Fetch

[Lily Pup]

Not sure if this should go in puppy section or not   

Lily is 12 weeks old and just loves to play fetch    when she gets her ball, she struts back to you all proud with a 'look at what I've got' look on her face, she brings it back and as soon as you touch the ball she lets go    However if you don't take the ball off her she runs off and tries to either hide it or dig a hole to put the ball in !!  She'll go under bushed etc to 'hide' it, she'll put the ball down walk a few steps away the go back for it and start to look for a new place, all the time she's doing this she whines and seems to get quite stressed about finding the right hidey hole.

She just whines and whines and it gets louder and louder until you take the ball off her.

Is this 'normal' cocker behaviour???  Should I discontinue the ball games ??  She's quite happy if you take the ball off her, she'll look at you for another throw and if it doesn't come she wanders off quite happily.  I don't want her getting unnecessarily upset.

[black taz]

I would work with what you have, giving her a cue word when she lets go of the ball (drop) then giving a reward - this could come in handy later when you need her to drop something else. 

However, i would probably avoid leaving her with the ball if she is only trying to hide it and getting stressed - but others may advise.

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Charlie does the same if I give him a pigs ear. Don't really know what to do (except not give him one of course).