Fetch & bring back - 2009-01-02

Question

I was wondering if you had any ideas or suggestions to try and get my dog to bring back the ball! Coco is a 2yr old Kelpie x Koolie. Very active and switched on. She's mastered all usual commands. The problem is that whenever we go outside, she will sit and stare at the tennis ball until I get it for her. I timed this once and it was over 45 minutes! I grab it and she runs towards me with hunched shoulders and head forward with eyes only for the ball (classic sheepdog behaviour. She was never intended to work on the farm & wouldn't know what to do with a sheep!) I throw it and she runs through anything to get it. But then she looks back at me and runs to the nearest tree/shrub/car-usually in the opposite direction to me, drops it then runs a wide circle around the ball and me til I go and get it. Then we do the whole thing again. I've tried a firm 'no' when she's about to drop it. I've tried rewards/treats; she's not interested in anything but the ball. I've tried walking/running the other way when she gets the ball so that she will follow me. She follows me, but in a wide roundabout way and ditches the ball half way. I know in the grand scheme of things, this is not a huge deal. She is such a good and lovely dog in all other respects. I suppose it's just frustrating because I feel like I can't make her do what I want her to do (sounds a bit selfish I know). Do you have any tips?

Answer

Kelpies have a very strong prey and chase drive and so has the Koolie – so we need to manage this. I would recommend you start with TWO identical balls, same colour, same stuff as otherwise it will not work. Roll the ball to her say 2M distance only and hold your hand out with other ball visible. Use the command ‘fetch’ and ‘give’. When she returns one ball roll the other – always exchange so she can see you will return ‘her possession’ to her before she learns an auto release that can be replaced with another reward. Don’t rush and keep the game close – she needs to respond before you can move to a larger distance. What you describe is her ‘controlling you’ – and what this dog needs is a leader she will follow. Keep play time with the ball limited to special times only, eg after training and having done well, a long drop-stay, or a great recall. Make her work for her reward, she needs mental stimulation.