Puppy won't play ball anymore

[Mammadood]

Hello!  I have a 13 week old goldendoodle puppy named Freddie!  When we first got her she was quick to learn to play ball.  We'd throw it and she'd chase it at first, and then by 10-11 weeks she was bringing it back to us.  All was right with the world.  Then just in the last 2 weeks or so she now refuses to play ball!  She only wants to play tug of war.  She'll now retrieve the tug toy if I throw it, but she won't chase or retrieve a ball.  I REALLY want her to be a ball retrieving dog because it's such a great way of exercising her, but I'm not sure how to get her to be interested again and less focused on tugging games and her other toys.  Should I stop all other play with her until she realizes the ball is the only option?  Then I'm not sure how to get her enough exercise because walks are still not much of an option because she tugs so much and she's learning to heel.  Any advice? TIA!

[Ginny Nightingale]

There is a way to teach a dog to fetch--and it involves treats! Many do not do it naturally, but can be taught...maybe find instructions online.

The tug is working because getting to tug is her reward--the fetching, if she does not love it, has no reward--yet!

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

I agree with Ginny! Use treats. With yeti we started out treating EVERY time he gave us the ball back, as he realized this is what’s supposed to happen we cut it down to some times. And it was always random when he would get one so he didn’t catch on to a pattern. Now we don’t have to treat (although sometimes I still do). If she’s not food driven, you could do a quick tug session with her every time she brings the ball back to you.

[Amy and Annabelle]

Annabelle is a 3.5 year old mini who likes to play ball by herself. She is not interested in playing it with us. She even throws the ball herself and goes and chases it. She loves frisbee as long as it it my husband throwing it. If I throw it, she rolls her eyes at me and bring it back to my husband if he's around. She will catch it about 25% of the time.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Why don't you play fetch with a ball that's attached to a rope? When she retrieves it, her reward is a minute of tugging.

[Christine]

I have no advice.  Just that she is beautiful!!! Good luck! Christine & Nala

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Many trainers I have found will tell you not to play tug as it can tend to make them a little more aggressive.  We used to stand on opposite sides of the yard and call them back and forth.  We would each have treats.  It was a good way to exercise them.  Some dogs just aren't fetchers.  Ours will sometimes, but she is very picky about the ball or frisbee.  If she brings you one it has to be that one, you can't throw another one as she will go sniff it and not bring it back.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

For both of my Doodles just throwing the ball for them is a reward.....so they always bring it back in anticipation of me throwing it again.  It sounds like this isn't enough of a reward for Freddie to want to continue to play.  You might try using small treats, so each time he gets the ball and brings it to you and drops it he gets a small treat and then you throw the ball again.  Eventually you could probably phase out the treats or use them intermittently.  Maybe fetch is just not Freddie's "thing".  I don't play tug with my guys because one of them is "pushy" by nature and that seems to get him worked up and brings out his not so desirable behaviors.  It's probably okay for a calmer dog who isn't showing signs of dominance while playing.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I used to think that playing tug was not a good idea because of the aggression angle. But I was recently disabused of that idea by some people who are heavily involved in doing agility and other performance sports with their dogs. They actually feel playing tug with puppies is one of the best things you can do to enhance training and build a bond.

Here's some info: 

http://susangarrettdogagility.com/2012/04/improve-your-dog-training...

 https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/pets/dog-behavior/playing-tug-of-...

[Stella]

Yep, I play tug with my boys without any aggression or resource guarding problems. If you read any of Denise Fenzi's stuff, she also recommends letting the dog 'win' sometimes - which was previously a no no - but as she quite rightly says, if the dog never gets to win, they will eventually give up on the game because it's no fun for them. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ned says, " If you are dumb enough to throw a ball then YOU can go get it!  I am way too cool to fetch."

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

LOL.....

[Lynda Kamrath]

My dogs are the same.  They may run to get it, but they seldom bring it back.