Dog Community

"fetch" question

Posted : 11/16/2006 7:38:56 AM

I'm going to start training my dog using the reliable retrieve technique in Dog Scouts soon, and I suspect I'll be having a little trouble getting my dog to hold onto the object. Are there any products or things in particular that are good for "fetch"?

Wendy C.

Posted : 11/16/2006 10:47:17 AM

Tink plays fetch with just about anything...from a stick to her chewy squeek bone thing...shes just that way..she picked it up very easily. Just go with something thats too big for your doggy to swallow but not too big for the mouth. sorry im not a professional but Tinkerbelle loves playing fetch so shes been teaching me great lol

rwbeagles

Posted : 11/16/2006 10:49:30 AM

My Ellie is of course a Beagle...a breed not known for a natural retrieve. She will go NUTS over and retrieve til she drops...a small PAINT ROLLER. No Lie. lol...go figure!

Wendy C.

Posted : 11/16/2006 10:51:03 AM

ORIGINAL: rwbeagles

My Ellie is of course a Beagle...a breed not known for a natural retrieve. She will go NUTS over and retrieve til she drops...a small PAINT ROLLER. No Lie. lol...go figure!

Of all things....a paint roller lol...too funny

houndlove

Posted : 11/16/2006 10:53:23 AM

In teaching my hounds (again, not breeds known for a natural retrieve) to retrieve, I found that using an interesting object at first helped them get the concept. I started with a squeaky ball with a very loud squeak. They both enjoy squeakies and don't get them often (most squeakies in the house get de-squeaked in a matter of minutes, so I don't bring them home that much), so holding on to the ball and squeaking it was self-rewarding.

I've since noticed that even when I use other kinds of balls, they're more interested in fetching and holding on to them now because they're still thinking that this object may squeak if they try hard enough or carry it around long enough.

rwbeagles

Posted : 11/16/2006 10:54:16 AM

[linkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYO-ioEe3Tw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYO-ioEe3Tw[/link]
[linkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeVx-FSli48]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeVx-FSli48[/link]

Yep...here's the evidence...lol! (videos)

mudpuppy

Posted : 11/16/2006 11:22:06 AM

you may have to experiment with various objects and toys, it seems to depend on the dog. I got one dog interested in fetching with a zap n flash ball, which makes noises and flashes lights when thrown. She's now a frisbee maniac, but without that really interesting toy to start with she never would have discovered the joys of fetch. She still refuses to hold a tennis ball in her mouth, yet so many dogs love to mouth tennis balls.

bragg1120

Posted : 11/16/2006 11:35:59 AM

The small paint roller story is too cute! [

]

Gracie, our cocker spaniel mix isn't too interested in fetching. When she was a puppy, she'd chase anything (rocks, sticks, tennis balls, stuffed animals) and bring it back. Now, it seems she's bored with running after things and bringing them back only to have us throw them again lol She does, however, like us to toss something in the air so she can catch it but if it goes too far... she has this look of 'you go get it'. Trixie on the other hand (our shih tzu mix) loves fetch and will go all day if you will.

I agree with mudpuppy, maybe it's all in the kind of toy you choose. Hope you can find something that your doggy will enjoy!

Wendy C.

Posted : 11/16/2006 12:34:01 PM

ORIGINAL: rwbeagles

[linkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYO-ioEe3Tw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYO-ioEe3Tw[/link]
[linkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeVx-FSli48]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeVx-FSli48[/link]

Yep...here's the evidence...lol! (videos)

funny videos....i like the one where the cat almost pounces lol

2 Is Enough

Posted : 11/16/2006 7:07:40 PM

I will be watching this one closely. My Retriever doesnt retrieve. I guess hes more of a go retrieve it yourself type.

Bobsk8

Posted : 11/16/2006 8:17:05 PM

ORIGINAL: houndlove

In teaching my hounds (again, not breeds known for a natural retrieve) to retrieve, I found that using an interesting object at first helped them get the concept. I started with a squeaky ball with a very loud squeak. They both enjoy squeakies and don't get them often (most squeakies in the house get de-squeaked in a matter of minutes, so I don't bring them home that much), so holding on to the ball and squeaking it was self-rewarding.

I've since noticed that even when I use other kinds of balls, they're more interested in fetching and holding on to them now because they're still thinking that this object may squeak if they try hard enough or carry it around long enough.

I wonder why it is so hard to make a squeaky toy that can retain it's squeak? Sure wish I could find one.