Why do Dogs like to ....

BCSnob wrote:

Never though something for a Border Collie. They can out last your arm; and from that point on the item you threw is only good for fetch (including items like chew hooves). Fetch with a Border Collie only leads to a more fit Border Collie for more fetch and a sore arm.

That works for Aussies, too; which is why I have a "Chuck-it". More distance per fling.

All of my dogs have been stick-a-holics, and yes, they bring the stick right back at a dead run and throw it down at your feet for another toss. Jack the Cattle Dog would ONLY swim to fetch a stick; Ike used to run to the end of the dock, drop a stick in the water, and then run back to shore, swim out to get it, and repeat the cycle until I took it away when he started getting too tired. Jimmy does a "Happy Dance" if he finds a stick, an elaborate celebration involving tossing it in the air, bouncing around in circles, play-bowing to it, etc. Goofy dog :-)

There is a danger in owning a stick-a-holic: I was walking across the yard with a piece of threaded steel rod in my hand that we use to screw the dock legs into the lakebed. Jimmy thought it was a stick and tried to grab it out of my hand at a run - OUCH!! for BOTH of us!

BCSnob wrote:
If you don't take a greyhound off a leash you'll never get to see the pure joy of one chasing swallows as they swoop above a field catching bugs.

Seeing that would place a smile on my face for quite awhile.

I really miss seeing Calvin enjoying himself, chasing, and barking at the crows when we were in CA.. These guys would mess with the boy, by hoovering over him real low. There were a few other things as well.


Pops

If you don't take a greyhound off a leash you'll never get to see the pure joy of one chasing swallows as they swoop above a field catching bugs.

Never though something for a Border Collie. They can out last your arm; and from that point on the item you threw is only good for fetch (including items like chew hooves). Fetch with a Border Collie only leads to a more fit Border Collie for more fetch and a sore arm.

We had two toy poodles, one had no interest in toys or chasing anything. The other was obsessive compulsive with balls. Throw a stick, nothing but she would chase a ball (and bring it back) until she was legless.

fitznj wrote:
Depends on the dog...............

It's in their DNA - we cross-bred it in over thousands of years.

Throw a stick for a German Sheppard and see what happens
Throw a stick for a Retriever and you get a different result
Watch what happens when a Jack Russel sees a squirrel
And don't take a Greyhound off it's leash - it will run and run and run

Gerry

Funny you mentioned the Greyhound. There was one at a semi-remote project we were on. We were on that location for a while, so this became sort of a game we had with this dog.

He'd be sitting, looking at us driving down the gravel road (when I owned my Mule). Once we pass him, he'd take off running. By the time we got close to the end of the road. He'd be sitting on the side of the road waiting for us.

Pops

mabynack wrote:
My German Shepherd will fetch the stick, but he wants me to chase him to get it back.

I think he knows Calvin. ... :B


Pops

My German Shepherd will fetch the stick, but he wants me to chase him to get it back.

I never had a dog that would fetch a stick, I think it's a bread thing.

Our Chihuahua for the first 8 years loved play fetch with socks but not a ball or stick. Now at 10 he has NO INTEREST at all in chasing anything. IF you throw it you better be willing to go get it because his not going to bother.

Our doxie doesn't fetch sticks. He did, however, respond to instructions to "get 'im" when it comes to squirrels, groundhogs, chipmunks, rabbits, or whatever else he felt like chasing.

He is getting a bit older and went blind, but he still loves the fenced in back yard. Doesn't run as much either.

gbopp wrote:
Our Chihuahua does not play fetch. She's a Princess and has servants to do manual labor for her.

Ha ha ha!