Teaching Fetch

[Rafay Salman]

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Hi

I have a 9 week lab retriever pup.
I have taught come here and sit, successfully. He is doing is very well.
However, when I throw a ball or any of his fav toys he doesnt chase at all. Might just chase 1 out of 10 times. Tried changing toys, doesn't help.

 

[JudyN]

Do you need him to chase, or fetch? It's good for a pup to have a hobby, but on the other hand you don't want to end up with a dog obsessed with balls and fetch. I would focus on doing what he enjoys doing, and see what develops... he absolutely is a baby, and you have all the time in the world to give him more directed training later.

What might be worth doing is to work on 'drop', maybe dropping something into your hand - this is a really useful skill, and one that may lead to retrieving later. But again, I'd make this fun and very low key, say just praising and treating when he just happens to release something into your hand. It's all about gentle nudges in the right direction at this age, not 'teaching'.

An alternative activity you might try to get him moving is to use a flirt pole, and flick it along just in front of his nose - he'll probably love that!

 

[Hemlock]

He's only 9 weeks old. Wait a bit. He's a labrador - he'll fetch. As JudyN says, much better to teach him to release what he has in his mouth for a really super reward.