dogs

[kc70]

Does anyone know at what age dogs start learning to catch things when thrown to them.
Thanks in advance.

[Beanmistriss]

Not a clue. My sister had a rescue dog - got him when he was about 7 we think. He didn't know how to play atall. He did eventually but never got the hang of catching. He used to try and catch with his front paws :)

[lankeela]

I thought that where we were!

I don't know for certain, but I should think that about six months is when they start to be able to get their co-ordination right to catch things, although a large soft toy might be caught by a younger puppy, more by luck than judgement.

[lankeela]

I find that to teach them to catch, if you throw something in the air rather than straight at them, so it falls slowly in an arc towards them then they have time to see it coming. and are less likely to swallow it than if you lob it at their faces.

[Illyria54]

Usually quite young if they are that way inclined, however not all dogs like catching or fetching come to that, my last German Shepherd Never retrieved anything, I tried but he would watch the Frisbee/ball (or whatever I threw) go over his head and land further up the field, watch me walk up the field to collect it and he would then watch the same article going over his head the other way down the field! he had much more important things to do, like looking for rabbits etc, you could see it written all over his face 'well, if it keeps her happy' lol! I lost him a year ago aged 13years and 2 months and I still miss him, what a character!!

[XladysailaX]

they learn at any age but it wont be to early sometimes they cant be bothered so they wont always go for the thing you throw

[taliesin238]

they are just like humans !! they all develop certain abilities and skills at different stages!! My little nephew was walking at 9months but could not talk at all! My niece is 12 months and has only just started crawling but can say all sorts of different words and make animal noises already

[taliesin238]

some dogs cant catch!! I had a dog, taffy!! A wonderful dog, he culdnt catchto save his life!! But he could jump!! NOt all dogs can jump

[Illyria54]

My Borderline Collie will retrieve anything you throw, he started when he was about 4 months old, it came in very handy in August when F&M was in my village, I didn't quite wear him out, I got slight tennis elbow and was glad when we were back to 2 hour treks instead.

[abstibus]

My lab was eight months.

[paddywak]

Max my 6yr old GSD is quite happy to spend all day chasing and fetching, but he just wont catch in the air he always waits till what ever you throw lands then he will pick it up and bring it back.

[lilacben]

My two rough collies 9 and 7 have never played when you throw something, they just look at the object and go the other way.