Help! My Kiddoodle Will Not Fetch

[Barbie]

So, I go outside with the kiddos today and throw the tennis ball. Zeus excitedly runs after it, takes a nose dive at it, sniffs it, then races back to me – yes, without the ball. I tried repeatedly, to no avail. I know the ball is not too big to fit in his mouth because he carries it around inside the house and plays with it by himself. What can I do to show him he’s supposed to pick it up and bring it to me? At this point, I’d just be happy if he’d pick it up.

BTW, Hercules is not a good teacher on this. He’ll go get the ball for sure, but he won’t give it back.

[Barbie]

Gosh, she's so adorable! So that's what the ball looks like. Wow, a glow in the dark one also? I can't wait to see Zeus with his when it arrives. Thank you so much!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

She is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO cute!!!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Luca loves fetch. On rare occasions Calla will go after a ball. I think some dogs like it more than others.

[Michael Gurley]

I taught sunny by drilling a hole through a tennis ball and attaching it to a string. It wasn't long enough to use outdoors, but I taught her inside. It was a great opportunity to work on the "come" and "find it" commands also!

[Barbie]

Hey, that's a good idea. I actually have a tennis ball with a hole in it. It used to have a rope attached, but my Golden Retriever was quite the shredder, so that's all that's left of it.

How'd you get Sunny to play fetch with it? I haven't been able to get Zeus to play tug-of-war either. He'll now bite the end of a Wubba Kong octopus thingie, but if I pull even the slightest, he lets it go.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Great idea Michael!

[Bryce P]

A zoomie is when a doodle goes really crazy running and jumbing and well just plain out playing.

[Barbie]

LOL! Well, my puppy certainly loves to zoom-zoom - all over his big brother sometimes. Poor guy.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

When Haley would chase a ball or Frisbee he would lay down with it and chew it.  I though "where is the retriever in this doodle" and started training.  I would call him to me after he chased and grabbed the ball and if he came would praise and give a treat.  It didn't take long for him to bring the ball/Frisbee back every time.  Then I started giving fewer treats.  Now I rarely give him a treat for retrieving but still praise him.  He is now absolutely addicted to catching, chasing and retrieving.

Jennifer, Chloe and Myla - Haley will drop the ball out of reach and I tell him to bring it to me and I do not thow it unless he does.  Due to his "addiction" he has gotten very good at bringing it to me.  It just takes patience and time.

[Barbie]

Thank you, Anne! I think I'll try that once I get Zeus to start picking it up. I guess I need to search The Food Group to find recipes on low-fat treats for Hercules. When I give Zeus a treat, Herc will want one too and he's on a diet. Zeus is too scrawny and could use a couple of extra pounds on those bones. :0)

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

I just looked on your page and noticed that Zeus is a Chowdoodle.  There is no retriever in him?  I had a Chow/Brittany Spaniel mix who had absolutely no interest in balls or fetching any thing at all.  Perhaps it's the Chow in Zeus that inhibits fetch/retieve.

[Barbie]

Hmm, that could be. I've previously had two Chows and, come to think of it, neither one of them had an interest in retrieving. Zeus enjoys playing with his ball in the house, but just not outside. I actually believe he has more fun playing by himself and would rather mommy not participate. Oh well, at least I won't end up with carpal tunnel, right Joanne? LOL!