What, to me, is the missing piece is the dog doesn't understand the hold. Some dogs go nuts over a laser pointer, some seem unaffected. None work. The only problem is we cannot get her to play. Thank you so much. The dog might walk backwards for a while as you walk towards him, but sooner or later, he'll drop the toy. Toys can also be used as an alternative to treats when training. Also maybe you could try using Treats and Toys together to encourage your dog to play when your out the house, some toys have holes in which are good for inserting small treats . I think she likes the competition. He loves new toys for the first three minutes, then they sit collecting dust until I toss it back and forth with another person. The easiest way to do this is to get on the floor and act like a dog. When I adopt a dog who never learned, I accept it and just love the dog all I can. People often assume that owning a dog who is obsessed with balls may make training fetch as easy as pie, but it's often the opposite.Dogs who dream about balls all day, are more likely to want to play "keep away" rather than fetch.Keep away is a game dogs play where they grab an item and try to entice people or other dogs to chase them to get the item from them. As your dog catches on and trots happily back to … Now she's out of the picture and he never plays with that toy anymore. Play the Recorder. Fido doesn't know the rules of fetch, so teaching him the rules is the only way to break the cycle so you and your dog can truly enjoy the game. I’ve often washed toys by accident when they somehow ended up in my laundry – don’t ask me how – and they emerged fresh and new. Teaching your dog to play fetch or put their toys away will require treats at first, but the act of playing with the toy may become reinforcing so that you will not always need treats. How do we play with a dog like this. So if you’re wondering why your dog doesn’t fetch, and never has, it is entirely possible he simply isn’t aware of (or you haven't given him) a compelling reason to do so. Dogs playing together from such a young age teaches them communication and self-control. And while some people will probably argue this point, you cannot reason with a dog. Use these tips to help your dog get excited about toys again. Sometimes teaching a dog to play involves more than simply slowly introducing it to the idea. I, Lindsay Pevny, am not a veterinary professional, behaviorist or trainer, nor are any guest authors unless otherwise stated. Start your game of fetch with a friendly warm-up of “give and take," so your dog can practice the commands with all the distractions nature has to offer. Fetch is a game that most people want to play with their dog and it can be frustrating if you throw a toy and your dog just sits watching you or goes and gets the toy but doesn’t bring it back. My dog is 10 months. But while some dogs love to play fetch, and in fact playing fetch is the ideal dog game in many people's minds, some dogs will go after a thrown toy but won't bring it back, while others still won't give a second look at a ball or stick after it leaves your hand. Others like it because it can tire the dog out without costing you too much energy. M any owners come across a specific problem – their dogs won’t play with them. Instead of pulling a treat out your back pocket, show your dog the second toy as you give the “take it” or “give it” commands. A good way to introduce fetch to your dog is through the two-toy fetch method. He won’t eat his own food but will eat ours, he is always clinging onto me with his head into me and when he is in his bed outside he tries to get out. I’m a dog blogger and pet copywriter for outstanding pet industry businesses and product description writer. The current favorite is a squeeky rubber one. He's only four years old and he's healthy. The other was a foster-failure. Your dog will soon lose interest, if he hasn’t already. Fetch turns into a nuisance when Fido confuses the activity for a game of tug-of-war. You may treat your dog after every successful retrieval at first, and then phase out the treats by rewarding every other retrieve, then fewer and fewer successes. Sadly, so many dogs who are adopted are returned to shelters because they “won’t play”. Others dogs like to chase toys and play keep away. Custom paintings by Matilda are available for sale. I’ll throw her Kong or squeaky tennis ball. Whether it’s introducing the parts of the game in segments or trying a new version of the game, there’s a way to go from “My dog won’t fetch” to “My dog loves fetch.” Breaking Down Fetch Refusal. 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