Not only does she like fetching, Starbuck has become rather proficient at catching as well. If the ball is tossed up, she will usually catch it before it can land. In fact, if no one else is willing to play with her, she will drop the ball at the top of the stairs, chase it down and then catch it when she gets to the dining room.
It has been quite a while since I've had a dog willing to play as much as Starbuck does. Annie, our last dog, was a fantastic dog for our family, but she had no interest in fetching anything. Anytime I threw something for her, she would chase it down, look it at, and then look at me while wagging her tail. It was as though she was saying, "That was a good throw. Come here and do it again." It was not a game that I really enjoyed.
It certainly is a different situation with Starbuck. In fact, she just dropped the ball at my feet again. I think we'll go play some more now.