How do I get my border collie to play fetch he just won't do it?

Answer 1

Train in very small steps and use a command word like "fetch". Throw the ball a very small distance, use the command word in happy upbeat voice. If he grabs the ball or even chases it praise him lavishly and tell him "Good fetch!" Repeat until he gets the idea. Then work on the next step which is to get him to bring it to you. Once he has learned to chase and grab the ball work on him coming back. Throw the ball, when he grabs it call him to you. If he comes, praise like there's no tomorrow. Working in small baby steps.

Answer 2

Start playing with him in your living room. Use a soft cloth toy, or even just a rag or old sock. Wave it around, and be very excited about it. "What's this? What's this? I love this! This is the great thing! I bet you want this. But you can't get it! It's mine! Ooops! I dropped it. But I got it! OOps, I dropped it again!"
Make the toy very exciting by being excited about it. Drop it and catch it yourself. Wag it under his mouth. Play a little tug of war. Throw it and then YOU go get it.
Eventually, he will start playing with you. Keep it up. After a while, switch to a ball.
Your enthusiasm and excitement will make the game interesting. Once he is having fun this way inside, you can take the game outside.
By the way...the question mark goes after the word fetch in your question. The pronoun "he" starts a new question and should be capitalized. The sentence "He just won't do it." is a simple declarative sentence that needs a period at the end. Being an English teacher is a job that never ends.

Answer 3

It's not very easy because when they don't know it naturally you'll need a lot of patience. The best thing to do and on my dog it worked, put a slit in a tennis ball or a smaller ball and put some treats that he likes inside the slit, show him that there are treats in there and give him one. Then throw the ball and in the beginning run with him and get the ball and give him a treat. Soon you will be able to throw the ball and she will go get it for the treats. Later start throwing the ball and don't give him treats in the ball so he won't need the treats to fetch the ball! Good luck.

Answer 4

I have a Border Collie too...they are great dogs:) I got Quincy at the rescue center a yr ago and he was 5yrs old and did not know much about playing fetch,I bought some balls and treats and took him to the park and just kept working with him til he got it...now he loves it also loves catching a freebie...just takes time,love and Patience...good luck:)

Answer 5

Get a 20' training lead and hook to the dog's collar. When you throw the toy, ball or stick, he'll naturally take chase. Once he picks it up, call him to you or say "bring it". If he tries to avoid coming back towards you, gently guide him back to you with the lead. When he gets to you (even if you had to guide him), reward him with praise and maybe even a treat.

It is not a quick process, but with a border collie, he should catch on pretty quick. Very smart dogs, but can be very head strong too! Stick to it and remember to keep it fun and always reward him!

Have a second toy ready to toss just to keep it interesting.

Answer 6

Start with chasing! Rig up a pole of some sort and tie a long sturdy line to it with a rag, a doll or a stuffed animal to it. Drag it around and encourage him to get it! After time, he will want to chase things all the time and essentially retrive them. Try different toys, balls, anything!

Answer 7

What are you using? Generally border collies are herding dogs, not retrievers. I have seen them play with frisbees.

Answer 8

border collies like walks and playing(ruf0alot more than the soft fecth game

Answer 9

Put peanut butter or something he likes on the frisbee, or whatever you're throwing, he'll probably chase it. Ask him to give it too you, and when he does reward him.

Answer 10

Keep throwing a boomerang...he may get the idea