A Question

[corgilady]

Ok when I play ball with Toffee, he prefers playing "catch" to playing "fetch". So I put him on a sit-stay and walk away, then toss the ball. He catches it and brings it to me.

Here's the question. When I tell him to "give" and then hold out my hand, he wraps his front paws around my wrist and won't give me the ball. What's that about?

Also it seems like he would rather not give it over, but he prefers to put it on the ground. Which is fine with me, as he scratches when he puts his paws on my arm!!!

[Guest Anonymous]

I just had the same problem with Harley, my rescue dog (he just arrived her in late July). Cody and Jesse would "give it" just fine.

I was able to train and overcome the problem with Harley. Here is what I did.

I would throw Harley a ball and on his own he would run it back to me. Then I would say "give it", and if he didn't give it up, I would then repeat the command and blow a SMALL puff of air in his ear. Like a charm he dropped it. I praised him and said "good give it!" in a really happy voice and gave him a really yummy treat :P .

It took about a half a dozen session for him to finally get it. Right now I'm just enjoying the success :) .

[corgilady]

Hey! Thanks sasha! :D

[Hobbit]

:o <<<< in reference to you PM -- :wink:

I am guessing that he considers the ball is his and he is possessive of it until the time that HE wants YOU to have it. You are holding out your hand and asking for it and he really isn't ready for you to have it.

Have you tried --- when he is almost to you to give him the sit command? Then ask for the ball at a lower level (maybe he thinks he can't reach you). If he tries to rise up to meet you, give him the sit command again. Don't let him rise to meet your hand.

Our Border Collies are not ball dogs, at all. I throw the ball, they herd it until it stops, then circle it with extreme "eye", but will not pick it up or bring it back. The male BC will play by himself all day --- he tosses the ball in the air and catches it, rolls it, throws it (by hisself) --- as did his father. One of the Heelers LOVES to catch stuff, but won't bring it back, he just likes to catch, he catches and spits it out and waits for another one. The other heeler, once you throw it....it's hers! She used to have a really good, "release", but has decided in her old age that she'd rather walk around with it in her mouth than to chase it down.

[corgilady]

:lol: Well I guess that makes sense. No I have NOT tried putting him on a sit, altho I noticed that he is so easily distracted, it's hard to put him on a sit if there is anything else going on! I'll bring him in and try it -- can only be on computer or have dog in here but not both at once or he eats all the shoes and socks ( in about 10 seconds! No joke!).

He does love to toss the ball and catch it himself. He likes tossing a milk carton even better??? weirdo. I really don't care whether we play ball, or something else; I was just curious....and as a violinist, would like to keep my arm :wink:

[Hobbit]

A cheap and easy toy (because it will get destroyed) is a plastic pop bottle with a light weight cotton rope attached. We use this to test for prey drive. The rope is about 100 foot long (bought at Walmart) and I throw the pop bottle as far as I can and then pull it back to me or take off running and drag the thing. Dear Lord, they love it. HOURS of entertainment. OR, you can tie it to an "O" ring on a "zip line" where it barely touches the ground ---- the dog will push it back and forth for hours.

The only draw back is that if you use a plastic bottle, you have to supervise them and make sure they don't eat it!