Desi loves to retrieve things but the problem is that once she retrieves them she does not bring them back to me.  She picks up anything and everything but if I tell her to come to me or to leave/drop things she ignores me.  The other day in the garden she picked up a whole mouldy baguette that somebody had thrown over the fence the day before that to me.  When I went towards her both times she ran away and began tail wagging etc turning it into a game!!! When I walk off and leave her she starts to chew and she ate the whole baguette.  I am at the end of my tether so to speak I get very worried when she picks up these things especially wood with nails in etc.  The thing is that this always happens from a ball to a stick she turns it all into a game and runs around and around not leaving things.  What can I do to stop her and to get her to leave things/drop things and bring things back to me?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
thanks
van

Are you sure you are not pinching my Lab pup as all these probs you are having are spot on what I have had.  Just double check she is female will you and not my male LOL.
Ok I deal with that problem by keeping a little pot of his food from his daily ration on the windowsil in the kitchen so i can immeadiatly offer him something in return for what he has.
I started by letting him in the garden then going out the back garden calling him and rewarding him for coming with the treat in my outstretched hand.
He then learnt that if he had something and I called him with the outstretched hand he would run over drop the item and get his treat as he took the treat i took the item
Slowly, as I didn't want him to think he was rewarded for having things he shouldn't I stopped actually giving the treat everytime.
He still comes and drops it in anticipation of the treat but only occasionally gets one. But the fact he does occasionally still has him there like a bullet.
I refuse to chase as that becomes a game you can't win but they love.

Bev

Hi Van

All Desi is doing is playing ! The more you try the more she will think it is a game :)

She is only a baby yet but she will get better ! :)

Just keep at the 'retrieve and leave' and she will get the idea eventually ! ;)

Lucy
xx

Hi Bev and Hi Lucy
Thank you for your help with my two posts today.  I took Desi into the garden this afternoon and tried the drop and treat it does work although naturally sometimes she would not return the ball I threw for her.  I am going to cook some chicken up and tempt her with these now as I think she is not too keen on the liver treats or maybe she is just used to them now.
You know Bev when we first got Desi I was thinking she may be a male as she was humping our legs all the time and we were a little concerned that we had been given the wrong pup but I know now she is definitely a little girl.
Best wishes to you both for a Happy, healthy New Year
Van

hi goat, i am having the exact same problems with max as well so its obviousley lab puppies max is now 8 months and seems to be getting worse!!! i have been told to just stick at what i have been doing and he will improve he is just going through a rebellion at the moment

oh dear katy b
I hope max improves I think they all go through the rebellious stage.
I guess we must just keep on persevering with ours I know they will turn out just fine.
Happy New Year
Van