My previous (American-bred show line) German Shepherds just looked mystified when I threw a ball. My new (Czech/DDR working line) dog will happily retrieve it all day - but we're not quite in sync on the matter of her giving it back to me.
Often she'll drop it but as soon as I move towards it, it becomes a game and she'll try to beat me to it. When I get it from her mouth that also becomes a game for her.
I saw a short video on the Orbee in which Ed Frawley's dog gives him the ball on the "out" command. I'm not sure how to get there from here.
Tiffae89, no, my show line dogs never caught on. That was 20 years ago before I'd even heard of ball drive. Now I'm just trying to figure out how to 'harness' that drive.
The trick is to say the word " out " and the moment she lets go of the ball ,
you throw the other ball. Soon she will learn that ,when she out's the game starts again.
You must wait for her to drop the ball. The dog must understand, " OUT " means
leave the ball, only then the game starts again.
The 2 ball game works, here's how I do it. I use 2 balls on a rope. I get the dog crazy for the toy at home first. I go to a field and tease the dog with 1 ball and throw it. The dog races to get the first ball and turns to come back to you, at this point I say "here" and start to wave the 2nd ball while running backwards. This causes the dog to race to you, as Sonora stated watch the dogs mouth as it starts to open it's mouth to drop the first ball say "out". The dog is already dropping the first ball, but after a few reps it will start to make the connection with the word out. After it drops the first ball throw the second ball and quickly run and pick up the first ball and start again. This is a tiring game for the dog as it is very high energy. I like to do this on a football field, the dog winds up sprinting almost the length of the field several times. Obviously I would shorten this for puppies. This game teaches the out and a lightning fast recall.
Hi Gary: For two balls, seems like we each have a little different variation of the game. Perfect example of how things must always be tweeked to fit the dog in question. I'll bet what ends up working for you & yoru dog will be just a little different too!
I like to use the balls on strings. You can get them from various mail order places, I really like Bende Balls, but any brand is good.
Here is what I do:
Toss the 1st ball
Keep the other ball hidden until the dog actually comes all the way to you with the first ball.**
Pull out the 2nd ball & whip it around by the string, tell your dog to "out" the second he spits out the 1st ball
Toss the 2nd ball
When you are first playing the game, don't throw the balls very far (in the beginning when the dog is learning the game) because you want him to be sure and bring the ball all the way back to you.
**If he does drop the ball before he gets back to you, don't throw the 2nd ball you are hiding behind your back. Point to the 1st ball & tell him to get it. Even if you have to walk all the way up to it, keep pointing to it and telling him to get it. When he gets it, back up real fast calling him to you, then when he gets to you, whip out the 2nd ball.
The reason I like 2 balls is it is stress free and easy to teach.
That is how I got the prey beast named Pharaoh to play fetch with me. He was doing exactly what Ruby does. He loves to trick me and play keep away. The first stage I did the two ball retrieve. sometimes using the Ruffian balls for throwing off the deck and down the hill (these toys will not get stuck in tree branches or bushes.)
When I go to the park, I use cool kongs which are on a rope (I am a total clutz and this allows me to throw some distance)
they will also float in water
Then I started doing the two ball with the chuck-it.
Then, some nice database people told me to tell him out as he is dropping the ball waiting for the second one to go flying. That little addition added a new dimension to our game. We are now playing one ball retrieve with the chuck-it, and only the chuck-it. Adding that drop command made all the difference in the world. The progress was sudden and dramatic.
Good luck with your fabulously, stunning, hunky Ruby,
I agree with Sueincc....don't let the dog see the second ball until he brings back the first. I used the two ball method and if my guy saw the second ball during the retrieve, he dropped the first ball (often a distance away) and came charging.
When you start getting some consitency with your dog retrieving and outing the ball wean him/her off the second ball by starting to pick up and throw the first ball again. If mine started to play "keep away" I just ignored him and turned my back on him. Inevitably, he came up to me to see what was going on.
Another tip, do not let your dog have access to the ball unless you are out playing with him. Too many people allow their dog(s) access to the ball all the time (even in the house) wrongly thinking it will increase the dog's interest in it. You want playing ball to be a special thing between you and your dog. When my ball-insane showline sees his, he knows it's playtime in the park with me.
Hey Michele - Those toys look like fun, but I read somewhere (can't find it now) that throwing kong-like toys can increase the risk of injury to a dog because toys like this often bounce in odd directions. The weird directional bounce of the toy can cause the dog to twist and move more awkwardly than they would retrieving a regular ball. I just wanted to throw that out there :-)
I don't let the dog see the second ball until they get back to me either. If I let her see it before she gets back to me, she will spit out the first ball immediately, even if she has just picked it up. And no amount to telling her to get the first ball and bring it closer will work, she will be trying to get the one I am holding and NOT go back for the first one. Even if I hide the second one or put it in my pocket, she KNOWS I have it and wants THAT ONE, not the first one.
You just need to see what method works for Ruby.
I love the two ball game it works like a charm. As to the other dogs that do not like to retreive this is what I do to get em started.. Now don't laugh it works.
I take the tennis ball and roll it in bacon grease, make sure its nice and greasy. I then take the dog out and roll the ball infront of him. Generally the dog takes a few minutes to sniff things out then goes and gets the reward. This not only helps the retreive drive but the tracking drive as well. Try it you might like it! :)
Thanks everyone. The two ball technique worked like a charm and within 5 minutes she had the out command cold and I could put the second one away. I appreciate all the input.
Don't put the second ball away yet. I never go out without 2 balls, (oh brother, did I just say that) the dog should always think you have the 2nd ball. If it realizes you only have one, it will be slow to out it. This game gets re-enforced even with older dogs. You may find yourself in a real tug of war over that one toy when the dog realizes it has the only toy. keep the dog guessing and vary the rewards.
Jim is so right. Once your dog realizes it is now HE that has what YOU want, he will relish in the fact that you are now playing HIS game of "keep away", while he dances around just out of reach! This would be your dog laughing at you!!! I know, my dog laughs at me A LOT.
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