okay i have a 15 week old malinois puppy, she was guarding her toys, she has become playfuly combative with the tug, bringing it to me and letting me grab it and shaking her head. then coming back for more. now with the ball. she guards it, , she does not want me to touch it. if she even thinks i ma going to take it. she runs, lays down and chews on it. I am not really concerned about a retrieve yet. I just would like to gain her trust. she will not trade for toys or a ball. she will for food. but then she is more interested in the food than the ball. i have tried the hallway game, no luck, lays down and chews for ever on it. if she does come by me. and i grab her or the ball. she has the ears flat and her head down guarding the ball. any thoughts?
Hi, If food works to get the ball at this point then use it. Keep working on trading the ball for food, then give the ball back, hold it and ask for it back with food. Then throw it and get it back with the food. It may take a long time or be very quick but in time she will realize that by giving up the ball the fun will begin again.
Absolutly, the dog does not trust that when you get the ball, she is going to get it back. Often this comes from trying to play fetch and taking the ball away from the dog or "forcing" the dog to give up the ball. This creates a conflict between dog and handler.
Always trade a young dog for the toy(toy for another toy or food) if trading for food works keep at it but may lose it effectivness eventually. Try playing with two toys. if you throw one ball, then don't take it away but make the second ball more fun( this is the key; the second ball has to be more fun) there is no conflict. She will want to drop the ball for the other one.
Keep trying the hallway trick but trade the ball for food or use two balls. Also, how long are the sessions? Make sure they are very short, like less then 10 throws and then back in the crate. SHORT SESSIONS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY!!!!!!!!
Good luck and keep at it,
Christian
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"I have come to see my dogs as a reflection of my willingness to try to improve, as well as an unsparing measure of my frequent failures in doing so."
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