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Chris

SH
Posts:50

10/28/2008 9:21 AM
So our new GSp Barley loves to play with the ball he just seems to have an issue giving it back.... I searched these forums and I couldn't find any specific advise on this.... Anyone have any ideas?? -Chris

Wolfe

Bellefonte, PA

MH
Posts:65

10/28/2008 9:54 AM
Personally, I walk away. If my GSP doesn't bring the ball/toy back to me I just start walking away. After a few seconds I turn around and call her to come to me. If she doen;t come I walk away again. Usually after the second time she comes to me. If she won;t drop or easily let go of the ball/toy I walk away. This sometimes takes a while but eventually she gives it up. If when I walk away she drops the ball/toy and runs to me I praise her for coming to me then walk over to the ball/toy and give it to her so that she can give it back to me. It definately tests my patience but I am really starting to see results. Hope that helps..

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4452

10/28/2008 10:44 AM
I don't remember reading how old your dog is. How old is he? Ok, there is a game you can play, I don't have it in my favorites any more but I will tell you how it's played. It's best to use something that doesn't bounce, like 2 pieces of hose. The dog does not need to sit or do any obedience if you don't want to. A short distance, about 20' or so,gradually lengthening as the dog gets better, throw 1 piece of hose to the left or right, as he is on his way back start to wave the 2nd piece so she sees it, but don't throw it. You can get excited if it helps him come in to you but do not add presure to the game,for now.He needs to come all the way back with the first piece in order for you to reward him with the throw of the 2nd. Throw the 2nd as soon as you have the 1st in your hand.He is allowed to jump and be happy,for now.After a few times and a few days he will realize he needs to come back if he wants the game to continue. As he gets better at it you can start to add in obedience. End the game after a few throws, you want him wanting more. After he understands the rules you can play as long as you want. Something else you can try is to put him on a check cord and throw something within that length and have him retrieve it and guide him back to you commanding "come" or "here". This method will probably work better if at first you don't have him retrieve but just work on the recall for about a month, then add the retrieve. When you say he has trouble giving it back, does he pick up and run away, come close but then avoids or won't release it? Francine

"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7854

10/28/2008 10:59 AM
Another idea that has worked really well for me, especially when they want to play keep away is to sit in a chair and throw from the chair. Whatever you do, don't get up. Keep a magazine or book nearby so you can pick it up and read if your pup doesn't bring the toy back right away. At first you will throw the toy and they will run away and do other stuff, but they quickly realize you are not getting up and the way to keep having fun is to bring the toy back to you. This works well with pups or older dogs either one. Using this method, my dogs will actually get to where they bring the toy back and put it in my lap. The key to being successful with this though is not getting out of the chair and patience.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

Chris

SH
Posts:50

10/28/2008 11:37 AM
Barley is around 8 months we think... He gets the ball in his mouth and then will either prance around me in circles or just come up to me and use me as leverage to chew on the ball.... He sometimes will let me take it out of his mouth easy sometimes it is a battle....

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4452

10/28/2008 12:09 PM
Do you give any commands when you are playing? All what he is displaying is dominance. Not a big deal. Easy to fix. I would put a check cord on him, this will end the prancing around, when he gets to you tell him "sit",make him sit the first time you say it even if you have to push his rump down, and make him stay in that position until you release him, this ends the using you as leverage and when he sits he will probably drop the ball anyway, if he doesn't open his mouth and take it out, don't pull it or create a moment where he actually is challenging you for it. I don't have as much patience as Wolfe or Texas Belle.

"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7854

10/28/2008 12:44 PM
Sounds to me like your pup wants to play the chase/keep away game. Don't give in and don't forcefully take the ball. I would definitely use the chair and sit there and wait. He will get tired of trying to entice you to chase him soon enough and will bring the ball to you and will probably drop it for you. When he does praise him, pick it up and throw it for him. If he happens to grab the ball after he drops it for (which they sometimes try), go back to ignoring him. If he won't bring you the ball back, say game over, pick up the chair and put it up and go back into the house. Whatever you do don't chase him or fight for the ball as that is whay he wants to do. Also, you are controlling the game now, not the dog. Good luck!

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4452

10/28/2008 3:19 PM
Found it, http://www.nwk9.com/twosqueakies.htm

"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle

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