Fetch - Playtime

[The Chipmunk's Mom]

I try to play with Chip and Dale every night and Dale has decided he really likes to play fetch. I throw two balls - one for Chip and one for Dale. Chip likes to hold his ball in his mouth and not let go for awhile. However, Dale will bring the ball right back to me and I throw it again for him. Chip will chase after Dale's ball and try to cut Dale off. He doesn't hurt Dale, just tries to not let Dale get his ball. Chip is selfish. He can't pick the ball up because his is still in his mouth but it makes it harder to play with the two of them. Any ideas on how to make playtime a little smoother?

[Merlincorgi]

Honestly? Find a way to play with them separately. It gives you good individual bonding time and eliminates the desire for one to "hoard" all of the objects of play. My boys get along great.. but if I were to always play fetch with them together Gator would never get to catch anything because Checkers ALWAYS gets there first... even if he has to push Gator out of the way to do it. I don't neccessarily separate them completely.. but I may put Checkers in a down/stay while I play a few throws with Gator... then switch. Helps work on their OB, while reinforcing the bonding play at the same time.

[Dillydoodle]

My two do a similar game, though Gus doesn't want the ball, he wants to herd Dillon, so Dillon runs after the ball, and Gus runs after Dillon, on occasion Gus gets the ball and brings it back, but many times he is cutting Dillon off from being able to bring me the ball and the game starts between the two of them running around to see if Dillon can get the ball to me.. I think they are having fun though. I have done the fetch game with Gus alone with Dillon in a down stay and after the first or second throw Gus is bored and stops playing. Also Dillon trys harder to get the ball when i throw it now that Gus is "competition" eventhough Gus doesnt really want the ball! So my real question is...are they having fun? even if the game isn't going smoothly as a "fetch" are they still having fun? I dont stop my two becuase i can tell they are having fun, and they are getting tired out from all the separate side games of Gus trying to herd dillon around.

Emilie

[The Chipmunk's Mom]

Thanks - that is a different way to look at it Emilie and I hadn't thought of it that way. They do have fun. When Dale gets the ball, he will run to me and dive in my lap with the ball or sometimes he will lay on my lap while Chip gets the ball. Thinking about it they are having fun so I will stop worrying. I do play with them one on one sometimes and will try to do that more often.

[Dillydoodle]

As long as they are having fun, it may not be conventional as far as fetch goes, but that is ok as long as they are running, playing and having a good time. I do one on one things with each but more of the time we play as a group. So no worries...what you describe sounds a lot like how my two play...

Emilie

[The Chipmunk's Mom]

I like the group thing too. It tickles me to watch the two of them together. Two peas in a pod so to speak.

[Jespah]

I agree with Emile - I play one on one with mine and then I play fetch inside and outside with them together. I think it's good for them to do both. When playing together I think it reinforces their bond and they take turns bringing it back - sometimes growling at each other to get the ball first. That's how dogs play.

[disraeli ears]

I agree with Emilie, too.
I don't have that problem as Andy doesn't really play fetch. Whenever I play fetch with Rhys, Andy generally crawls up in my lap for attention! :BIGGRIN"