Densil won't play fetch

I bought a small kong safestix (that I could hide in my pocket, lol) and a tennis ball. When I take Densil down to the green and let him roam on the training lead I thought I could start training him to fetch. I have tried throwing the ball and the stick and he just runs straight by them - not a bit interested! I had previously tried in the garden at home and he will run and catch them but then he runs off with them. I guess there are just too many other nice smells and distractions out on his walk and that is why he is not bothered.

They are all different aren't they, Rocky loves his toys but he plays fetch and keep, Bailey is not even slightly interested in toys unless they are in Rocky's mouth

I haven't yet managed to get Suki to fetch. She will go after whatever I throw but than just wants to play tug of war.

Some dogs aren't keen on playing fetch. You might need to do more training in the garden with him. I had to train my girls to fetch and it took a while!

I taught Loki to play fetch in a very long-winded way. I had a stick toy (not a real one) and taught him to touch the stick every time I said "Get the stick," and then I'd tell him to get the stick and I'd have a treat in my hand and get him to come back to me with the stick. At first I was very close to him so he'd bring the stick to me, then slowly increase the distance. He now loves to play fetch although he does enjoy running around too . Some dogs just don't like playing fetch though, so it depends.

Darcy loves playing fetch, the giving up of the item being fetched, not so much lol:

Moo loves a game of fetch also, she has mastered putting it in your lap when you ignore her

Darcy-may wrote:Darcy loves playing fetch, the giving up of the item being fetched, not so much lol:

I think most of them feel this way to be honest

I'm teaching Daisy to play fetch, she is getting better, takes a bit of time!

My two love playing fetch and keep also - they're very good at running after the ball and picking it up. But you don't get it back

If you can get him to run off with them your 90% there! If hes chasing them then running past hes probably getting distracted part way so its worth going back to the garden to teach fetch. if he knows hes going get a treat/attention for bringing back the toy hes going to be much more focused!

With Blue I put him on his 20ft lead and threw a ball or toy for him and at first he was picking it up and running into his cage with it. Then as soon as he picks it up and starts moving off I would gently reel him in with the lead until I could try and take it from him saying "Give It". if hes being stubborn about giving it back throw a treat on the floor in front of him and he drops whatever is in his mouth right away. Just build up to the full length of the lead then take it out to the garden, then the park or the green ...just keep the distractions to a minimum until he realizes how much fun it is to bring it back.

Id say it took about 2 months to get Blue to fetch ...he seems to be better with sticks than toys though!

I have two balls for Axl, I throw one, then when he's got it I hold the other one up in the air and wave it above my head and he runs back, I hold the second ball in the air still and tell him to drop the ball in his mouth, I don't throw the second ball until he drops the first one, it took a while to get that last bit right as he used to want both of them together but generally it works now I do have to keep saying "bring ball" in a high pitch silly voice but it does work!

I always make sure I throw Katy's ball in the direction I want to walk, Katy runs to it but then leaves it where it landed Obviously not her game

Jenc wrote:I always make sure I throw Katy's ball in the direction I want to walk, Katy runs to it but then leaves it where it landed Obviously not her game

Yep, that's exactly what Densil does - glad to know he's not the only one judging by some of the comments above.