could you please suggest how i can stop my dog barking when i am throwing a ball for her to run after. she brings the ball back and puts it down but then barks incessantly until i throw it again. i stop the game immediately and put the ball away, however this makes no difference and she does not know why the game is over as she behaves the same each time. i realise i am making a mistake somewhere here as she is otherwise an obedient dog and willing to please. please help.

Hi Phoebe,
Can you train her to give it into your hands, rather than drop it? I would never throw a ball for my lab if she hadn't given it 'to hand'. Then perhaps get her to go to heel and sit and wait after you've thrown it till you tell her to 'go fetch!'
:)

How old is she ? She is probably just excited !!

my boxer Meg is the same when playing with her toys, especially the ones that make noises. I'm hoping it's just a 'puppy thing' and she'll grow out of it!!!! :D

You must continue to do what you are doing each and EVERY time she barks the game ends - it will take some time, and each time she barks and the ball is thrown she is being rewarded for barking :( She will probably bark even more in an attempt to get you to throw the ball as well - this is known as an 'extinction burst' and so long as you can weather it through, she will stop. Does she bark for anything else, such as being let out? Each time she barks for what she wants, and is rewarded, it is making it harder to drop the habit.

Changing the way you play with her with a ball will help, as Jean suggests, asking her for a 'sit' or a 'down' will help, or even where you play with her, as so often these behaviours become superstitious and linked to just one place, or with one ball/toy........