my partners granddads dog was staying with us for a while during his grandads operation, its now apparent the dog is staying with us... forever! ok i can handle this, hes friendly, gets along with my dogs.... but one thing that annoys me and everyone who meets him is he is OBSESSED with playing fetch, he will bring anything to you, my childrens toys, other dog toys, stones... literally anything! so iv had to hide all my childrens toys away from him because he chews them into tiny bits, hides them, then brings a piece over to play fetch, i bin it. he goes and gets another bit and brings it. hes had toys of his own which he destroys, hides, then does the same! so we have been growing potatoes in the garden and omg hes found them, dug them up, and hes now doing it with them. so anyone who comes into my house, he brings them bits of potato! now these potatoes are rotting and i have no idea where he has hid them in my large back garden! if you tell him no, then bin it, he doesnt listen and goes and gets more from in the bushes, and i wont go in there... lots of bugs and things. but even when there are no potatoes left he will find something else. its constant!! it really is an obsession with him. what do i do? never had to deal with anything of the sort before

As a matter of interest, what breed?

hes a cross parsons jack russell

Did perhaps his previous owner play a lot of fetch with him, making him obsessed? It can happen easily with some dogs. You may need professional help to learn how to re-direct his energy and use it in a positive way. The one thing I'd do to start with would be to get him a supply of toys he cannot destroy. It is possible, I have a 31 kilo Malinois who can destroy pretty much anything, I used to buy boxes of toys in bulk for her. She chewed up a corner couch and took up the entire lino floor and chewed holes in the floor down to the pipes below -that's strong teeth LOL. The two things she cannot destroy quickly are Nylabone toys and BLACK Kongs. (Red Kongs she can chew up in no time at all.) A Black Kong might be a good idea -stuff it with food and the dog will then have to relax for a while trying to get it out. As you have found, without toys he will only find his own, so better to get some that he can use and cannot destroy. :) I have another bitch who would open cupboards and take frying pans out if she could find nothing else to play with.

when he came here he had a black kong and he pestered everyone with it to play fetch for a couple of days, then he destroyed it and kept bringing the little bits. we had been putting treats in for him but he gave up getting them out.
i was putting the shopping away before in the kitchen and tripped over him as he was right behind me with a green plastic skittle hoping id play fetch.
i have two dogs myself, a bitch chi and her son, hes 4month now and they both play together alot but he never plays with him, hes always looking for something to play fetch it. also my partner works full time so im alone in the house a fair amount with the dog and if im sitting having a cuppa hes dropping things on my knee, tiny bits of chewed up ball! bits of chewed up plastic... and last but not least bits of rotten potato! and its rather embarassing when he does it to my friends. who should i contact for help? i live in the north east

growing potatoes in the garden and omg hes found them, dug them up, and hes now doing it with them.

Best avoid exercising him near a graveyard.
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Sounds like he's a clever, busy little chappie! Try teaching him a different game, hide and seek would be a good one to start with, teach him to go to a particular spot and click and treat with a high value treat.You can teach him to do lots of other things for a reward. Get him to use his brain and the fetch obsession will start to diminish

> Try teaching him a different game, hide and seek would be a good one to start with

I was thinking the same. if he's that obsessed, he'd probably love doing scentwork to find his toys. Or even agility - he might work well for you if his reward is a game with a toy.

The graveyard bit's too funny. Thanks for the good laugh. As for the OP, I think you should try getting a professional dog trainer to help him get rid of this obsession.