Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeyP  Some dogs are born fetchers .....
My Zach will bring toys for me to throw for hours
My Mike? .... if he feels like it
But if you want a dog to fetch and bring it back
Do not chase him .... you will make him think That is the game you wanna play
Try having VERY small pieces of treats for him
when he runs to pick upi the toy
show him the treat when he gets the toy in his mouth
usually they will run over to investigate
Hopefully without dropping the toy |
I agree that you need to swop treats for the toy, but make it worth their while. Have very tasty treats with you and when they have the toy in their mouths, show them the treat. If they do drop it, don't go fetch it. Simply point to the toy and say something like "Where's the ball?" or give each toy a different name. Be patient and wait until the doggie realizes that you are talking about the toy. Eventually, they realize that bringing the toy to you they get two rewards: A treat and another session of fetch.
Also, I don't believe that some dogs are born fetchers: a dog's personality is half genetics and half learned. All of my dogs have loved playing fetch (staffies (although they 'kill' it first), labrador, mixed breeds, GSD, etc.) and my yorkie, Cash, goes crazy for the game.
To mix it up a bit, I sometimes hide a squeaky toy where I am sitting (under a blanket or behind me) and ask him "Where's the ball?". I squeak the toy and he starts rummaging around to find it.
Have fun!!