Playing Catch

[Lindsey]

Molly is a ball freak. Sometimes I think she loves her balls (and one, almost worn out, orange, frisbee) more than she loves treats. She will do just about anything for a toy.
She's played fetch since she the beginning. First we taught her with a small ball, inside the house. Then we took the ball outside. Soon after, the frisbee was introduced.
However, no matter how hard we tried, we just couldn't get Molly to catch anything in the air. It always had to hit the ground before she could retrieve it- even the frisbee.

Yesterday, while we were outside playing fetch. I decided to try something new. I put Molly in the "sit" "wait" command and backed up a good 8 feet. I gently tossed the ball into the air, while at the same time saying "okay", as close to her head as I could. She leaped in to the air and caught the ball!! Then she ran back to me and acted like she wanted to do it again. So for the next little while, we played catch...instead of fetch. It was so cute!
DH walked by the window at one point and then raced outside saying "did you seriously teach Molly to play catch?!" LOL...I guess it really did sort of look strange. Molly on one side of the yard and me on the other...tossing the ball and having her sit perfectly still until the ball was within jumping up and catching range. Too cute. I love teaching Molly new tricks! Now if I can figure out a way for her to throw the ball....j/k.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Nice job!! Mine don't fetch at all. Myla has a favorite red ball that she loves you to throw but even if she comes back to you she will drop it like 3 feet away and stare at you so I get more of a workout then her, other times she just teases us and runs away with it again. Chloe just wants to eat grass outside. So I think that's awesome that she could learn that so fast to jump up and get it, she was probably so proud!! New games to play everytime you go out now!!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I have Fudge sit too and throw the ball in the air for her to catch. Every time she catches the ball, I yell, "Airbud!" and she gets so happy. She likes this game almost as much as chasing the ball.

[Lindsey]

Lol- I do think it's pretty cute. I should try and get DH to video it...I'll work on that. I still need to post updated pictures of her!

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Nice job! Sedona's been a ball freak since a very early age. She loves to fetch outside, but her favorite activity is catching her squeaky ball in the house. She's a natural catcher which is good because I doubt that I would have figured out how to teach her.

[Ellen, Brûlée, and Tira]

Molly and Brulee must be related, somewhere! Brulee will play fetch all day long, but the only time she catches anything in the air is 100%  accident!  If she does catch anything., she will actually stop and put the toy on the floor before she brings it back!  My DH and I have just hooted over this.  Never thought that other doodles did this, also!  You are really smart to have given Molly "lessons" in catching.  I'll have to try that with Brulee!