Another fetch and drop query

[RonOwens]

Hi,

My 7 month old Golden Doodle loved to fetch a ball, and brought it back and say down close to me and dropped it for me to throw again. She really enjoyed it and it tired her out ! However, on the third day of this game, another dog stole the ball and since then she has become very possessive over the ball and won't drop it anymore. I tried the 2-ball method but she just runs after the second one with the first one in her mouth ... drops the first one and return with the second one and it starts over again. This means a lot more walking for me. I tried a high value treat (steak) and she will retrieve indoors no problem, and drop on command. But outdoors, the steak doesn't work.She actually tries to get the steak into her mouth with the ball still there! The value of steak is obviously less outdoors where the risk of losing the ball exists.

Any suggestions ?

 

Thanks

 

Ron

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Hello, and welcome to the forums,

Resource guarding or simply fear or losing a possession can sometimes get in the way with games like fetch. So sorry to hear another dog messed up all the great training you have been doing. Usually, the onset of fear of losing a possession due to the threat of another dog stealing the ball doesn't generalize so easily to humans, but perhaps this event had such a big impact that outside she's not comfortable at all now dropping her possession.

 

Usually, when there are struggles with behavior performed well inside but not outside, it means that smaller, intermediate steps need to be taken. Perhaps a good place to start would be to first practice in the yard before going to other places. You want her to feel comfortable and build a strong safety and reinforcement history. To make the process more gradual in transferring the behavior from inside to outside, it may therefore help to open the door and stand inside and throw the ball outside or stand outside and throw it inside and gradually move further and further outside.

 

Also, it may help to limit to throws that aren't very far, no more than 5 ft initially. You want to make dropping the ball very rewarding, so make a big deal out of her bringing it back, lots of positive feedback. And of course, never try to get the ball out of her mouth, you want her to learn to trust you totally and give up the ball willingly because it's so rewarding. No keep-away games even from people your dog may trust.

 

It may also help avoiding playing fetch in the area where the other dog has stolen the ball or in its vicinity, as your dog may associate it with the mishap and instinctively become more protective. If it happened once in that place, there are chances it may truly re-occur if this dog who stole the ball is rountinely a frequenter.

 

And of course, a disclaimer is warranted here: when dogs are reluctant to drop items, there is an element of resource guarding at play and there may be some associated risks. It is always advised to play it safe and have a professional assess the situation.

Edited August 31, 2018 by Adrienne Farricelli