Retrieving bumpers

I added scent to mine to help incite the retrieval.  I bought duck and pheasant scent put some over it, left it for a few hours, wiped off the extra and took him outside.  Loved it.

Oddly enough MY dog won't retrieve, wont even CHASE tennis balls.  lol 

Oh, you may also want to start with a fabric bumper, they make the floating/water repellent kind, but I've heard dogs that don't like hard plastic will often start easier on a fabric dummy.
 

I've never done this before and i have no idea if this would work but here is what I would try.

Start with playing with the bumper up close first. Entice him with it and make it really appealing. You know "do you want it?" in a high pitched voice waggling it around to get his attention when he is a couple of feet away from you, that kind of thing.

Then start low and toss it right up over his head so he instinctively jumps a bit and grabs it. Praise like crazy, reward when you take it from him and repeat. Gradually add a bit of distance or throw it harder. When he knows"grabbing the bumper=treats" then start with him close and throw it so he can't jump and grab it and he actively has to get it and bring it to you.

Do you use a clicker? That could make it easier.

Right now it sounds like you are throwing the bumper like it is a ball---a long ways---and since he doesn't see the "reward" in getting the bumper, he doesn't bring it back. He loooves tennis balls so the reward for getting a tennis ball is HE gets the tennis ball LOL. Phase out rewards when he is consistently retrieving the bumper and make chasing the bumper the reward---just like it is with the tennis ball.

Does this make sense?

If this doesn't work at ALL (ie if he spits it out after you toss it over his head) take a look at the bumper and see if it is yucky :) somehow or try a different bumper.

I hope this works.

Sera_J

I added scent to mine to help incite the retrieval.  I bought duck and pheasant scent put some over it, left it for a few hours, wiped off the extra and took him outside.  Loved it.

Oddly enough MY dog won't retrieve, wont even CHASE tennis balls.  lol 

Oh, you may also want to start with a fabric bumper, they make the floating/water repellent kind, but I've heard dogs that don't like hard plastic will often start easier on a fabric dummy.
 

We bought both, the canvas and the plastic (both float in water)...he has zero interest in both! I will try the scent, though. Thanks!

Thank you! I will try your advice out. We just started clicker training, so I'm still getting the hang of it!

LOL, I won't be of much help since I have the same *exact* "problem" with Riley (though I think it's cute). Actually, we just got back from a walk and he carried his tennis ball there and back, the whole time. Like Apollo, he will only retrieve tennis balls and is NUTS about them. The scent idea sounds good to me, I'd never thought of that. Could you try and do something like put a little peanut butter on the bumper, let Apollo sniff it, and then throw it in? Sorry, I'm not very helpful I know! But it could work. And when you have the bumper, of course act like it's the BEST thing ever - get him excited about it, but you probably have tried that already, lol. Good luck!

Yah, I tried getting him really excieted about the bumper- and he does get excieted (barks, wags his tail, wiggles all over sometimes, jumps up and down)....until he realized (after he runs to it) it isn't a tennis ball! Then he runs to me like, "Ma! Throw the ball!", lol. Never tried the pb, though!

 I know you already bought the bumpers but you may try this at some point

kong training toy

it has a scent in it and the rope + the weight makes throwing it easy

edited to say Bugsy couldn't be less interested in a tennis ball - he destroyed them as a pup - but throw darn near anything and he will fetch it BUT throw a tennis ball and he will look at you like am I supposed to do something about that?

Cool idea! It's only sale, too, only $10!
I might order him a Kong Wubba, also, because he loves playing with my friends' dogs.

 Make sure you get the XL here's Bugsy and his 90lb lab friend demonstrating its use

tennis balls are really bad for dog's teeth by the way. Maybe you could wean him to fetching different shaped things by using something like this:

http://www.jbpet.com/Tennis-Tails,1490.html

BlackLabbie

I would like Apollo to retrieve bumpers instead of tennis balls...but he is a total tennis ball nut! It's the only thing he will retrieve- not other type of ball will due either. If I throw a bumper he will run to it, realize is isn't a tennis ball, and run back to me without it. With the tennis balls, he doesn't destroy them ever, he just loves to retrieve them! He will retrieve the ball, run back to me, and drop it at my feet. Is there any way I can teach him to retrieve a bumper?

Have you thought of trying an Air Kong bumper? It is made of tennis ball material and some of the squeak?

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2750612 

My lab will retrieve ANYTHING on dry land, but her frisbee is her favorite. In water she will ONLY retrieve a bumper. She won't retrieve a ball, wubba, jolly ball, or her frisbee. Silly dog.  

I never heard this before, care to elaborate?

Tena

4HAND

I never heard this before, care to elaborate?

Tena

That's new to me too!

http://www.gundogsupply.com/dog-training-bumpers.html