My dog knows the name of her toys, but won't acknowledge them when I ask her to find them.?

Question

Sometimes when I ask my dog "where's the handball," she has no problem picking it up and showing me. But usually when I ask her to find a toy, she doesn't want to play that game. She definitely knows the names of her toys- she's a very smart dog.

Is there anything I can do to encourage her to play this game? I've already tried being very happy when she gets one right, giving treats, not giving treats when she won't do it, and once I even took all the toys away when she repeatedly wouldn't do it.

Also, I definitely haven't been over-training the dog. The problem is not that I've been stressing this game too much.

She is 2 and a half years old.

Answer 1

"once I even took all the toys away when she repeatedly wouldn't do it. "

OK -- if you are repeating yourself over and over and she's not doing it -- she doesn't get it.  Just because she knows the name of her toys doesn't mean she understands the concept of finding and retrieving them on command.  You have to work up to that.  Start with throwing it short distances and using the command that you want (you might even want to think of a new phrase since it seems you've driven the other one into the ground.)  When you're playing with her, go and set the toy somewhere so she can see it; then hold on to her (assuming she wants the toy) and as soon as you let go of her use the new command.

Answer 2

Maybe keep saying your dogs name then that toy or get that toy. Hmm tough question!

My dog can do that too but only for her ball.I just say Koty ball!

Answer 3

"I definitely haven't been over-training the dog. The problem is not that I've been stressing this game too much."

"once I even took all the toys away when she repeatedly wouldn't do it."

you want to play this game more than she does. get over it.

Answer 4

Try a different game.  Some breeds get bored after they learn the 'game' and want to try something else, regardless of the treats or praise.  You can try the 'freeze' game, or following a trail, or doggie dancing, or just a group of sort of inter-related training moves.  

Learning a High Five is fun for a lot of dogs who learned to shake hands.  

There's dog training over on YouTube, plenty of ideas over there to try.

Answer 5

Make no mistake that your dog is telling you something about your relationship.

She has found a way to tell you she is choosing not to engage in this activity.  I have a feeling that she gets that to engage in the game will please you, however pleasing you is not her top priority!  This again is her statement about your relationship.  

You said she has a good life, and about that I have no doubt.  Look at it from her perspective of your relationship, maybe she sees your relationship is all about pleasing her!  What does she have to do to earn your pleasure?  Does she get everything for free?  Food, your attention, your affection?  Are you the one begging to get it from her?

I think your roles are reversed and she did a great job getting you trained to please her.  Time to reverse that.  She won't be so inclined to reverse roles, but you need to learn how to make her earn your affection.  There are no free meals.  She should have to follow you around to get every scrap of kibble by doing things that will please you.  You'll see some tantrums, but if you stick with it, she'll come around and play the game of pleasing you by trying to sit, lay down, etc. to see if it will get you cough over some kibble.  Be sure to whoop it up and reward with food any time she tries to please you.

Good Luck.

Answer 6

Have you tried playing with her when she brings the right toy?

What's the point of asking for a toy, if you're not wanting to play one of her favorite games?  Sounds like the dog is smarter than you.  She might like the game more if she was getting a game of tug or fetch out of bringing the correct toy.

Answer 7

Give it a rest.

When learning, there's something called "plateau".  It's a well known phenomenon where the brain sort of gets tired of learning.  There's no way to predict when this will hit so when you say you haven't been over training, well, it could still be possible.

Plus, you don't decide what is "over trained".  The dog does.

What to do?

Spend a week working on the things she does well.  Completely quit with this trick.

Re-introduce the game like it's brand new.  

You'll be shocked at how quickly she picks it up.

Evaluate the commands and signals your giving.

You may be giving mixed signals and confusing her.

Consider switching up the commands you use.  If it sounds like something else you do with her, she may be confused.

Break complex tricks into smaller lessons.  

~Example:  Don't start with 5 toys.  Drop it down to 2.  

There are 3 concepts here:

Identifying the toy

Finding the toy

Bringing it to you.

You have to be sure she understands each step seperately before you can put it all together.

Good luck