What a put down for a dog, expecting him to run after a friggin stick you threw away and bringing it back to you. Like, if you wanted the stupid stick or ball, why did you throw it away? Sounds like to me the dog is smarter than you. If I throw something in the garbage, that sorta indicates I don't want it back. Your dog probably just figures if you threw it away and you really want it back, get off your butt and get it yourself or don't throw it away again in front of him. If I were a dog I just figure, how many friggin times do you expect me to chase a ball you keep throwing away? Quit throwing the ball away and expecting me to , sorry, "fetch" it. What are you NUTZ? I don't NEED the exercize, you do, you are the one eating the big meals, drinking the beer and you feed me these hard pieces of chit as a dinner. You ever smell them, would you want to eat something that smells as rank as the krap you expect me to eat? Get a grip man. I obviously am not falling for your stupid game. Get the friggin ball yourself or don't throw it away. Sheeeesh.
my schipperke is like that....swear she is a [bleep] cat that barks........
A serious student of the "Armchair Safari" always looking for Africa/Asia hunting books
It's all about fun...make it a game & he'll play. Spend as much time with him as you can...the more you talk to him the faster he'll learn...before you throw the ball, bounce it & catch it a couple of times...stick it towards his nose & when he tries to grab it, jerk it back & then bounce it right in front of him...quick like. His natural response should be to try & grab it...once you have him really dialed in & intent on getting that ball, go ahead & toss it...when he brings it back to do it again don't be surprised & give him lots of atta boys...if he doesn't want to bring it back, call him & point at the ball...tell him what you want & then show him...keep pointing & say GIT IT while walking up & picking it up...then bounce it in front of him again more'n a few times...make him want to get it...tease him with it...then throw it. It might take longer with some than with others but before long that dog is gonna live just to please you....
I have a 4 month Lab and Its primarily just a family pet{not for hunting}and was curious why it does not like to fetch?
He will only fetch the ball when I give him treats. I have tried over & over, but as he runs and picks up the ball, he drops it because he is more curious what the damn grass smells like and just loves to sniff the yard,chase lizzards & stares at flying birds. {he eats the freagin lizzarsd when he catches them too. urrr!} But no ball chasing.
The good side is, he listens! Comes when I say, and does not chew household items, sits,lays,swims at the beach,and shakes on command. Just wish he was more interested in fetching. Is it because he's too young,or knows its an endless game? Any opinions?
I do not have a pic of him, but here is his father and they are going to be exactly the same it seems.
What a put down for a dog, expecting him to run after a friggin stick you threw away and bringing it back to you. Like, if you wanted the stupid stick or ball, why did you throw it away? Sounds like to me the dog is smarter than you. If I throw something in the garbage, that sorta indicates I don't want it back. Your dog probably just figures if you threw it away and you really want it back, get off your butt and get it yourself or don't throw it away again in front of him. If I were a dog I just figure, how many friggin times do you expect me to chase a ball you keep throwing away? Quit throwing the ball away and expecting me to , sorry, "fetch" it. What are you NUTZ? I don't NEED the exercize, you do, you are the one eating the big meals, drinking the beer and you feed me these hard pieces of chit as a dinner. You ever smell them, would you want to eat something that smells as rank as the krap you expect me to eat? Get a grip man. I obviously am not falling for your stupid game. Get the friggin ball yourself or don't throw it away. Sheeeesh.
A friend has a couple of Labs. Awhile back one of his little boys pooped in his diaper while they were outside with the dogs. Dale took his sons diaper off and went into the house to get some baby wipes and a clean diaper. When he went back outside the poop was gone and his dogs were playing with the diaper. Then there was the time I was visiting my son who has a couple of Labs. Matt fed the dogs and one of them barfed it back up on the carpet. I was getting ready to clean it up when my son noticed and hollered "dad don't clean it up, he'll eat it agin in a minute". Sorry, when I think of Labs these two memories always come to mind. Funny to me. Ken
"Dad, maverick ate my burrito".
"Where was it?
"I had it on a dish on the coffee table".
"Well you ought to know better than to leave it unattended on the coffee table, you know he can't be trusted..you are half at fault for that one"
As my daughter turns to leave she says "I'm just surprised he didn't choke himself on the plastic wrapper".
I agree that labs, like all dogs, mature differently. I think that all you are seeing is youth. The puppy in your dog isn't interested in completing any task yet.
In my experience you are already on the right track seeing that he will at least chase the ball and pick it up. Labs have no concept of the never ending game. They want it that way. We bred them to want it. My female that I am working with now took a lot longer to retrieve consistently than my previous lab. So long that I was wondering about her, as you are. Then one day I saw the light go on above her head and I am so excited and pleased with her that I think she will probably have more potential than any dog I've had.
Another example is the way she took to water. Until a few weeks ago she couldn't care less about going in. I thought well I guess I'll just wait and see what happens. Worst case I'll have to go in the water myself and call her in. One day my wife, four year old daughter, and 6 month old son, and I are up the canyon at a lake. Thinking nothing of it, my daughter throws a block of wood off the dock. Next thing I know there is a black streak whizzen by and she DIVES in for the retrieve. She must have jumped eight, ten feet off the end of the dock. Before that she hadn't been in water past her chest. Now she is way excited about not only retrieving but in the water. Because I had a little patience and let her find her groove, I've avoided a lot of head butting.
Short answer, I think you just need to be patient. Labs make their owners look smarter than we are.
Scott
ps... Once the light comes on, the game is the only treat you need. They love it more than anything we can feed them.
The church is close, but the road is icey. The tavern is far, but I will walk carefully. -Russian Proverb
sounds like you dog is getting in his adult teeth in which case his gums will be really sore for about 6 weeks. take a look inside his mouth and see if his gums are a red-look for new teeth coming in. Most trainers won't take a dof under 6-7 months to make sure his adult teeth are in. as far as the english labs go-the standard is for a little shorter, stockier dog. more the otter tail.
_______________________ Proud deep sea diver for over 25 years, fairly paid and never once needed a union to do it for me. "if you can't do it-you can't stay"
Labs are in their own world. I've never seen a breed of dog so easy to train, yet so hard headed and by some measure stupid. It's almost like they know and understand the proper response to any situation, yet refuse to follow training.
Raven the black Lab will obey my every command instantly and with a look of pure love. My wife and daughter almost have to keep her on a leash to keep her near and focused.
I would suggest that you use a hallway in your home. Close off all the exits. Sit at the entrance. There will be no distractions and the only way the dog can run with the ball is back to you. This worked for me. Once you get your dog conditioned, then you can move outside. If you can create an alley of sorts outside, try that.
I would suggest that you use a hallway in your home. Close off all the exits. Sit at the entrance. There will be no distractions and the only way the dog can run with the ball is back to you. This worked for me. Once you get your dog conditioned, then you can move outside. If you can create an alley of sorts outside, try that.
You should have gotten yourself a Pitbull. From the moment mine was mobile, all he ever wanted to do was fetch anything and bring it back to me. He runs with max exertion when I throw anything, acquires it, runs at max again to return it to me, then drops it at my feet for a do-over. He does this till he's exhausted. Positively obsessed with retrieving.
![[Linked Image]](http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv360/slg888/doc2.jpg)
![[Linked Image]](https://i.postimg.cc/050xcBLB/Abbyand-Rum.jpg)
![[Linked Image]](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g157/PaulBarnard/DSC00728.jpg)
![[Linked Image]](https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/download/Number/13695/filename/M70_375_Ranger.jpg)