k9kreationz
Forums Celebrity
Shelties don't fetch?
- Thread starter pgwiz1
- Start date
haven't read the other replies yet, but if you want your dog to fetch, try a Kong.. they bounce in different directions and my last sheltie was great at fetching that. before I got the Kong, she was not interested in fetching at all.
Emmasmom
Forums Sage
Oh yeah - it is really hilarious when it is Liam's 2" ball that he got for Christmas or when he is trying to get something out of Emma's mouth and he has his head upside down under her chin.
romeosangiovese
Forums Enthusiast
My little girl doesn't fetch but I've had great success by using a little mesh pouch filled with treats. She is extremely food motivated so she'll go for the pouch and she can't get the treats out. At first I keep encouraging her to come to me which she does eventually coz she realizes she doesn't have opposable thumbs. She got the idea pretty quickly and would keep bringing the pouch to me to get the treats out for her. I plan on generalizing that behaviour by sticking that pouch in toys.
Justicemom
Forums Celebrity
I think alot of shelties are not natural retrieves. They get the chase part but the bring back part is lost on them and need to be taught.
Justice is a natural retriever. I throw, he runs, grabs, brings back. Point to an object and he would go get it. I never had to teach him to retrieve at all, even as a small baby puppy. I just pointed and he did it. I have since found out that it very rare indeed.
Diva, Pike, Bock and Grizz, had the chase and grab but bring back part I had to teach it.
Ember has the you threw it, you go get it attitude. I did teach her to retrieve and she is very good at a formal obedience retrieve. But she will not retrieve anything that she has not been taught to retrieve ie dumbbell, gloves. She doesn't care to play with balls or other toys.
All the above dogs except Grizz come from several genrations of obedience dogs so even selecting dogs who are more willing to retrieve and work(higher drive). Only 1 was a natural.
Justice is a natural retriever. I throw, he runs, grabs, brings back. Point to an object and he would go get it. I never had to teach him to retrieve at all, even as a small baby puppy. I just pointed and he did it. I have since found out that it very rare indeed.
Diva, Pike, Bock and Grizz, had the chase and grab but bring back part I had to teach it.
Ember has the you threw it, you go get it attitude. I did teach her to retrieve and she is very good at a formal obedience retrieve. But she will not retrieve anything that she has not been taught to retrieve ie dumbbell, gloves. She doesn't care to play with balls or other toys.
All the above dogs except Grizz come from several genrations of obedience dogs so even selecting dogs who are more willing to retrieve and work(higher drive). Only 1 was a natural.
DogIsMyMantra
Forums Enthusiast
This was Bella all the way. She liked to chase toys, but as soon as the ball stopped moving she was like, "What's the point?" I used her love of chasing a moving object to get her to bring the ball back. As soon as she got to the ball that was thrown I would take off running in the other direction. As long as she had the ball in her mouth she got to chase me.
She caught on to this pretty quickly and I just continued to shape it to where now she prefers to bring a toy back to me and will actually put it in my hand if I ask.
SheltieGuy
Forums Enthusiast
Snickers is a fetch addict. That is all he wants to do.(indoors and outdoors) Even with 4 inches of snow on the ground he will play as long as I am willing to throw. lol.....Of course I get cold before he does. As soon as I mention the word ball his ears perk up and he goes and hunts for his ball.
Everett is more of a chase, but he does bring the ball back to do it again. For him its the anticipation of it leaving. We have a small stick and we hit the small tennis ball for him. Picture a soccer goalie. He watches the ball with intensity and anticipates the hit. It must be fast. If its fast enough you earn a bark.
Ill think I need to tape it.....
He must play after morning treats, and just after dinner. these are the given times. Others at your convenience.
Ill think I need to tape it.....
He must play after morning treats, and just after dinner. these are the given times. Others at your convenience.
Caro
Moderator
That's how I started Tully down the slippery slope of fetch addiction - a Kong Air Donut. She loved it because it stays close to the ground and moves in different directions - stimulates a chase better. I tell you when all other high energy dogs have fallen by the wayside - BCs, kelpies, cattle dogs - Tully is still going. She is notorious for her fetch!
Deska on the other hand gave up on fetch. But I think thats partly because of Tully. He prefers herding me anyway.
Chris
Premium Member
You Gotta Be Kidding
Not fetch? OGMAB! As many of you know, our mildly autistic Sheltie, Bitsy Boodle, communicates through her plush ball. When we return from a long absence, she runs -- to get it. When we snuggle her, she runs for the ball. She would fetch 24 hours a day if she could rotate humans!
Not fetch? OGMAB! As many of you know, our mildly autistic Sheltie, Bitsy Boodle, communicates through her plush ball. When we return from a long absence, she runs -- to get it. When we snuggle her, she runs for the ball. She would fetch 24 hours a day if she could rotate humans!