I've always found it interesting how some dogs have zero interest in playing fetch while others would literally walk over hot coals to retrieve a ball and bring it back.
Sure... those delightful retrievers are hard-wired to fetch. My perfect Labrador Retriever was a certified fetcher - he should've had some kind of laminated card he could whip out that said "Every tennis ball returned within one minute or your next throw is free." If there was a ball within a one mile radius, he would find it, and he couldn't focus on anything else until the ball was located and then dropped at my feet.
But what about those dogs that aren't tried and true retrievers? I have a Pit Bull that will almost jump a six foot fence trying to get to a tennis ball that has gone awry. But the other Pittie in the household will go fetch it a couple of times and then look at me as if to say "Been there, done that. What's next lady?" And then of course there's Mona Mae who's definitely more Labrador than anything else and she couldn't care less about a ball. Retrieving is sooo beneath her. My hound mix is kuh-razy about playing fetch, but my Dalmation mix is hit or miss depending on what day it is (or perhaps it just depends on which one of his wires is loose that day).
In my "fruit basket turnover" of a doggie household, I have a canine at pretty much every point on the Fetching Spectrum. DNA obviously plays a big role in how ball-crazy a dog will be... And there are ways to train even the most ball-ambivalent dog to fetch. But I just think it's an interesting discussion.
So let's hear it guys - do you have a crazy fetcher in the family? Leave a comment telling me all about it and you'll have a chance to win the stylish set of Harry Barker tennis balls above (maybe Mona Mae would fetch if I bought her cute tennis balls). They come in two different sizes so even the little bits can play.
Deadline to enter is Saturday, October 2nd at noon ET. TIME'S UP!
One winner will be picked at random and announced sometime Friday late afternoon. Good luck everyone!
The winner is Stella Louise! Congrats... Please email me here so I can get your address. Thanks so everyone for participating!
The winner is Stella Louise! Congrats... Please email me here so I can get your address. Thanks so everyone for participating!
My two chocolate labs are like night & day when it comes to fetching. Cooper would fetch all day (and night) long if we would continue to throw his ball to him, but Brady has zero interest in retrieving unless he's in the water, then it's game on! Great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteGertie, my Cavalier also LOVES to fetch in the water. She gets so worked up and excited that she yips while swimming to her toy. She would retrieve the ball for hours if we let her, but eventually we have to call it quits or she is sore for the next few days.
ReplyDeleteAll of mine are very contrary with fetching balls and 2 of them are retrievers! They'll fetch the ball for a good 20 minutes and then they've decided that they are done with that.
ReplyDeleteLove the Halloween collars!
I have a 8 month old yellow lab. She has been fetching pretty much since she could walk. I have a photo of her at 8 weeks seeing a tennis ball for the first time. It was love at first sight. She will fetch anything and everything that I throw and I swear she would never quit. When I give up, she will "throw" the ball to herself. We are working on Frisbee's and she is doing pretty well catching them in her mouth. Love my Labby!
ReplyDeleteCharlotte, my chocolate lab, LOVES to fetch! She could care less about other dogs at a dog park - she just wants that ball!
ReplyDeleteOh! I just found your blog. I hope we can be friends.
ReplyDeleteHugs
YEA! Thanks so much!
ReplyDelete