dog will work to find out what makes you "click".

Every so often, say, for example, every 3 or 4 "marks", take a break from this activity by tossing a treat across the room for the dog to RUN towards. (IMPORTANT: DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP)

Next increase your criteria gradually for the behavior by requiring that the dog touch the object to get a marker. Once the dog gets to this point, things usually progress quickly.

Keep this training up ONLY as long as the dog is interested in playing. This varies from individual dog to dog.

Once the dog understands that touching the object gets him a mark and a treat, wow, the game is on. This becomes SO MUCH FUN for the dog, because he feels he is controlling his rewards. (And in a way he is, isn't he?)

Then once again, you withhold when the dog touches the object. NOW you want the dog to touch or lick the BAR of the dumb bell. When a dog reaches a new level and moves up this behavior closer to what you are looking for, you can JACKPOT the dog again.

As you practice marking behaviors and rewarding like this, gradually increase your criteria until the dog is holding the object as you gently release your knee pressure.

Use NO negatives. An exception is a very gentle, mild plain voiced "ah ah" if the dog needs a bit of help away from some behavior you don't want.

When you get to the point the dog is firmly holding the object, you can then start placing it on the floor near your feet. Sometimes once the object goes to the floor, you will have to back up to the beginning and shape the touch, mouth, and pickup again. It will go much faster. Don't rush. Don't advance until the dog is clearly picking up the DB and looking for a treat. Then move to picking it up with your hand on the DB. And finally to the dog picking up the DB and bringing it to hand. You can offer to trade for a treat, enticing the dog to you, once he is picking it up.

Important points: DO NOT teach the dog to stand away from you by reaching out for the DB. Don't reward until the dog comes all the way in to you. DO NOT teach the dog to spit out the DB by picking it up when he drops it. Work to shape the dog to pick it up. You must ALWAYS reward the use of a marker word or click EVERY SINGLE TIME.

Now all this time about every 3 or 4th reward, you've been throwing a treat for your dog to run out for. Did you realize you were going to LINK this running after the treat behavior to the dumb bell?

Once the dog is picking up the dumb bell from the floor, and happily delivering it to your hand, you can start gently sliding it across the floor and rewarding the dog for fetching it. Most dogs RAPIDLY progress to running and fetching things you throw with delight.

The last 2 dogs I trained using this method were RUNNING and fetching by the end of the 4th session.

Bored this weekend? Too hot to play outside?

Try this with YOUR dog and see how long it takes for the dog to actively fetch.

A HUGE benefit of this sort of training is that dogs once they learn this, can easily be taught to hold and carry almost anything.

Shopping bags.

Bank bags.

Baskets with goodies in them. Etc.