Dog tennis ball obsession
My dog is a retrieving fool and has no off switch.
Once when my brother stood in the yard holding a ball, my dog did not notice a BEAR run across the yard or the fact that my parents’ dog was chasing the bear.
Oblivious.
Instead, I’ve found ways to manage his behavior around a ball, and the following are my top management tips.
I know we have a few other ball-obsessed dogs among us (Alfie, Mort …), so please share any additional tips if you have them.
How to manage a tennis-ball obsessed dog
1. Don’t get mad at your dog.
I get irritated with Ace when we visit the dog beach and he won’t socialize with the other dogs. Instead, he just runs around looking for a ball in a near panic.
I’ve learned to accept this about my dog. He will always have that drive to retrieve, and I can’t change that about him.
Instead, I look at the positives:
- My dog will not run away as long as I have a ball
- My dog will do just about anything for a ball, so he’s extremely easy to train
2. Don’t keep toys out all time.
I’m amazed when people tell me, “My Lab never stops bringing me his ball.”
Well, put the ball away!
I keep Ace’s toys put away, and I set rules for indoor play. Fetch is mostly saved for outside, other than a few, rare games started on my terms.
3. Have a command to signal when play, or “work, ” is done.
I use the command “That’s enough!” to tell my dog under no circumstance am I throwing that ball again. I have to say it in a stern, almost mean, voice.
This command only works because I’m serious and my dog knows it. If he’s extra wound up, such as when multiple “ball throwers” are present, sometimes I just have to take the ball away.
4. Play fetch in a structured way, with time limits.
I try to keep the hyped-up, mindless fetch throwing to a minimum. Instead, I make my dog take breaks, and I include structured rules or commands. For example, I might make Ace sit until I release him to retrieve the ball. And sometimes I have him wait while I hide the ball, followed by the command “Find it!”
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