[wtparry]

Our 5month old Blue Heeler loves to fetch, she will fetch balls, frisbees anything really. She will bring the object back to us but refuses to drop it! She actually play growls forcefully and hangs on! I have tried ignoring her, opening her mouth to release the object, abandoning the game completely but she still hasn't caught on. My kids really want to play fetch with her but the rare times that she does actually drop the object she lunges for it when one of us tries to pick it up to throw it again.

Have any suggestions? She is really smart I think she just wants the tug o war to be part of the game and we don't want to do that .

Thanks.

[RonE]

Do a search for 'fetch' and you'll find enough reading and opinions to keep you busy until autumn.

(Your dog probably IS really smart and she has made up her own version of the game.)

[Jen D]

Have another ball ready so when she comes back with the one she has most likley she will drop it for the other. You cane also have one of her faviorte treats ready and as soon as she smells it she should drop the ball for the treat then continue. Good luck

[woof2u2]

Originally Posted by wtparry

Our 5month old Blue Heeler loves to fetch, she will fetch balls, frisbees anything really. She will bring the object back to us but refuses to drop it! She actually play growls forcefully and hangs on! I have tried ignoring her, opening her mouth to release the object, abandoning the game completely but she still hasn't caught on. My kids really want to play fetch with her but the rare times that she does actually drop the object she lunges for it when one of us tries to pick it up to throw it again.

Have any suggestions? She is really smart I think she just wants the tug o war to be part of the game and we don't want to do that .

Thanks.

I agree with JenD.. we have always offered our dogs something else they like when we play fetch. Your puppy needs to learn the give and take commands and soon, especially as she is 'play' growling with the children. This play growling could turn into more serious aggresion in the future. We have used food, another toy anything as a prize for dropping the frisbee or ball and letting us take it. The real prize then is we carry on playing with them. Hope this helps.

[DBZ]

wtparry, I agree with the advice the others have given. Since I also have a Blue Heeler that didn't want to let go and likes to play tug, I thought I'd add some detail.

Have two of whatever you're playing fetch with, let's say a Frisbee. Throw the first Frisbee and give your verbal command for fetch as the dog starts to chase it. Keep the second Frisbee behind your back until the dog is nearly back to you. When you produce the second Frisbee and throw it the dog will probably drop the first one at your feet as she takes off after it. Keep repeating this and as the dropping of the Frisbee becomes reliable and predictable start giving your "out", "give" or "drop it" command.

I also like the treat method and so does my dog. Have a bag or pocket of small, soft, moist, tasty, easy to swallow treats with you. Throw the object to be fetched and when the dog brings it back hold a treat out for the dog to sniff. When she drops the object give her the treat while picking up the object. Repeat this as before giving your out command once the drop is becoming predictable. You can slowly phase out the treat giving until you give a treat only after every few retrieves.

My dog went from wanting to hang on to the thrown obect to being so eager for the treat he would drop the object before I wanted him to. When this started happening I began to withold the treat until the dog would hold the object until I gave the out command. Now he gets anything I ask him to and gives me anything when asked. And before Ron comments I'd like to say I don't ask him for anything he's not able to deliver.

There may be other and better ways to teach the fetch. These have worked well for my dog and me for the kinds of fetch we play.

Good luck!

DBZ

[Keno's Mom]

Took us awhile to break Keno of that habit too What I did was to call her to me (with the ball); tell her to sit; then hold under her collar (throat) and give her the command DROP IT (in a little harsh tone of voice). I would do nothing but hold the collar till she dropped the ball. I was not gonna play the tug of war game.

When she dropped it (still holding her back) I would praise her and throw it again.

Another trick is to have 2 objects (ball/rope/frisbee) and as she brings one back to you, tell her to DROP IT and get ready to throw the next one. Most times they are glad to just drop whatever they have to chase the next one.

Try either way. Get your kids to do the exact same thing so its consistent.

Keno's pretty good now - she will drop it 8 out of 10 times. When she refuses I just walk away and tell her "game over".

[borzoimom]

Originally Posted by wtparry

Our 5month old Blue Heeler loves to fetch, she will fetch balls, frisbees anything really. She will bring the object back to us but refuses to drop it! She actually play growls forcefully and hangs on! I have tried ignoring her, opening her mouth to release the object, abandoning the game completely but she still hasn't caught on. My kids really want to play fetch with her but the rare times that she does actually drop the object she lunges for it when one of us tries to pick it up to throw it again.

Have any suggestions? She is really smart I think she just wants the tug o war to be part of the game and we don't want to do that .

Thanks.

I agree- use the trade idea. Have two of them. If she loves the game so much to chase the ball, having a second ball will work great. Eventually she will drop the ball coming in waiting for the next throw..