Need Help With Problems Retrieving Ball

[Stitch]

My 10 month old was retrieving a ball beautifully for many months.

She would come straight back and drop the ball at my feet or thereabouts and it made for great fun and good exercise for her.

Now she has developed the habit of coming back then frisking away with the ball - obviously enjoying her ability to keep the ball for herself.

She will do huge circles now with the ball in her mouth.

I had been particularly careful to avoid this kind behaviour by not to pouncing quickly on the ball myself when she returned it but somehow she has learnt that it is fun to keep the ball just out of my reach and then play with it herself.

The question is now she has learnt this bad habit how can I get her to unlearn it and part with the ball cleanly at my feet.

[Keshwar]

I would have a second ball or a high value reward.

When she comes back with the first ball show her the second/reward but only give it to her when she has dropped the ball at your feet.

Bear.

[Stitch]

Yes, I will try that Keshwar.

Food treats won't work with her as she is ball obsessed so I will have to buy another ball.

I have also tried her with the frisbee after she started withholding the ball but she does the same thing.

I wonder what makes a dog change from perfect retrieving to not wanting to give the ball up.

If I could pinpoint that then I could hopefully prevent it from happening again.

[luvsdogs]

I was also going to suggest a 2nd ball. If that doesn't work do the best you can to get the ball & put it away. If she won't play fair the game stops.

[Stitch]

OK I will try that too.

I always put the ball away at the end of the game.

I thought maybe if I gave her the ball initially so she could run around with it herself then after about 10 minutes start throwing it for her, that way she could get over her initial excitement???

What do you think? Or should she play within the rules right from the start?

[Vickie]

Some ideas I would try that I have used with each of mine at some point:

throw the ball & then run the other way, encouraging her to follow you

any time she ever brings it back, throw it again instantly so she learns bringing it back = more fun

try the 2 ball game

put her on a long line, so she can't take off with it

it she takes off with it, just say oh well & walk away

teach a formal retrieve in a small area with no distractions, starting with the pick up, hold and deliver.

Edited September 30, 2009 by Vickie

[Stitch]

Thanks Vicki, I will try that too.

Any theories as to why they progress from retrieving well to all the naughty variations.

Could it be boredom or associated possessiveness of the ball?

[SoL]

I have the same problem with Bruce, thinks it's fantastic fun to snatch teh ball from the others adn then run off with it, shame is he's quite fast so he usually gets his own way, plus the fact it could easily start a fight.

I always have a 2nd or 3rd ball on hand and once Bruce realises this he's happy to bring himself and his ball back to me, though he doesn't drop it at first unless he knows he can nick a ball from another dog. So I've just been patting him and then leaving him alone; then patting him and taking the ball and then giving it back and I finish with patting him, taking the ball and then throwing that ball so he at least has to run after it.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't but at least i can actually get a ball from him now. Before he'd have us running all over the yard!

[Vickie]

Any theories as to why they progress from retrieving well to all the naughty variations.

Could it be boredom or associated possessiveness of the ball?

If she's running away with it & circling you, she is playing a game, this doesn't sound like boredom.

Has anyone else ever played ball with her? My guess is that someone has chased her (in a fun, not nasty way) with it at some point & she has discovered that this is a fun game. What happens when she picks up something you don't want her to have around the house?

I think there are a few reasons why naughty variations happen

if the dog has full access to toys, they can become not as exciting

if bringing the ball back is not earning high enough rewards or poor timing with rethrowing

if someone has chased them & keep off become a fun game

I try to get mine to do something to earn a ball as a reward, rather than just a game. Just a little thing..I often use it to practice positions for agility.

I also build anticipation with restraining them & ready set go games. I won't throw it unless they deliver to the position I ask for, either in my hand, at my feet or in a bucket. If they drop it 2 foot away from me, I get them to bring it closer & closer, building more anticipation each time.

[Stitch]

My OH started to play ball with her because I hurt my shoulder and couldn't throw the ball far enough.

I supervised him though as I was hoping to avoid this particular problem which I have seen in other dogs every now and then.

He was really good though and didn't pick the ball up unless it was brought back to right near him. I noticed that the dog then (I am presuming got impatient with the game not progressing quickly enough) grabbed the ball and started the circle thing.

So I am thinking now that it might be an impatience thing on the dogs behalf.

Does this make sense??

Edited to add: Talking about this problem is really good for me as I am now starting to see things more clearly.

Edited October 1, 2009 by STITCH

[gsdog2]

Thanks Vicki, I will try that too.

Any theories as to why they progress from retrieving well to all the naughty variations.

Could it be boredom or associated possessiveness of the ball?

I think it has more to do with her age as mine is 10 mths and was doing the same thing. I agree with the use of the second ball and also a long line, the only thing I would add is that you gradually reduce the length of the long line as she starts to return the ball. I found mine would come straight back to me if she had the long line on (she knew she really had no choice :p ) but as soon as I removed it she'd take off again. The trick is as she learns to come back on the long line leave a shorter line on (that doesn't quite reach the ground) so that she feels like it's still there. Mine is now returning to me but has started this knew thing where she stands between my legs and waits for me to remove the ball from her mouth - not sure what that's about, but we're working on it . If anyone has any suggestions (with regard to her actually dropping the ball at my feet) feel free ......... ?

[LilBailey]

All of these suggestions are great. Idon't have anything to add really. Just a question what made you decide that you didn't want the chasey behavour to start? I hate it personaly but then that s from a dog sport perspective.