How do I teach to bring ball straight to me?

[Sarah16]

I have had a few problems with Mollie running off chasing after dogs, birds, squirrels and rabbits, we went back to a long line for a few months and seemed to get better at coming back so I let her off lead again. I then had a bit of a scare a few weeks back where she saw a bird and ran after it across two fields narrowly missing it, she did come back after it got away, but it really frightened me.

Since then, I have been working on ways to distract her from giving chase in a secure field, I have found she likes tennis balls and if I keep her attention and keep throwing them to her she wont chase after anything, even birds. On Sunday we went to the Country Park near us and there was loads of distractions and dogs and she stayed with us all the time, we couldn't of done this a couple of months ago. The problem is I can't get Mollie to bring the ball straight back to me, she circles me or drops it at a distance and then when I walk towards the ball she will pick the ball back up  and move away.  I have to coax her with treats so she will drop it and I can throw it again.

[cdpops]

Well done on finding something that distracts her form chasing. Charlie used to be a bit like this I found doing this helped him.
Take two balls and make the one you have far more exciting than the one she has by throwing it up in the air and catching it, she will soon come and drop the first so she can have the "better" one. As soon as she drops the first one throw the second. I used to have to put my foot on the one dropped or else he would pick that back up and take it with him to get the other and then get confused cos he couldn't carry both 

[Cob-Web]

I use the "two ball" technique too - or more accurately, the four-ball technique, as I have two dogs which both do this 

[Cazzie]

Yip, I use 2 balls with daisy but the thing with her is, when she see's the other ball from a distance, she drops it and runs back to me for the other 

[Sian P]

Don't know if this will help or is even relevant but anyway....when I first trained Murphy to fetch, it was in the house and so short distance. He would chase and get the ball and I encouraged him to bring it back with a combination of treats and praise. I made out like I was so pleased to have the ball each time. When we took it to the park I kept up with the treats and praise each time then gradually reduced the treats (often just small bits of cucumber cos I was worried about over-treating him!!) till we got to the point of him doing it purely for the fun of it. He rarely gets distracted but is easily coaxed back with a ball, it's just a case of reminding him what he was doing and how much fun it was before. This is probably more basic than you meant or need but just my own humble experience!! 

[sal]

Oska does exactly the same thing with the ball as Mollie does and we do the same to get the balll back to throw again.  Will try the "two ball" technique out as suggested too but won't be surprised if he does the same thing daisy does 

sal/Oska

[Elmo]

I taught Elmo how to fetch with using the clicker. I threw the ball only a short distance and when he went and picked it up i clicked so he came back to me for the treat. It didnt matter if he had the ball or not at this point. I built it up so that he was coming a little closer each throw with the ball before i clicked and evenetually he was bringing it straight to me. Now he brings it straight to me and drops it at my feet or if i hold out my hand then into my hand...then i click and now the reward is throwing the ball again

[Sarah16]

I have been practising the 'two ball' technique for the last few days with Mollie but seems to be dropping it at a distance to then come back for the other ball, at least it will keep me fit running all over the place looking for balls

[Top Barks]

if you clicker train just have yourself sitting down with dog in front of you in the house give the ball and if your dog takes it click and treat.
progress this to dropping the ball at your feet so the dog has to pick it up and present it to you.
click and treat.
throw the ball further and build up inside before you add distractions.
Mark

[Aearoniel]

I always find making a fuss of Callie before going near the ball helps too nice big strokes and "Good Girl" then ask for the ball

[sabrino]

if you clicker train just have yourself sitting down with dog in front of you in the house give the ball and if your dog takes it click and treat.
progress this to dropping the ball at your feet so the dog has to pick it up and present it to you.
click and treat.
throw the ball further and build up inside before you add distractions.
Mark

Think I will this a go, so thanks from me Mark! Milo used to bring it back and just drop it somehwere in the vicinity and now he just thinks it's much more fun to run off with ball and hide somewhere where I can't see him or ball.  Back to basics with playing as well then! Teenage dogs, who'd have em?! 

[ludo]

What is the two ball technique? I am trying to teach Dax to fetch a ball - he has gone and got the ball, and the first time came back with it - didn't want to part with it but dropped it when he saw the treat - so far so good  - next time he went after the ball then came back without it to get the treat - oh dear - back to the drawing board

[Nat11]

hee hee      Whenever I'm at the park the collies and labs and retrivers are back and forth fetching the ball, even the jack russells do it, but look around and when it comes to spaniels its always the owners doing the retriving  !! Winston will chase the ball, might even pcik it up and carry it about a bit but if he's out of the house it won't bring it back!! He will even  pick up his ball and run 3/4 of the way across the field to ithe wooded area and drop it there knowing full well i will have to come and get it, meaning i will be in the wooded area where he can then persuade me to kick leaves for him to jump at!!    The only time he has perfectly retrived is at home with treats (but then will abandon the retriving and just run back without ball expecting a treat) and at his obedience class - the competency to pass was retrival and he did it perfectly everytime it was like he knew it was a test - even we were surpised by how good he was!!  i'm sure there are many cockers out there who do retrieve but its certainly not instinctive and this just makes them even more lovable!! Good luck! 

[ludo]

Nat11 - I wonder why they take a bit longer than other dogs to learn to retrieve?  I thought they were hard wired to retrieve?