Hello,
I am new to this board, I have been reading and reading on all sorts of good information on dog training. I belong to a Search and Rescue unit, and have a 14 week old GSD puppy who I am trying to get to play with a toy, she just wont do it. I have a small orbie ball and she likes to chase it on the ground, but when I toss it a ways she just wont go get it. Any suggestions?
Kathy

There really isn't any other way to say this; if you plan on using the toy as reinforcement for SAR training, get another dog.

DFrost

I feel the need to point out that I'm the farthest thing from an expert that there is, and even experts can't always tell you whats best for your dog. That said...

My grandfather had a GSD with absolutely no prey drive until it was 6 months old, then it chased everything that moved. This delay certainly isn't the norm, and the post above has a valid point, but you might try these things to stimulate prey:

Have you played a little tug with her, with the orbee, then immediately tossed it? My guy didn't really lock on to the ball until I threw it after he dropped it, then when he brought it back we played more tug, so the game he likes (tug) reinforces the action that he isn't totally sold on (Fetching). After he realized that fetch was rewarding, I differentiated the activities, so that a ball means fetch and a rope means tug. I used the Jolly Ball (Available on this site) for the first phase, then a racket ball and a rope toy for the second.

Also, you can get one of those "Treat balls" and put some hot dog or other high scent item in the middle. Make sure you don't throw it too far and let her nose guide her. When she picks the treat laden ball up, call her and start to walk away. Hopefully she'll chase you (Ball in mouth, because who would drop tasty hot dog?!) and you can get the ball from her. Once you get the ball, VERY QUICKLY give her a hot dog treat. Toss again. After she gets the association, remove the hot dog from the ball and just treat for fetching.

This is sort of cheating, since it's using food drive to associate value with the ball, and you should certainly watch Flinks DVD on building drives in working dogs. I've noticed that some dogs (like mine) are just fools for treat, and you have to convince them into prey drive.

give it time!, i had the same problem..u need to get her accustomed to it 1st...get her to chase the toy on a string..then let hr get it and grab it..and hold it...and then do it again...work on "give"/"out" commands when she has the toy in her mouth or possession. and things like that...
after a while get a longer string move the toy further away from u...and after u know shes definitely gona go for the ball if u say she must then toss it a few feet from u... kinda get her all psyched up 4 it first get her in high drive...then toss it...dont throw too far too soon...she wont go for it....it takes a bit of time...my too only starting going for the toy around 16-20 weeks....remember just have fun with her...if u having fun she will too!

I can't speak to S&R training specificially, but my GSD wasn't ball motivated when he was 14 weeks old...he was food motivated then. He also liked soft toys, and ropes.

I'm not sure when it happened, maybe 4-5 months, but the light dawned and he became INSANE for the ball to the point that if I tried giving him liver treats while I was holding the ball, he would spit it out without ever taking his eyes off of the ball.

Carol B. (and others) might be better at answering the questions specifically to S&R, but I wouldn't say at this point that your dog isn't going to become motivated by balls.

Also, at 14 weeks, teething could be an issue and also seperation anxiety. You say that she'll chase the ball until you throw it away from you. My GSD was the same way for a short period of time. He was velcroed to me and wouldn't leave my side for anything. He outgrew that, and he'll chase the ball as far as I can throw it now. According to all my video logs, he was nuts for the ball, and I mean really nuts, by almost 5 months of age.

Again, I'm not speaking to S&R training per se, but if your dog shows interest in the ball close to you, get the Orbee ball on a string and just build her interest in it while she's close to you. Keep making it dart close and away from you to build her interest in it, and drive for it. If she catches it, let her have it for a short while to build her confidence.

Remember, puppies have short little attention spans and everything is thrilling and interesting to them. It's easy for little puppy minds to get distracted so keep the ball moving close to you for awhile and keep the sessions short. You always to leave her wanting more.

Also, how old is your Orbee? When they're new they have a potent mint smell that drew my puppy's interest more than the older ball.

Oh, and welcome to the board!

Ms McCarty,

I'm getting old, because of that I have frequent brain farts. When I first read your post, I saw 14 MONTHS. My apologies. Be patient, keep playing. If the dog has it, it will come, if not, you'll know. Then it would be time to replace the dog.

DFrost

Is the dog interested in playing with or biting a rag if you move it all around or throw it?

What happens if you run around like a loonie, waving and dragging the orbie ball or some other toy?

Does your SAR group insist on ball on a rope as your reward for searching?

To me there would be a big difference in a dog that showed no prey drive for ANY toy, vs one that is not interested in an orbee right now if it is tossed out a ways from you.

I am kind of confused if you are saying you are having problems drive building with an orbie, or if you are wondering about retreiving? Dirve building with a toy need not involve you throwing it far away from you right now IMHO.

My dog was nuts off the bat for a ragging article (lucky for me as it is our search reward), but this love of tugging is easily transfered to other objects, toys later on.

Do you have any other dog handlers in your SAR group that might be able to give you some pointers and honest opinions?

Cheers,

Hey guys thansks for all the good info. I will keep trying. No my sar unit doesnt require a ball drive per say, but I would like to bring out what drive she has, I think her prey drive is decent, but just as I think she is going to be ok, then a minute later, she just looses interest. I think that may be the puppy in her. Thanks all of you.
Kathy

 Quote:

I think her prey drive is decent, but just as I think she is going to be ok, then a minute later, she just looses interest

Try to anticipate her losing interest and end the game when she is still really into it. This may mean the game is VERY short, so be it, she is a young pup. Maybe you are doing this already?

Yes, and I second using rags for a young pup. My dog was almost cat-like and would pounce on those items way before he developed thrills for the ball.