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Hi there.
I can’t help you on the launching part.
I have seen little battery operated treat launchers.
Look online and maybe on websites devoted to search and rescue dog training or maybe google “scent work dog training supplies”.
I’d be happy to share my experience on the dog behavior/play questions.
Some dog trainers make the decision that their dog is going to be positively rewarded during training with toys or fun or affection (experiential) rather than receive an edible treat (food based).
A dog handler/owner/trainer has to get to know the dog to find out what really helps them connect with that dog as an individual. What makes THAT dog SO happy?
It been my experience that while some dogs LIVE for a vigorous game of tug, not all enjoy it or will even engage.
So it’s possible you may never get your one dog to get on board with that.
That doesn’t mean you have to give up, it just means you need to keep searching for that “something special” which REALLY delights that particular dog.
As for the dog who enjoys playing ball but doesn’t bring it back... when you go out to play this game take 2 or three balls with you.
Throw the first ball, but don’t throw it very far. Too much distance at first can make the distractions all the more overwhelming.
If the first ball gets ignored or the dog gets distracted by something else environmental and abandons it- say a leaf tumbles by and makes the dog forget all about the ball-
Don’t recall the dog, just get his attention by using his name and throw the next one and maybe the next.
As soon as he touches the ball with his mouth, mark that event with a word like ”Yes!”
When he picks it up say it again, or use something else like “good boy” or even if he takes a step or two with it in his mouth, Mark that event too with something like “yes! bring it”. Whatever you choose, use it consistently so he knows he has your permission and encouragement rather than being called AWAY from it.
Dogs have a language and so do we. Training your dog is learning to READ his, and getting him to understand YOURS.
My own dog delights in playing with a ball -by himself. And he’s a retriever!... but it’s taken him a long time to figure out this game of fetch ...
That I’m NOT taking it AWAY when he comes near me, I’m CONTINUING THE FUN.
Eventually with all these balls flying, and all this praising going on, he’ll learn the language you are associating with it and figure out the object of the game.
Hope this helped some.
Thank you very much! This is all very helpful. And I like the launcher flying nun farm shared (though it is expensive) and after a quick Google search (idk why I didn’t think of that before), it seems there are also a couple specifically designed for working/detection dogs, although they do also use the other one. Depends on personal preference I guess. Here are the other ones I found. But all are extremely expensive so if I’m just training the one or two dogs, it doesn’t really make sense to buy one. Guess I will stick with the old school way lol
http://www.elitek9.com/K-9-BSD-3R-r...th-Barrel-and-Black-cover/productinfo/SD300B/
http://www.elitek9.com/K-9-BSD-3R-r...-Launcher-with-Black-cover/productinfo/SD300/
http://www.elitek9.com/Dogtra-Ball-trainer/productinfo/ED100/
And thank you so much again!!! This is all very helpful!! Franklin LOVES praise/pats and love and high value food rewards (he can be picky with foods/treats but there are some he loves, like the merrick ones and the freeze dried raw, and of course real meat and cheese lol) so I do use those for a lot of the training, he is coming along nicely on walks, but I guess I just thought tug might be fun. But I guess if he doesn’t like it, it wouldn’t be fun for him. I just thought maybe if I could show him that he doesn’t have to let go or be scared, that I’m not trying to take it from him, he might like it. And like for example, I also have a flirt pole for them (bought from Squishy Face Studio) cause Libby is very high energy, bought it before Franklin, and he loves it and will run and run but when he catches it, he doesn’t want to tug, unlike Libby who all she wants to do is catch it and tug with me and then try to eat it lol, but if I try to approach him, he just spits it out, which I feel bad about because I want him to keep his prize. So I just started letting him prance around with it for a bit first, even lay down, and then take it, because I want him to feel like he won and got rewarded and not like I took it instantly. But we don’t do the flirt pole very often. I guess maybe tug is just not his thing. But I wish he didn’t think that I want to take everything from him.
And thank you for the suggestion on the fetch thing! I am going to try that idea!! It’s weird because he usually does pick it up and carry it a bit and will sometimes start to bring it back but then he drops it before he gets to me, even if I don’t call him, if he just thinks he can get some attention he drops it and comes over. And he doesn’t seem to understand “get it” or “where’s the ball?” Or “get the ball” and if I try to say any of those, he just looks at me, and doesn’t get it. Libby is a very very intelligent dog and seemed to just figure stuff out all her own if you pointed to something and said get it and she loves playing find it, but Franklin, I hate to say it, does not seem as bright. Very very sweet but just does not seem to “get” stuff like Libby. But maybe I just need to practice more and teach it to him? I forget, I did somewhat have to teach Libby to bring it back too because she would run away, so maybe I need to teach him too. But with her it was easier because I used this method I saw on YouTube where you just toss it a short distance and when they bring it back, you tug with them, but stop before they’re done, so the idea is, they bring the toy back to you hoping for more play. And then bringing it back is fun. But with Franklin since he doesn’t like tug, I am going to have to get more creative lol
But for him, since he’s not really afraid to grab it but seems more afraid to KEEP it or seems to just want cuddles, is it the same method you described or would it be different? He loves the chase but not so much the retrieve lol
Stacey, I would not worry too much about buff orpington’s comment or take it too personally. I believe that this user is very young and may not be intentionally being rude or know any better; you can see their comment to me. I tried not to let it bug me because they do come across as a child or at least very young. I appreciated your comment and suggestions and thought it was very helpful.
Thank you! This is very helpful. His thing seems to be praise/cuddles and good treats (only good treats, he can be picky and is not always particuarly food motivated). I just thought tug might be fun. But maybe not for him.
Thank you so much! That looks perfect, although wow I wasn’t expecting it to be so expensive lol guess I will have to stick to the old school way unless I open a training school or something and can justify the cost aha
