Not Interested In Ball.

[sallyandtex]

Hi,

2 pups 5 months old.

1 will chase stick, but then drop it.

Other only goes for it when her brother has it (not when I throw).

Any links or tips for "catch", or are they too young???

[Kavik]

Dog toys are safer than sticks for games of fetch - sticks can get lodged in their throat. If they won't chase, try to get them interested in the movement. you can tie a string or a lead to the toy and pull it around, fast erratic movements to mimic prey. Also have fun yourself! They can tell if you are faking it! You can also play with two people and throw the toy between yourselves to make it interesting. You can also try tug toys, some dogs enjoy a good game of tug

I would work on interest before trying to teach them to catch.

[Casima]

Hi Sally, This might be a bit breed dependant, some breeds have more "fetch" potential than others, and some might never be interested. What breed(s) are your pups?

For my working dogs I found the best way to get a new dog interested in the ball is have him around when my older dogs are chasing balls, it takes alittle while but the excitment and obsession with the ball seems to be contagious. Since you have one who will play with a ball keep at it. If you find the new pup is more interested in chasing the other dog rather than the ball, try standing with the ball in your hand and only throwing it when the pup looks to the ball instead of the other dog, that is what worked for my youngest, but don't try it until they are really interested. Don't over do it, stop before they get sick of the game, Kavik's advice is great.

If the pup isn't returning the ball you can try training it seperatly using food rewards.

100% agree with Kavik, don't use sticks, they are scary

Catching toys seems to come once the dogs are keen on the toy, all of mine will try to catch but I never taught it. If you wanted to teach a proper safe catch, the Disc Dog/Canine Frisbee people have ways of doing this, you would need to do a search.

[Kavik]

I think they are Kelpies Casima

I taught bringing the toy back with food.

You could also try bouncing the ball and sometimes you running with it helps too.

[beagie]

Hi,

2 pups 5 months old.

1 will chase stick, but then drop it.

Other only goes for it when her brother has it (not when I throw).

Any links or tips for "catch", or are they too young???

I have a three month old Beagle who will retrieve anything I also

have gun dogs I think he has an idea he is one also. No your dogs

are not to young but keep it short, you could try bouncing the ball to

get their interest. I am not a fan of sticks either use a ball a rope

anything that cannot harm your dog, you must stay up close and keep

control of the game, if they are dropping things away from you it is

very hard to change it later, I would be in quick smart with hand ready

to take the ball and treat at the same time. A very short throw with a

quick excited get it, you need to be moving quickly also, don't just stand

and throw and expect the dog to bring it back to you, some dogs will do

this naturaly and do not need to be taught others need to be taught.

Dogs will copy one another if you have another dog that will retrieve

then play with that, that might get their interest up. Beagie

[sallyandtex]

I think they are Kelpies Casima

I taught bringing the toy back with food.

You could also try bouncing the ball and sometimes you running with it helps too.

Yes, Kelpies.

Thanks for the tips.

when "Bringing the toy back with food", how do you get them to not drop the toy in preference to the food? One is really not food focused...but VERY excited when I run alongside, jumping up sideways on me unfortunately