Old dog new tricks

[tanyavee]

I'm looking after my mums dog he's 105 and I'm trying to teach him to fetch a ball but all he want's to do is lie down and go to sleep.Can you teach old dogs new trick's has anyone?

[lillylampost]

105!! Quick get him in the Guinness book of records before he dies lol

[FastBarry]

Aaah bless !  When you are a 105 shall we see if we can get you to run after a ball. He is probably thinking "Run, I can just about stand. Go and get it yourself".

I am only 56 and all I want to do is to lie down and go to sleep, but then again I am a man :-)

[cheyenne]

He's only interested in chasing pussys!!Well you know what old Dogs are like.

[Scarlett]

Poor thing!!! If dogs showed their ages like humans do, maybe you would leave him alone!! Be grateful that you don't have to babysit MY parents' dog- which is a very bitey, continually leaping, retriever puppy.

[sammyrobo]

its a bit hard to teach old dogs tricks. Most of the training should be done during their puppy years. When they get older they also lose interest in wanting to learn. Just like a human :p

hope that helps

[druiaghtagh]

Let the poor old fella rest!

[woofgang]

evidence of smart dog. My middle aged weimaraner will chase a rabbit or hunt for a treat in thick heather but her attitude to ball retrieval is "you threw it, you get it"!

Like old people, old dogs will learn new things if they want to and if it is worthwhile but to be honest, why should they?

Let the old guy sleep, he's earned it!

[Octavius]

Yes.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0812045440/103-7692029-0209418

[tanyavee]

Thanks for your answers I gave up trying to teach him to fetch the ball after he walked off and hid in the shed and wouldn�t come out, every time I go in the garden he goes in the house if I go in the house he goes on my sun lounger in the garden crafty old dog!!, I end up laying on the grass well there�s always the cat!

[toecrusher]

i would,nt fancy chasing a ball at 105

[Marvin84]

try this interesting trick.... get a tennis ball and let it 'soak' in a pot of beef stock for a bit..... if you can at least temp him to chase it then bringing it back is easy. Use his favourite treats as well.....

Hope that this helps..... if not, I say live and let lie!!!! ;-)

[woofgang]

DO NOT DO THIS. There is a risk that the dog will take the ball away, chew it and swallow pieces. This is likely to be painful for the dog, possibly fatal and expensive and heart breaking for the owner bad bad bad idea

[tanyavee]

He went home today the only time he ran all week out the door into the car head out of window as mum drove off he let out a loud bark .I think he prefers being at home.