I just started Marker Training with my 4 month old. She loves the redbarn rolls. Think I have the lamb mix. It is great and so easy. Plus the relationship between the dog and me have grew big time.

Try a flirt pole. Even dogs with NO retrieving drive seem to like it. When I first got Bogie's my old Shih Tzu (13 in May & absolutely does NOT retrieve) wanted to attack it!!

Skipper was snapping treats out of my hand like a crocodile and if he caught my finger it hurt! So I've started saying, "Gentle" and doing a preliminary pass and then giving him the treat slowly. He is becoming more attuned to my hand and less snappy.

Also - Jethro has not been ball motivated or a big Fetch player. The only time he's interested in a toy on the field is if it involves playing chase with another dog. He does love to Tug, though, and loves to jump for the Tug. So his exercise is playing Tug with me and jumping for the tug. Oh, and sometimes, before he gets a jump, I throw the tug and he goes and gets it and brings it back to me for more tugging game. Now he is starting to be interested in the ball because when I throw it hard at the ground it bounces and he can jump for it. Now he is finally starting to chase a ball a little bit.

I guess what I am saying is we have to start with where our dogs' interests lie and then stretch them out from there. It feels like a miracle when Jethro runs for a ball, picks it up, and brings it back to me, dropping it at my feet. He will only do it 2 or 3 times in a row, but that is a huge accomplishment given that he wouldn't even look at a ball before.

Likewise with my snappy crocodile when he Gently takes the treat. Ahhhhhh!

Oh, one other thing that has been helping my dogs settle down is making their food part of the challenge of life. So I put half their ration in kongs and they have to lick it out. It takes awhile and they always lay down for a deep sleep afterward. I do this with their morning ration. Their evening meal I put out in the dish as usual.

 Quote: elizabeth munoz

Oh yes she is very smart learned how to sit and down very quickly but unfortunately she will not chase a ball Frisbee rope nothing I will have to take her for longer walks but i don't want to push it And i will start marker training immediately. She is very food motivated
I have had her a little over a month

Food motivated dogs are VERY good dogs to train with marker training! AND I'd also suggest the flirt pole as mentioned above - some dogs will absolutely chase a "prey" item more than a ball. If you aren't sure what a flirt pole is, let us know.

where can i get a flirt pole? I am willing to try anything to help
and I love the idea about putting part of her food in her kong I am going to try that today with her

You can use a lunge whip or buggy whip (horse supply store or catalog) or you can make one with a broom handle. Drill a hole in the end of the handle & thread a rope thru it & attach a soft stuffed toy or tug etc to the other end of the line.

Always move the toy away from the puppy while making flitty movements like a prey animal would make so that the pup can chase it. Don't move it too, too fast but quickly enough to trigger the pup's prey drive.There was another thread on this in the last couple of months. You might do a search for it.

Also, let the pup win the toy often to encourage the pup to want to play. Otherwise the pup will give up chasing it 'cause it can't ever catch it. The lower the pup's prey drive the more that it needs to win the toy.


ETA...

I couldn't get the linc to copy.

If you search the thread 'flirt pole' the thread should come up.

Here is my first attempt with my pathetically made flirt pole I need to go to the store and buy stronger rope the ball keep coming off if she pulled too hard she loved it!! (I am still a little sick so i cant breath that great)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5FQh_IqmtE

Good for you! See? She does have drive!

I'd recommend a longer line and maybe trying something soft/flexible on the end... even a dish rag worked great for us. We played with ours two ways... I ran around like an idiot with him chasing me - when I needed to wear him out a bit, and also by me standing still and making the "object" (dish towel) move around like it was alive... jerking it here, jerking it there, "teasing" Falcon. Hard to describe but once you get practicing, it will come to you!

Thanks for posting the video!! She really is a pretty pup.

(And I hope you feel better soon!)

Thanks

Heres my problem i cant seem to keep anything to stay on the pole if she pulls too hard how do i keep it in place and she tore the dish towel up I am going to try a plush toy next. wish me luck

There are a ton of flirt pole videos on Youtube. A lot of them are pretty sucky but you can get the idea.