Giving throw toys back - or not!

[adybear]

Hi,
I have a GSD/ Lab cross. She is 5 years old and very well behaved in almost every aspect except when it comes to going out and playing.
Like all big dogs she loves to chase balls etc. She will always come back to my side but when it comes to taking the ball from her so I can throw it again it is a struggle... it drives me mad!. I've tried treats etc but nothing works... has anyone any ideas how I can get her to drop the ball when she comes back with it.
Thanks in advance
Adrian

[Cleo38]

Take 2 identical balls out that way you can trade. Roxy (GSD) will only drop her toy when she knows she's getting a replacement - we are working on this!

She's fine about dropping when she knows the game is over but when playing I have started using a second ball to get her to drop the original.

[feathered bird lover]

hi, it took us quite a wee while to get mine to drop the ball or give us the ball once he had it in his 'gob'. he was 2 when we got him.
he would let us throw ball/toy but bring it back when he wanted to, he would do it in his own time not when we told him to.
we didn't use any tricks, just trust to show him that we weren't going to keep the ball but share it. he was definetly ball and toy fixated when we got him, it was ridiculous. once he understood that he could share the ball/toy he got much better. if there's more than 1 person with him now while he's playing he actually drops ball/toy beside each 1 in turns, started doing this sharing on his own. so you'll get there. mines came out of fixation, (not that i'm saying yours is fixated), so anybody's can.
everyone's got their own method so you'll find the 1 that suit you. good luck. would like to be updated on how you get on, thanks. ttfn

[metaldog]

Hi you will get more replies if you posted your thread in dog training or dog chat

Some great advice here already