I'm sure this is good for a laugh, but it is driving me crazy! I have a 4 pound Yorkie. She is a 2 1/2 years old and is FULL of energy. I got her right before I had to have surgery and much of my time was spent in "my chair". She learned very quickly to fetch back a toy, but she WILL NOT bring it all the way to me. Evidently when she was little, she would bring it close enough for me to lasso with my cane and I'll pull it up to me with that. That is the only thing I can think of... Anyway, it is driving me crazy now! She brings the toy within 2 feet of my reach and will not give it to me. Any suggestions on what to do? I'm ready to hide all of her toys!

Try trading a treat for the toy.

Sorry that I don't have any advise for you. I have only ever had BIG dogs. Like 80 pounds. I do know that they all have a mind of their own and will do things their way. I guess that's what makes us love them so much.

Lucky you can get her to do that much. I have big dogs, a Great Dane & a Rottie and they won't play ball or fetch. The dane loves stuffed animals, and does the "shaken baby syndrome" on them till the stuffing starts leaking; then it just keeps coming, all over the house. I am trying to teach her to run the vacuum for me but not having too much luck. She does tell me when her "brother" wants in. It becomes a little annoying after a while. She will also tell me when it is suppertime. But other than that no tricks. I would suggest holding out a treat till she gets closer, then reward her for that. Keep working till she gets it to you and then praise her like crazy and give her a treat. Eventually you should be able to do it without the treats.

She wants you to get up and play with her.

I have a Golden who will chase the toy, pick it up, and bring it back but then lie down and play with it. He's got the "Golden" part down pat but he's still working on the "Retriever" part. :lol:

Yes, she does well at going to get the toy, but brings it to within a couple of feet and/or will not "give"... I'd thought about tying a string to it and retrieving it the last couple of feet, but if I could just get her to deliver it to me, it would be so much better... I can't find a treat she likes well enough to get her to bring it to me and drop it or "give" and swap for the treat. She has a mind of her own; her mind may be small, but she is a determined little thing!

She is used to bringing it that far because you would 'go the rest of the way' with your cane (by reaching for it). How did you get her to bring it to you in the beginning? Is that what you have been trying? Even tiny bits of hot dog or chicken (less fat) might entice her to bring it the rest of the way to you. (Just a little - she is a small dog) Once she gets the idea, she should continue! Old (not that 2 1/2 is old) dogs can learn new tricks - it just takes longer!

I'm going to try it with some chicken as a treat. This sure would be nice if I can get it to work!

Dogs can be very stubborn. But persistence pays off. What am I saying, I can't get my little dog to do anything either! She has ME trained. Right now, shw is on the floor in front of me wagging her little nub of a tail and begging for something. What? I never know what she really wants, but she is going to go outside!

Ignore her till she brings it close enough for you to reach it....right now she has you playing by her rules..so why would she want to change anything...
This may take sometime but eventually if she wants to play she will bring it close enough for you to reach..