Try a frisbee. She normally just chases the retrievers at the dog park but when someone brought a frisbee she seemed more interested in it. I got her this ChuckIt one and as long as we’re alone she’ll chase it, try and catch it, and bring it back. She was never interested in retrieving any kind of ball.
Wait until you see what they can do with a frisbee! I recommend the soft ones, seems like a regular hard frisbee would hurt his mouth.
I have this one that I like a lot. The only issue I have with it is that my dog likes to play tug-of-war with it and the fabric in the middle gets a bit stretched out of shape. I also have one that's a round rubber donut that has fabric stretched in the middle (attached at three points around the disc so some of the rubber is exposed. Bailey likes to play tug with that one and it holds up better. I cannot seem to find it online for the life of me.
Are you using an ultimate-style frisbee? Dogs can hurt their teeth on those if they're going fast, so he may have a bit of a fear reaction. Maybe try with a soft frisbee like this one?
After that, the short distance/increasing distance thing is a good way to start. You can also throw the frisbee near someone else who picks it up if it lands on the ground, thus only rewarding if your pup catches the frisbee.
ChuckIt! Paraflight Flyer Dog... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008ESY894?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
He loves this one. I am trying to transition him to competition dog frisbees but he has bitten his tongue twice now.
My GSDs like the ChuckIt Paragflight frisbee. Only $5-$7 on Amazon. I have 3 extra in the closet. They go through a couple every summer. https://www.amazon.com/Chuckit-Paraflight-Frisbee-Distance-Orange/dp/B008ESY894
Deal link: Amazon
Deal link: Amazon
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I remember those things, but don't remember what they were called. Closest I could find is a version they sell as a dog toy:
https://www.amazon.com/Chuckit-Paraflight-Frisbee-Distance-Orange/dp/B008ESY894
I have a destructive border collie, and amazingly this has lasted 2 yrs.
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I’ll have to try those sometime. I use the Chuckit! Large Paraflight frisbee myself.