Fetch?

[Corgi_Lover]

So I have been playing fetch with my pups a lot lately but it feels like I am getting more excercize then them. I will get a stick or a ball or a frisbee and through it and they run after it, retrieve it, lay down and chew on it. How do I get them to bring it back?

[Louwants]

To tell you the truth, I don't know how Duncan started fetching. I think he more or less started bringing back to me. I would do the same thing as you, throw the toy, he'd chase it and then lay down with it to chew. I'd walked down, pick it up and throw it. After a few times, I said forget it. Somewhere along the line, he started bringing it back, BUT, not giving it up. He always wanted to play tug with the toy; which I wouldn't do unless it was his tug rope. Before I knew it, he started giving it up, it's almost like something clicked in his head that, if he lets me have it, I'll throw it again!

[fogebotom]

From year's of experience, corgis are not natural fetchers. Get a lab if you want to play fetch. But if you really want to teach them, there's a really good site by a lady called Shirley Chong and she teaches a lot of positive reinforcement training skills as well as clicker stuff.

http://www.shirleychong.com/

Collies are not natural fetchers of anything but sheep and kids. The collie in my avatar is my 8 yr old rough who is my trial and error dog for obedience. After having been told that a forced fetch with an ear pinch is the only way to teach it, and having her shut down for over a year, I went in search of a more positive method. In one week I had a good go out and fetch with her!

Now working on Moose and Eddie so that they can get their CD"s and CDX's. Even if you aren't going to do competition obedience, I use the same skills in our K9Amassador's program as well as therapy dog programs. I tend to call all obedience tasks, life skills.

[colbycorgi]

colby also is usually more interested in playing with whatever the fetch was and is not consistent with dropping it so i can throw it again....just keep at it is about all i can say or as others have suggested, you can train to do it...we just take it as it comes....

[jakort1]

Howdy,
Just thought I'd weigh in on this, fetch is one of the few things that Will knows EXTREMELY well. He will run himself into the ground chasing tennis balls. I started him very simply in the kitchen when he was a pup, and what I did for him was very simple; roll the ball across the floor and give him a piece of kibble for returning it. Sometimes I'd sweeten the pot by smearing some peanut butter on the kibble. Also, start with one object to fetch, I like tennis balls (and not the ones made for dogs, use real tennis balls) they're soft and easy on puppy teeth. If you try too many objects the dog won't know what is expected of him. Frisbee is a little different you need 4-6 to start, and sticks I discourage simply because not all plant matter is healthy for a dog.

Fetch was described to me as an outlet for a dog to use his "prey-chase" instinct. So, when starting to roll the ball try to be upbeat and get the dog to chase it. Keep the distance short then work up to actually throwing the ball. Sometime if I can figure out how, I'll upload a video clip of Will playing fetch. He's a little over the top with it.

***Warning*** if your dog learns to love fetch they will drive you crazy sometimes and you have to hide the fetch toys. Some days a rain soaked yard is uninviting for a game of fetch, but, your obsessed dog won't care. Also be careful of acrobatics, corgis will go up into the air and do some crazy twists to catch the ball...not worth hurting your dog over. PM me if you have other questions.

[missfancypants25]

Waeryn likes to play with her toys close to me, so if I throw a toy she really likes, like one of her stuffed toys she gets it and comes back and lays down on my feet to chew on it. I can never get her to drop it for me, but if I grab it and say "Let Go" she usually does let go. If I throw a ball she just runs to it, sniffs it, and pushes it around with her nose a little, and if I throw a stick she attacks it where it landed. Right now, I'm trying to teach her that when she brings her stuffed toy back to me it is very very GOOD, and that it is also very good when she let's go.

[LaRogue]

All of the corgis I've had have loved to fetch and it's been each one's favority activity, other than eating!! I taught them by sitting on the floor and tossing the ball a short distance, short enough where I could just stretch to get it. They would chase the ball. When they tried to lay down and munch on it, I would pick it up (they would grab it) and, while they were "attached," I would gently pull it (and them) back to me, while telling them to "bring it". I repeat it until they have it down pat and the gradually increase the distances I throw the ball. They loved chasing it and learned they had to it to me be thrown again.

All but one, learned very quickly. I had given up teaching him, fetch was the only thing he didn't catch onto immediately. One day while cleaning I knocked his ball clear across the room. He chased, as was normal, and then to my complete amazement he brought it back, and put it in my hand! I was so excited-yes I'm easily entertained. He would bring it back every time after that. Believe it or not that dog was usually more excited and motivated by the sight of a ball than a treat. He was a not your noraml corgi!

They will learn. It's just a matter of time and for them to realize they need to bring you the ball to get something they like, whether a treat, attention, or a chance to chase the ball again. Good Luck!

[Copper's Mommies]

Copper isn't all that interested in fetch. Occasionally if he is in the mood he will bring his stuffed toys for me to toss to him, but most of the time he will pick it up and thrash it about trying to get the squeeker out. He is more of a tugger than a fetcher. He is a pretty big boy so all that running about doesn't really interest him.

[EinsMom]

ein loves to play fetch! the only thing is it takes a little bit to get the ball or squeeky back because when you throw it, he runs and gets it, but as he runs back to you, he just keeps running right past you, haha. then he turns around comes back and then plays tug of war until you get it form him. but he loves to chase things and fetch. if i am sitting on the couch he will throw his toys at me until i play.

[Michael Romanos]

If a Corgi play a game that is not the game you want, you need to relay this to your Corgi. So if he/she does not return the stick, ball etc back to you and drops the object at your feet, ignore the game (turn your back on it after initiating it) because it is not what you have 'taught' your Corgi to do. Fetching in the proper sense is an obedience training and retrieving dogs competition activities.