training to fetch

Question
Hi, I have an argentine dogo/ lab mix that is 5 months old. She is a beautiful dog and has a great temperament. I would like to be able to exercise her more but she doesn't seem to want to fetch too much. She will chase some things but mostly just wants to hang close to me. Is there anything I can do to teach her to fetch so that its fun for her and at the same time gives her good exercise?

Answer
Perhaps try to find a higher value toy.  Be careful.  The pet stores are full of toys that many dogs will quickly chew up into pieces they could choke on or cause intestinal blockages.  If you are not there to watch, stick to sturdy stuff such as Nylabones and Kongs.  Keep a close eye on chew toys and quickly discard anything that is coming apart in pieces.  Rawhide is especially bad because it swells after being swallowed.  These problems are the worst with, but not limited to, large, aggressive chewers such as Labs.

Ropes from the pets' store quickly turn to hazardous shreds.   Ones I made
lasted much better.   Go to a hardware or home center that sells rope by the
foot.  Buy 2' of 3/4" poly rope.   Melt the ends, and tie  knots in it.   Get
them as tight as possible, put it in a vise and pound it with a hammer.  Watch
carefully, and be ready to discard when it comes apart.

Try a tennis ball, a rope, or even something that makes noise and enough heft you can throw it.  You can roll rings.  I sometimes bounce and catch a tennis ball to build interest in it.  Throw the toy and praise the dog each step if it goes after it, picks it up, brings it back, and then surrenders it on the command of drop or give.  Maybe even a treat for that.