what to do about running

[neko12_48767]

I have a 11 mouth old lab, and he love to play fatch and he will catch anything you throw to him, but when we play fatch I have to put him on a long long chain because I will throw whatever I have and he will go after it but he sometime will bring it back and sometime he willl drop and take off the other way, and I wish I could just take him off the chain and play fatch with out the chain. can anyone help

 

[smkie]

Run the other way, or have a second toy and throw it up in the air, catching it yourself acting like your having the time of your life, keep away is the most natural game for puppies next to mary's favorite..yank your tail..if they think you are having fun without them, they will come see what you are doing. My old boss use to take his white handkerchief out of his pocket and wave it around and give it a toss up..that brought most puppies running in....then they got loads of praise.

 

[smkie]

The hallway trick is always good too..start your retieving training there, or throw the item in the garage and stand at the door so they have to come to you to go anywhere..especially if you start young, that gets the habit of coming to you so you can praise in the first place before you go out to the yard where they have room to cause ruckus.

 

[neko12_48767]

I don't have a hallway

 

[smkie]

Any narrow alley will do, between the wall and the bed, or toss it in a small room like the bathroom..the point is to make coming back to you the FUN..not running away. Old boss used the garage alot..you just have to be quick in being there as they come out. Having two toys so you can throw doubles works too..that is the next step..to throw one out in the open and the second down the alley..they remember the second and are quick to get back to the first. That is how we started teaching all the lab puppies at the kennels..little shorts lessons..no more thant 3 throws each time.