I take my two to the park every day (or at least I try!) When there I try to incorporate fun with training. Cali loves chasing a ball, so I get her to do various commands - sit, down, watch me etc. - before getting the ball thrown for her. She will bring the ball 3/4 of the way back and stop. I then call her to me, and she will drop the ball and come back to me. How do I get her to bring the ball right back?

Also, Logan won't chase the ball, and occassionally wants to play with Cali, but not very much. He loves liver cake, so I have started working with him on sit and stay - he does very well at this. Any ideas how I can make the park more fun, as when I am launching the ball for Cali, Logan tends to be sitting or sniffing around. I would like to try the recall game posted in the training section for both of them, I know Cali will chase a ball but not sure what to use for Logan. He tends to give me a 'You want me to do what' look when I try to get him to play

No-one?

Thank you. I never even thought of using his sniffing obsession to learn how to track. I am away to do some research

Dogs ages, breeds? Might help to know, to suggest what they might like to do, and how to go about it.

At training yesterday my trainer had a rag soaked in sardine oil which she dragged through the grass to make a trail and at the end of it there were some sardines (you could put them inside a cardboard tube for the dog to get out if you wanted).

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I took him to the park about half an hour ago, and hid small bits of liver cake in a line. He was really searching for it - I could even hear his sniffing over the strong wind

Breeds are in my sig, but Cali is a collie x whippet and 6 years old, Logan is a Patterdale terrier and is between 4 - 6 years old.

There was a recent thread on fetch with ideas like putting a treat in a tennis ball with slit, so the dog learns to bring the ball to you so you can give it. You can also use a methodical approach to re-teach fetch step-by-step, beginning at the back which is simply taking & giving the ball directly from you - YouTube - ‪How to teach any dog to FETCH!‬‏

With the other dog, you may be able to build toy motivation, best 1:1 session so he's not inhibitted by other dog. But some dogs love play and will do for hours, overs enjoy a few minutes and then want to do something else. Best to stop before the dog gets bored

If he doesnt like ball chasing, maybe interact with him with a tug game instead. Something called Skinneez got good responses in training they are flat soft toys with no stuffing and have squeakers in them they are flat easy to carry and they tend to hone prey drive to get interest. machine washable too Skinneeez

I always taught retrieve with a ball to get them to bring it right back and drop it by offering and giving a treat. You could try that it may encourage her to bring it right up to you and drop it in exchange. Ive found that once they have got the concept I tailed off the treats and the anticipation of a re-throw and continuation of the game was enough.

Another thing is to get their attention but run in the opposite attention getting them to chase you and rewarding with a tug game or treat when they catch up. Or hiding calling and when they find you again either rewarding with a tug game or treat. Simple things but just dd a bit of interest and something different.

Just thought of omething else Nanuq loves her Kong Wubba they are covered with a thick canvas fabric with sort of tails like an octopus and have a squeaker too, good for tug and something a bit more interesting than a ball to throw, they also bounce at odd angles to add a bit more interest, these and loads of other toys are on the link for the skinneeez too.

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i didnt watch all of the video - but the beginning part was about rewarding the dog with food for fetching.

your dog ( i would assume) is self=rewarding himself by starting the game again with you (bringing the ball back). if a dog only brings it 3/4 back, don't get the ball, and dont play again.

you want to reward your dog only if: 1. he brings it all the way back or 2. if he brings it more than 3/4.

what you can do:
two things:
1. use food, teach him that bringing the item back to your hand/feet gets him food. slowly fade out the food by occasionally throwing the ball as a reward instead.
2. wait. dont call him. if you call him, you are creating a dog that is reactive to your commands. you want a dog to figure out how to get YOU to play with him. which is, bring the ball closeer.

try just standing there, still, silent. if he 'goes back' to get the ball or brings it a step closer, reward him with praise or playing the game again. basically, 'free shaping' the dog to bring it back to you.

takes time, as you've prob created a habit.

done correctly, give it a few weeks and he'll be fetching to your feet.

ps. the dog only brings it 3/4 a way, i THINK, because he anticipates the next throw and wants to 'get the ball' quicker.

pss. sorry, one other method is teaching your dog to HOLD a toy, and back chaining from that to a full retrieve. this is more of a formal retrieve, but it can cross over to a play retrieve too.

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