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!

[BG and Gavin]

Ha Gavin will catch it then deposit it a few feet away so that you have to fetch it too. I think he believes this is part of the game. We say he is part poodle and part golden “receiver.”

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Try using a very soft latex ball that fits her mouth easily.  Basically a puppy ball.  Murphy is 18 weeks and still will only play with the soft ball.  Their mouths get pretty tender when they are teething, which is pretty much constantly until 8 months ofr so.

[Andrea, Belle and Honey]

This is probably nutty, but it worked for Belle.  At first she would take her favorite Holy Roller ball out of her toy box and either drop it at my feet, or throw it at me.  Then I would throw the ball and she would run and stand over the it and look at it, then at me, then look at the ball, then look at me ......  A trainer I know said Belle didn't know what I wanted her to do with the ball, and I had to show her.  So after I threw the ball I ran and picked it up and carried it back and put it on the ground where we started a few times, then moved on to another activity. My neighbors found the sight of me playing fetch with myself very entertaining, but after I did this a bunch of times over a few days, Belle finally brought the ball back to me herself, and I said "bring it," praised her (a lot) and gave her a treat. I did this every time she brought the ball back to me, then gradually discontinued the treat on a random basis. Now Belle consistently fetches the ball unless something (like a cat or an interesting noise) distracts her, at which point I command "bring it" and she does.  Belle seems to have decided that I love to fetch as much as she does, so sometimes she throws the ball for me and does the same intent look at the ball, then at me etc. until I go get the ball.  The bottom line is, try various methods to let your puppy know what you want until she figures it out, or until you can reasonably conclude that she just isn't a ball player.  In the process, you get to enjoy interacting with your adorable Freddie. 

[Mammadood]

The picture of Belle making you fetch is priceless!  Such a funny girl!! I love it!

[Mammadood]

Thanks for all the sharing everyone!  I loved your stories!  I've definitely made some progress since this discussion was started.  I'm using treats and she's responding really well and definitely retrieving the ball more regularly!  I appreciate Karen what you said about the tugging and the links! Thank you!  She loves tugging so much and it's a MAJOR source of bonding for us and she snuggles in-between tugs and she's not aggressive at all so I have no interest in stopping it.  In fact, I've been using it as a motivator to do things- you do this for me, I tug with you for a bit.  She's a happy pup and shows zero signs of aggression in any situation, she's just a doodle that loves to tug. It was helpful to read what not to do during a tug session- no shaking their heads up and down and bouncing them!  Just yesterday I introduced the frisbee!  She really likes to chase it- great to get her running- but it's too big and cumbersome for her to retrieve yet! But I'm hopeful!  Here's a picture of my sweet girl with one of her favorite tug toys!