[ToFetchOrNah]

Long story short, my dog (2 year old, mix breed, female) used to be pretty good at fetching. My friend’s dog stays with us sometimes, and he isn’t so good at it. When he fetches he never brings the toy back. While trying to correct his fetching, my dog thinks now that the point is to run, grab the ball, then drop it. She even acts like she’ll get in trouble if she brings it back. How on earth do I handle this? I’ve successfully trained many dogs, but I’m stumped on this one. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[3GSD4IPO]

Separate the dogs. Train one at a time.

Get a second ball. I use a ball on a rope. As the dog is turning back toward you swing the ball on the rope.. (see image) and as the dog gets to you tell the dog "out" (I assume you have trained a drop command) and throw the second ball the instant the dog drops the first ball. Keep distances short and keep the game VERY active.

Dogs that do not bring a ball back usually do so because they think they will lose the ball to the handler because the handler takes the ball away or ends the game. A dog that has NEVER brought the ball back lacks a relationship with the handler and (usually) lacks pack drive and is harder to train. This does not man impossible to train. It means you have to work harder to get it which means the dog cannot believe he will lose the ball when he brings it back.. because you have another ball. With the rope on the ball you can also engage in a game of tug and let the dog win.. then swing the second ball and have him out the ball he has to get the second ball.. play tug with that ball and let him win while you grab the ball he dropped. Rinse and repeat.