When I first got my puppy, from 2 1/2 months to about 5 months, he was super good at playing fetch. Like, I didn’t even have to teach him, and we could play for hours! But now that he’s 7 months, he’s totally lost interest. He’ll chase the ball, but then just stop halfway, or grab it and drop it to sniff something else. How can I get him to play fetch again? Is this just a teenager thing?
Yeah, my dog did the same thing around that age! It’s like they hit a phase where everything is more interesting than the ball 
I’ve heard it’s pretty common.
TomHenry said:
Yeah, my dog did the same thing around that age! It’s like they hit a phase where everything is more interesting than the ball
That makes sense! I thought it was just my pup being weird. Glad to know it’s a thing!
It sounds like he might be in that adolescent phase, where distractions just take over. My vet suggested using higher-value treats or toys to bring back his interest in the game.
Mark said:
It sounds like he might be in that adolescent phase, where distractions just take over. My vet suggested using higher-value treats or toys to bring back his interest in the game.
Oh yeah, I tried that too! Worked a bit better when I switched to his favorite squeaky toy instead of the usual ball. Maybe worth a shot?
I had the same issue! You could try using his sniffing as a reward. If he’s super nose-driven, you could make him sniff a treat after fetching the ball. It gets his focus back.
Lovedog said:
I had the same issue! You could try using his sniffing as a reward. If he’s super nose-driven, you could make him sniff a treat after fetching the ball. It gets his focus back.
That’s an interesting idea! So I could use the treat he’s sniffing as a reward? Like, if he sniffs it before fetching the ball, I can use that as a starting point?
Lovedog said:
I had the same issue! You could try using his sniffing as a reward. If he’s super nose-driven, you could make him sniff a treat after fetching the ball. It gets his focus back.
Exactly! Start with a treat, then gradually move to other items or scents. It’ll help him stay focused during fetch.
Don’t worry too much about him losing interest. He might go back to fetching once he matures. But in the meantime, just keep practicing with short, exciting sessions to rebuild his love for the game.
Gerald said:
Don’t worry too much about him losing interest. He might go back to fetching once he matures. But in the meantime, just keep practicing with short, exciting sessions to rebuild his love for the game.
That makes me feel better! I’ll keep trying the training, and hopefully, we can get him back into it. Thanks!
I’d say stick with it! Even though he’s distracted now, the more you work on it, the better his focus will be as he grows older.
Kapoor said:
I’d say stick with it! Even though he’s distracted now, the more you work on it, the better his focus will be as he grows older.
I really hope so! I miss those fetch sessions. Thanks for the encouragement!