anyones dog content

Jpep · #1 20th August 2006, 10:58 PM

with playing by themselves. I bugs me so much because we work on recall a lot in home and shes perfect but outdoors its tough. When ever we play ball in a fenced in playarea the past few weeks shes been a handful to gather up, even if I have another toy to show her or food she'll just play with ball by herself and if I try to get her she does the catch me if you can dance. Of course I don't respond, yesterday I even tried leaving the play area and walking 100yds away (like Dog Listener recommends) it didn't work eventually I have to wait until she gets tired and wants some bottled water. Its wierd because when I take her down to the big fields she always comes right back and we can play fetch must be a wierd association with play area. It's never been a big deal until the other day because normally she tires out and comes to me within a few mins of ignoring or she wants water, but the other day a couple watched me try to get her for 15mins I was so embarrassed they probably thinkI 'm the worst dog owner with no control of my dog.

crowpete · #2 22nd August 2006, 01:05 PM

Darby does this every once in a while with sticks. But she only plays the "Catch me if you can" for maybe a minute and then she wants me to have the stick back so she can take it from me again.

Just keep working with her and she will come around

daisykaye · #3 22nd August 2006, 03:48 PM

Do you totally ignore her? Or do you keep looking back to see if she coming? When mine are ignoring me, I turn to the side so I can still see them out of the corner of my eye. I then start playing with a toy they really like (keep this one in your pocket for this very reason). Or you can pretend to drink the water or eat the treats. Even when they do come back to me, I don't acknowledge them until they sit (they know to do this) so I can put the leash on. Then they get their prize.

Once my dogs had a badger pinned in a hole. They were not leashed and they would dance away every time I tried to grab their collars. The hardest thing I ever had to do was walk away. They were not nearly as brave without me there and came running to me after I got maybe 100 yards away.

presley101 · #4 23rd August 2006, 10:42 AM

When they all start that catch me if you can thing, I politely park myself right down in the grass and ignore them. Before long it becomes a dog pile, literally.

Lately Zoie is the last one in and it's not because of the short legs, she likes the time to herself outside where the other two can't jackhammer her. It's a wrestling match most times and I'm not invited. If I interrupt then they don't listen.