In an instant, now afraid to retrieve

amt5223

I have a Labrador/German Short Hair Pointer mix. In december, I was out playing ball with him. It was a rainy day. The sopping ball went out of my hand funny and it hit him hard in the face. He immediately shut down and ran away. Since than I have not been able to get him to fetch with me. He will with others to a small extent. I've tried pretty much everything, starting at square one, just rewarding him for picking up a toy that I drop or for taking something from my hands. No effect. I've tried stuffing treats into the ball to see if it would entice him, but if it leaves my body, he just won't go for it. He is 17 months old.

Any suggestions?

Mikey

Welcome

Fear can cause some quick learning all right

I think you may have gone too fast. Take one week of just getting him to target the ball, and then to pick it up, and then rolling it for him to pick it up... etc etc. So probably you tried to advance too quickly which is where you hit a wall (even if it was slowly-it likely just wasn't slow enough you know?)

And-is it ANY ball? Could you just throw it out and buy a new one that's a different style?

Although he learned quickly to be scared of the ball-you'll want to go slowly for him to not be afraid of the ball Take your time and work with him and he'll do it again. He hasn't forgotten how-he's just learned the ball hurts -and perhaps he even thought you did it on purpose which makes it more scary you know? So go slow

Criosphynx

I would give it a little more time and I also like the "new" ball suggestion...perhaps a different word for the command, practice in a new place etc etc.

fawkese1

ditto mikey... totally slow down... start out just giving him treats when a ball is around, then giving him treats when you drop the ball then giving him treats when you drop the ball and he looks at it then when he moves towards it... and so on... i have a problem of going to fast with this sort of thing too so i am always trying to think of ways to pace myself... so maybe start with just showing him the ball and then giving him a treat and do that for a few seconds each day for a week, then do each step for a week before progressing...

oliwa

Everything said so far I agree with. I accidentally kicked Snickers in the face (not real hard) the other night when I was getting back into bed and she quickly jumped off the bed and wouldn't come out of her crate. I felt horrible and she looked betrayed! I know how you feel amt5223.

wvasko

Try a retrieving dummy(boat fender) also do you have a friend with a dog that will fetch. If so you use the other dog retrieving to build some interest in your dog.

The advice to stop retrieves now is great, you're gonna have this dog a very long time and there is no hurry.