QuestionHow can I train my seven year old border collie to retrieve a ball? He has completed agility and obedience training but will not retrieve a ball. Please give me a hint on how to get him to do this!
AnswerIf he won't retrieve at age seven it may be a little difficult to start him on that. If he's overweight it will be very difficult. Assuming he's ideal weight, active and likes to play, here's the usual simple way you approach training a dog to fetch.
Get the ball and place it in the dog's mouth. Take the ball out of his mouth and give him a piece of cooked chicken liver. Repeat process three or four times. this gives him the idea that giving you the ball gets him a treat.
next, put the ball down in front of his feet, pick it up and put it in his mouth. let him hold it a minute and "ask" for the ball, take it out of his mouth and give him a treat. ONLY give the treat if he's cooperating. Don't overdo 'til he's bored as that runs counter to what you want.
now, play with the ball yourself, bounce it and get excited and see if he'll show interest in the ball itself. when he does, give him a treat and PRASIE, PRAISE, PRAISE. bounce it to your dog, if he grabs it PRAISE him some more. See if you can get him to chase it, if not see if he'll chase you while YOU bounce and catch the ball. somewhere along the line he should show some interest in playing with the ball.
Once you get him to take the ball on his own, then teach him to bring the ball to you. If he starts to come to you when you call and he drops the ball, ask for the ball and start back at giving ball/taking/treat. Be consistent in voice commands and gestures. give him the treat when he complies. And, you GOTTA make it FUN, FUN, FUN. Be silly, get excited. If it's not fun for you, your dog won't think it's fun either.
