Training "fetch"

[Roland]

Does anyone have a Frenchie that will retrieve? If so, did you train them to do it or do they have what people call a natural (untrained) retrieve? How old were they when they started doing it? If you trained them, how did you do it?

Just wondering, because I can't get my puppy to retrieve for anything. We've only had a few sessions (attempts), but it is not going anywhere yet. I have trained a dog to retrieve before, but it was easier because he was an adult dog and not toy motivated.

It is not especially important, I just think it is fun thing to do with a dog.

[miss heather]

my Stella (almost 10 months old) has started to retrieve lately, completely on her own... I used to try to get her to do it to no avail, so I gave up.
Over the last couple of weeks she has been coming up to me at my desk (and ONLY when I'm sitting there, nowhere else) with a favorite squeeky toy. I take it from her, squeek it, get her all excited, and then throw it across the room. She runs and grabs it, shakes her head around like she's trying to kill it and runs right back to, paws up on my lap, ready to do it again :D
I love it. Sometimes she'll only come back to me if I turn my back to her as if to say, "I don't want to play with you anymore"... then she's as determined as ever to get me to throw it again.
Totally cute... but like I said it was her that initiated the "fetch", and it is still very context specific.

In typical frenchie style... she only started doing it when it suited HER :rolleyes:

I'm not sure if other frenchies play fetch??? Anyone else?

[NYfrenchie]

Lily is a great little retriever, better than my Lab ever was. She seemed to do it naturally from an early age because she loves to chase balls etc. I wouldn't say that she does it on demand though, she is too self willed for that, she brings the toy to me for throwing when she is ready and I always make her sit before I throw it for her.
Devon Lily and Tashi. Chloe is the same way, better then my Lab growing up. She will not stop, I am always the one who gets tired from playing fetch. I also make her sit after each throw.

[Roland]

That's the thing about B.B...She really, really loves to chase things and play at "killing" things as well. She just doesn't know to bring the item back to me yet for a another toss. Maybe someday...

[Carolyn]

Oh my gosh...my Abby is obsessed with playing fetch with her Harley-Davidson squeaky tire....and we didn't have to train her. The HD tire was like a drug that she became addicted to a couple of years ago. This is a game that she plays exclusively with Jim. As soon as she hears him drive up....she flys around the house until she finds it and then is waiting at the door with it in her mouth. Now Ferris......he will run to fetch something....but somewhere along the way he gets side tracked and ends up smelling a bug or grabbing a leaf and the fetch game is a long lost memory. :p

[SadPandas]

Orson started bringing balls and stuffed animals back the 1st week we brought him home. He would almost make it all the way back to me but either stop just short of me or bring it back and to the left or right of me, just out of reach. hes almost 4 months now and is bringing the toys back to me about 7 out of 10 times with the help of treats. We are getting there for sure and he is rewarded for his efforts.

[Roland]

SadPandas ORSON IS B.B.'s LITTERMATE!!! I'm sure of it!

[Roland]

My method of training a dog for fetch is a little backwards. I start by placing the object in their mouth and then when they spit it out into my ready hand clicking and giving a treat. After awhile they start reaching for the object and dropping it in my hand. Gradually the item is tossed farther and farther away and returned for a treat. Now i think I'll have to try a different training method with B.B. Maybe like the one SadPandas suggested.

[phoebesmom]

Phoebe would play fetch the whole day if she had her way. She also has the stubborn streak when it comes to letting go, but I have found a solution. When we play fetch, either at home or on walks, I always have two toys, and when she brings the one back I show her the spare one, and being the greedy little monster she is, she quickly lets go of the first one, and so on and so on. This could go on forever so I have to say when it is time to stop, because she gets so hyped up, and we all know what happens when our little babies get too wound up!

[phoebesmom]

Gee she must be related to Ollie:lol:. He too would play fetch all day and we usually have to call it quits bc he'd go on and on. I did the same thing in the beginning when he wouldn't give it up but now he knows the "drop it" command and if he doesn't drop it, the game ends:lol:.

Judy

How did you teach Ollie the "drop it" command? I'm guessing it has something to do with food :D .

[EmD, MD]

I taught Penny to "drop it" by giving her a non-favorite toy, and when she took it I would hold it, say "drop it" and hold a treat by her face. She'd smell the treat and drop the toy to take the treat, click and she gets the treat. I give the toy right back to her and start again. Then we graduated to: No treat in sight (behind my back), "Drop it," she drops the toy, click and treat. Over and over again, sometimes actually getting the treat, sometimes not. Then came the hard part...the Tennis Ball of Evil. The whole goal of "drop it" for me was to get her to let go of a broken tennis ball, on command. Broken tennis balls turn Penny into Hellhound. She refuses to let them go and our dog park visits would end in a battle of wills. So I got out the broken tennis ball and had to start FROM SCRATCH, if you can believe that, but the process was MUCH faster. Now she is quite good at dropping on command, just about anything, anywhere.