Fetching issue

[neamhni]

i did a moderate search, but found nothing, so please forgive if this is old.

Jumbo (male pit/lab mix in the photo) will chase any object i throw. He will collect the object. He will bring the object *near* me (within 2-3 feet) and drop it. He will hover over the object and mouth it. If i attempt to pick it up, he picks it up before me and takes off with it (This pisses me off and then i stop playing with him)!

He doesn't know "leave it" yet, so i wonder if that would just be the solution, but my concern is that if/when he knows i have treats, he won't retrieve anything- that he'll just sit there and stare at me.

Should i teach him "leave it" inside the house before we even venture involving the game of fetch into it?

 

[TheWholePack]

My Blue Heeler is crazy for his frisbee. He trembles with excitement at the sight of it. At first he would run after it, catch it in the air and come back. When I tried to pick it up he would lunge at it and pick it up. What I did was when he returned I showed a treat while giving the sit command. He sat, opened up for the treat, dropped the frisbee, and I praised him like crazy and gave more treats.

Now he drops the frisbee between my feet and sits waiting for me to throw it again. It took time, and patience.

Just a thought, if you have a couple of treats with peanut butter smeared on them they'll take longer for him to eat. This could give you time to get whatever it is that you're playing fetch with and praise him when he lets you pick it up. (As long as he doesn't go after it when you have your hand there!)

A couple of times my dog tried a tug of war with the frisbee. I never play that with him and if he tried to do that our game ended there. Once he was distracted enough with something else and dropped the frisbee I put it away until the next time.

This worked for me. Maybe you can get something out of it for you. Good luck! (Just a note of caution......fetch can become a never ending game like with my dog....LOL)

 

[Kiwii]

Hello guys ! I haven't been on Chazhound for awhile. Since I'm still new in training a new pup. Tiger and I are also experiencing things some what on the same lines.

We leave toys on the floor, so whenever he feels like playing he'll just pick one right up and fetch it up for someone.

However, the problem is this. When he brings it to someone, HE WOULDN'T LET IT GO! It's like, "Com'on mommy! Let's play Tug-O-War!" How could I teach him the "drop it" command or just naturally drop it when he fetches for us?

 

[DanL]

Try using 2 balls. When he comes to you with the 1st, show the 2nd, when he drops the 1st ball, praise him and throw the 2nd ball. We did this with our GSD, and still do it as it's great exercise for him, like running sprints.

 

[Dekka]

That is a good suggestions DanL, I do that too. The other thing is definitely teach a drop it, or leave it.

To the OP, sounds like your pup is playing in typical doggie fashion, he is trying to get you to chase him. He doesn't know the way the game of fetch works. There is no point getting pissed off, its like playing checkers with a kid, you can't blame the for not knowing the rules if you haven't taught them.

Kiwii, Sizzle loves fetch, but she loves to tug when she brings it back. So I tug for a few seconds, then say 'out' she drops it, and I throw again. If you ever want to do a dog sport (agility, fly ball, even obedience) having a dog that loves to tug makes training soo much easier.

 

[Kiwii]

Oh Yeah! Tiger does run really fast. But Agility courses are taken 10 miles away from where I live Thanks for the two ball suggestion! I'll try that out asap!!!!


What are the steps in teaching a dog "drop it" ?

 

[Charliesmommy]

I keep treats in my pocket, throw the frisbee, and when he starts running back to me, hold out the treat. When he gets to me I say "drop it". He does not get the treat until he drops it.

 

[Dekka]

LOL 10 miles is close. I teach and most people have to drive about 1/2 and hour. I travel weekly for lessons, anywhere from 45 to an hour and 20 depending on who I am going to.

For drop it, I start with less exciting toys. Hold the collar, hold the toy and as soon as he starts to spit it out, say drop it. As soon as it is let go, give treat. Don't bribe with a treat to get him to drop it...otherwise he will only drop it if he sees the treat

 

[Charliesmommy]

I didn't have any trouble fazing out the treat with Charlie.

 

[Dekka]

Some dogs don't but many do. Its different if you toss the treat as the dog comes to you. But I see many dogs who stand 4 feet away from their owners waiting to see if a cookie is to be proffered. I will use treats to get them to bring it to me sometimes, but only after they know 'out'

 

[Charliesmommy]

LOL! If he stood 4 feet from me, he wouldn't get the treat. He is very very easy to teach though and I know a lot of dogs aren't.

 

[Dekka]

LOL! If he stood 4 feet from me, he wouldn't get the treat. He is very very easy to teach though and I know a lot of dogs aren't.

Yes but many people want to play fetch eventually with out treats. And the dog thinks its entitled to cookies if it plays fetch. I love easy to train dogs. Dekka is pretty easy.

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

1) put the dog on a line so you have some control
2) STOP reaching for what he has brought you. Teach him to play tug, and to TRADE for a toy or a cookie.

People teach their dogs to not bring things back, and to duck and run away by reaching for what they have. Dogs INSTINCTIVELY want to grab and run when you do this.

I pet puppies a lot while they are holding their prizes they went to fetch, and play tug, and then release and encourage them to run about, and come back, and play tug, and get a cookie, (while I take the toy) and then dash after it again so we can continue our game.

Gets LOTS of the same toy. Play toss and catch with several of the same items. Toss, catch. Toss another. Dog spits his out and catches the one flying towards him. You have to keep it FUN for the dog to bring the object back to you.

 

[Doberluv]

Great suggestions!

Just wanted to say.....(lol) what I wouldn't give to have a good agility trainer 10 miles from me. I use to drive an hour and a half to class, one way in blizzards. LOL. (three hours of driving, one hour of class every Monday night) That's all there is. Another trainer was really "close" at one hour away but I didn't think I was getting very good instruction and combined with other reasons stopped that class.

Good luck with fetch!

 

[neamhni]

Lots of great ideas here... i think he might be starting to get the idea; we're still working on it! Thanks so much for all the input!