How do I train my puppy to bring something to me, it's usually pieces of wood she's pinched lol but I generally want her to do this anyway but when I've tried treats she just drops what she's got and comes for the treat lol I'm hoping to get her to play fetch when we are out walking but I've tried all sorts of ways and she just bounces back to me empty mouthed lol despite her breed lol
Any ideas are welcome or is it something I'm doing

I've never trained my dog to bring things back but if he takes a toy into the garden and comes back without it I simply tell him to go and pick up whatever it is - ie teddy, squirrel etc lol. Just make sure you never give a treat to your dog if she comes back without whatever it is you've sent her for !.
I think lots of dogs retrieve naturally but how old is your pup ?. Does she have adult teeth yet ?. My dog has always carried things around and always greets us with a toy. I wish however that I'd not encouraged this because from an early age his teeth wore down. Not a problem so far but could be later on for him. It was funny watching him catching tennis balls but hasn't been good for his teeth and now he's obsessed with them !. Turn the clock back and I'd not have them in the house.

I've never been able to teach fetch to my dogs, but my youngest loves it and is always bringing me things, even small pieces of cardboard she's found, wanting them to be thrown. My whole family are amazed as it's a novelty in our house!

She 4 1/2 months old.  When she's got something she shouldn't have she just thinks its a game so we don't encourage it and don't reward. I'm trying to get her to fetch toys when we throw them when out but she just runs round, looks at it and comes back lol

Bless her - well maybe you just haven't found the right toy...........her way of getting you to buy lots more lol !.

Back chain it - start the the LAST element of the trick..

So thats dropping an item into your hand - so set her up by either handing her boring stuff or being right there as she picks something up, and then have your hand under her mouth as you present the treat which means she will open her mouth and drop the item, bingo!

Then arrange it so your hand isn't quite under her mouth and only reward for the items that go into your hand, not the items that fall to the floor.

Then add in the distance half a step at a time - once she has the idea that the item MUST go in your hand to earn the treat its pretty easy to build up the distance to GET to your hand.

Willow is 10 weeks old andshe has been doing fetch for a week or so - she just did it naturally - we whoop and holla when she does it and now she loves it -but she is a labrador retriever!!

Try to make it fun is about all I can suggest. I have 1 dog I taught to do the formal retrieve, and 1 that I am currently making painfully slow progress on persuading to show any interest in the dumbell at all. My youngest however gets very excited by either the dumbell or a tuggy, and did several perfect fun retrieves at training last week without me having put any effort into teaching her. Typical as she's my show girl so doesn't need a retrieve, and it's the one that shows no interest that I want to teach! :-p

That's what makes us laugh treacle she's a golden retriever lol she's had us in fits as she runs round, looks at the toy that's been thrown, we stand there with treats, open arms and happy calls and she flys back to us, tail in the air absolutely thrilled because she's come back to us lol

I trained mine inadvertantly by not continuing the game if she didn't bring the toy back.  So I would throw the tuggy or whatever and she would go and get it and if she brought it back, I would pet her and throw again.  If she didn't bring the tuggy to me, the game would stop and I would ignore.  She soon caught on.
I then used a word to get her attention.  I would lift my hand and say 'Ready', then throw the tuggy.  This is absolutely invaluable to me!!  As when out and I really need to get her attention to me quickly(car coming, etc) I know I can say that and she stops immediately what she is doing and focuses on me.
My girl is a springer though!! And she never worked for food only good attention which she thrives on.
Another way you might train is by a good re-call.  So, you would put the dog in a stay(or send away if you can do this) and then call her back to sit right infront of you.  Then you would just add the toy into the mix.

I'm defiantly going to try your idea theemx and keep it fun not that we don't have fun as you can imagine lol

My Springer Spaniel would not pick up a dumbell, a trainer at our club bound it with string to make it easier to get a grip on, and trained her with a clicker.
Every time she touched the dumbell we clicked and treated, just gave her lots of time to work it out for herself, but she was very greedy and soon figured out that touching the dumbell meant she got treats.  After a while she just naturally moved on to picking the dumbell up. You can also smear the bar of the dumbell with something tasty, to encourage them to pick it up.
Once they have the idea you can take the string off the bumbell.
Never pick the retreiving article up yourself, if the dog is not interested in it then kick it with your foot and see if that sparks interest, otherwise just end the game.
It is also best just to keep the article you are working with just for retreiving, don't leave it lying about as the dog will be bored with it. Keep the sessions short so you leave the dog wanting more, so that when that particular article comes out the dog gets excited as they know you are going to be playing the retreiving game.
The timing is also crucial I found it easier for me to give the treat and the trainer did the clicker so the timing was right. Hope this helps.

>but my youngest loves it and is always bringing me things, even small pieces of cardboard she's found, wanting them to be thrown.

I'm smiling at that!  I have loads and loads of toys here, and I have a LC Chihuahua boy who would sell his soul for a piece of cardboard.  I always say "poor Chipper, everyone else has toys, but Chipper's got a bit of cardboard."

I only have to mention the word cardboard and he is ecstatic!  :-)

I felt bad for her recently and bought her a baby Kong which she adores, so thankfully no more littering in this house. ;)