How do you make a Border Collie retrieve a ball back to you.?

Question

I inherited a border collie and he is constantly interested in fetching.  Ball, frisbee etc....  Anything at all that I throw.  I think he would kill himself with exhaustion if I didn't stop.
  The problem I have is when he brings back what I have thrown he does not bring it all the way back.  He brings it to about 10-30 feet away, lies down and attentively stares and the object, me, object, me for as long as it takes for me to walk over, pick it up and throw it again.
  He is not food motivated and if I walk away he might nose the ball a bit closer but will lie there and stare at it for hours.  Sometimes If I turn my back he will appear behind me with the ball but for whatever reason when I throw it he does not retrieve it all the way back.  

Looking for some advice on how to get him to return it to my feet.

Thanks!

? · Accepted Answer

Some herding breeds do this. You can try to sit on the ground, throw the ball, & play the waiting game. Which means that he has to figure out to get the ball back to you for you to throw it again. Sounds like he has an intense focus on the ball. He could very well out wait you. If that is the case then get up & leave. Then come back outside a few minutes later & retry.

Try doing other stuff with him like jogging, hiking, biking, teaching to do obstacle coarse. Border Collies are so smart they can learn many many tricks. Occupy your dogs mind by teaching him new things. They train police dogs with play so you could always reward him with throwing the ball.

You could also try to throw the ball then once he starts running back to you with the ball then you take off running where he has to chase you. This will take a few times to do but most herding dogs like a good chase. So he will chase the ball then chase you to "give" you the ball.

Ed · Answer

Keep in mind the Border Collie is a herding canine.   The Border Collie is bred and most likely is born to instinctively herd.   The Border Collie will not herd the animals, which most likely is what the toys represent, into the Master.     So,  working with the Border Collie instincts communicate to the canine you are happy when he brings the toy to you.   For example, when he appears behind you with the toy.   At the precise moment when the Border Collie is next to you with the toy reward the canine and exchange the toy for the reward.

How do you make a Border Collie retrieve a ball back to you.?

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