Fetch problems

[simba]

So twice now my dog has, while playing 'fetch', urinated indoors. I don't know if it's submissive, if it's that she hasn't 'asked' to go out because she's busy, or what.

 

Today I sent her to get the stick, she turned in that direction and then hesitated and came back to me, I told her to go get it, and she walked over, picked it up, dropped it, and took a few steps away to urinate.

 

I told her 'no' and sent her outside for a minute, cleaned it up, and then resumed the game. For one or two goes she seemed hesitant, kind of worried about going to fetch the stick- I think she still was thinking about having urinated indoors/broken the rules? Dunno if that's excessively anthropomorphizing.

 

She will sometimes sit and stare at me when I tell her to go fetch. I've been assuming that it's just her willing me to put the food on the floor, it happens more often if I'm holding the food bowl than if I'm just holding some kibble.

 

I like to feed her her food using tricks because it seems to build more of a bond between us, and because she tends to choke herself by eating too quickly.

[CptJack]

Molly doesn't stop fetch to pee. We don't play fetch indoors because I don't let those toys come inside, so it hasn't been a major issue but yeah. She doesn't even drop the ball. She steps a few steps out of the way to squat while she holds the ball.

 

I'm about 98% sure it's because she's that into the game. And because well. Running gets things moving. (She does similar things to poop but detours much further for that).

[Bordercentrics]

If you really have to play fetch indoors, take her out first to to piddle. Don't play until she goes. Exercise can stimulate some dogs to have to eliminate. I have one that is this way, The others aren't as affected. Basically, I have always considered fetch to be an outside game. There are too many things in the house that can be knocked over/broken during a game of fetch!

 

Kathy Robbins

[CptJack]

 

I found a picture for you. You're welcome.

[RemsMom]

^^^Great photo. No point in dropping the ball when nature calls!

 

We have two back doors. One goes to the backyard and one to the dog run. There have been times when my daughter and Nattie have been playing in the yard for a while and I will ask my kid if the pup has gone potty. If the answer is no I make them come in the house and go out the other door. Nattie will go potty in the dog run (it is boring out there), go back through the house and out the door to the yard for more playtime.

 

Simba, I think your dog is having too much fun and forgets she needs to go out.

[simba]

It's not a big active game of fetch, I put the stick on the floor and she walks over to get it. Not the most exciting game, but she likes it insofar as she gets fed. That's why I am wondering. I'd be delighted if it's that she's interested in the game, or just too focused to ask to go out, but I was also afraid it could be a submissive or stress thing.

 

I'll have to build up more 'fetch' outdoors. She has found it weirdly difficult to learn this specific thing, so I wanted to give her a fair bit of just doing it indoors 'right' (bring it right back every time, then starting on using different objects rather than the one very battered stick) before we moved on to other places. She gives up quickly if it's difficult or if there are too many distractions, if it's not one of the things she likes doing.

 

Anything to do with 'paw' is easy and can be performed backwards underwater. Anything to do with biting/picking up things etc. has to be done carefully or she decides to just paw at it again.

 

 

CptJck- thank you. I am unsure as to how my life could have continued without that picture.

 

That expression is just hilarious. The ears!

 

Edit: apparently there are no vowels for you today, CptJack. They have run out.

[waffles]

The way I read your post is different than others, I pictured that you are not playing an active fun game of fetch but rather trying to teach her to fetch an object to you (pick it up and bring it to you). I interpreted your description as that she is stressed and quitting do to disinterest or stress/pressure and peeing due to that.

 

If you want her to play fetch with you, then I would make it more exciting, go outside, throw a new toy that she likes (squeaky ball, plush toy, whatever she likes) and only do one or two throws and quit...quit before she does. Leave her wanting more. No pressure to actually bring it back to you in the beginning, just fun interacting and picking up the toy.

 

Here is a link to a video for how to teach fetching an object to you:

[Aandi]

Thanks for the perspective and info, waffles. Looking forward to learning from this and helping Brick

Here is a link to a video for how to teach fetching an object to you:

[simba]

Waffles- I will try fewer repetitions, I am used to playing with dogs who think that there is no such thing as too much fetch, will spend the day throwing balls at you if you encourage them at all. So I was thinking of 4-8 repetitions as normal, a 'small' amount for an uninterested dog. I can't watch the video on this phone, it's not loading, but will watch it later.

 

She doesn't like any kind of toy, she has never really played with toys or objects at all- if it's not food she has no interest, and she's not really interested in motion if the moving object's not alive. She's got quite 'excited' about this process of doing tricks for food but seems to find fetch no more inherently interesting than, say, 'stay', which she finds much easier.

 

I just want her to learn things that are more challenging for her rather than just stuff she learns automatically, because well, I want her to have more new and interesting activities, because of the idea of building connections in the brain in underused areas, because of the importance of continued learning for cognitive function for older people and older dogs etc. I feel like it does her more 'good' to learn skills that are less-intuitive for her, if I can do so in a way that keeps her happy and interested.

[waffles]

I think you're on the right path then. If she doesn't want to 'play' fetch (at least for now) then teaching her the 'trick' of fetching objects to you is great! I completely agree about wanting to use her brain and engage with her in this way. I personally do a ton of trick training in the worst winter months to keep us all sane. The kikopup video should help her learn to fetch things to you.

 

I know my sister in law has had good luck with a flirt pole with her husky mix that has zero fetch drive. It might be worth a try.

[GentleLake]

Coming to this thread late. What I read, Simba, is that you may have missed her cue when she was trying to tell you she had to pee. She hesitated and came back to you; you sent her back for the stick.

 

I understand that she's not really engaging in the fetch game and that you're trying to encourage her, but it sounds to me like it might be important for you to see if you can distinguish any subtle differences between reluctance and her telling you she has to pee.

 

So what I might try is if she hasn't just peed and she hesitates like that, take her out to give her an opportunity to relieve herself. Once she's done that, then you can encourage her to fetch without either of you worrying that she might have an accident.

[simba]

Followed exactly your advice today, GentleLake, and it worked like a charm. Thank you!

 

I still can't distinguish between 'Wait, what am I supposed to do again?' and 'Need to pee!' but at least this makes it easier.