Do not play ball with your dog. - Page 3

Do not throw the baby out with the bath water!
Bill Koehler taught more right than wrong.  No one was teaching much in the 60s.  Different day, different rules.  As far as the ball thing goes, he is wrong on that one.  I would loved to have had some dialogue with him on this subject and a few others. 

The problem is not in playing fetch.  The problem comes in when it is the first thing you do when you walk out in your yard, or you leave his ball out there for him to run and get and bring to you.  He sees you as a ball thrower.  You are his pitching machine.  If he has access to a ball without your aid, or, you throw him the ball routinely when you go out side, then you will get what you taught him.

1.  If you put the ball up when done playing with it,   2.  don't play fetch as soon as you walk out into his yard,  3.  Don't play ball first, but find some other form of interaction with him, he will stop seeing you as his pitching machine.

GARD said this......
Think outside the box. You would be amazed at how much you can learn just watching and playing with your dog. I recomend to everyone --- go to as many trainers and seminars as you can. Take in everything you can and do what works for you and your dog.

This could NOT be more true. You will learn alot by watching good trainers. When ever I have to the chance to go to a seminar or work with another trainer I jump at the chance. You may not agree 100% with how someone trains but you will always learn something new from them. That way you can piece meal, so to speak, and make your own way of training. The thing about Schutzhund. PSA, Ring Sport, or what ever sport you are doing with your dog is that you are learn just as much as your dog is IF not more.

I play ball with ALL of my dogs. But the one thing I do not do is make it the first thing we do when I go training. I will do some tracking or obedience or both FIRST. I will do the obedience and tracking, put them in their crates in the truck when done. Then I will take them back out one at a time of cource and throw the ball. That way they do not learn to expect to play ball right away. This way also gives them a chance to "think" about the training session we had just done. Playing ball for them is something they can do to "unwind". Not to mention it is good exercise. Throwing the ball also keeps my arms in shape too...hehe. Since I am working 4 dogs right now...3 in Schutzhund and one in personal protection.

Hope this helps.
 

BEST REPLY

The problem is not in playing fetch. The problem comes in when it is the first thing you do when you walk out in your yard, or you leave his ball out there for him to run and get and bring to you. He sees you as a ball thrower. You are his pitching machine. If he has access to a ball without your aid, or, you throw him the ball routinely when you go out side, then you will get what you taught him.

1. If you put the ball up when done playing with it, 2. don't play fetch as soon as you walk out into his yard, 3. Don't play ball first, but find some other form of interaction with him, he will stop seeing you as his pitching machine.

If this were a contest this would have won. I never thought of this olskool. The pitching machine has been shut down effective now. Going to have to find a new type of play. The thing about the ball I can throw it while I am doing other things around the yard.

 

I play ball with my dog, but don't let anyone else play ball with her. My son has his own dog to play ball with and he's not allowed to play ball with my dog around. Strangers most certainly NO. It's for security reasons.

My sons cattle dog will play ball nicely with anyone child and everyone. My Mal is to obsessed with the ball and does eventually redirects that ball obsession to something else if not kept in check. ( at first she had good interest for the ball, but got bored with it, now a year later playing balls, she is obsessed, but after about 2 doz long throws she needs to bite something with resistance or she jones for the sleeve or just an arm would do )

I'm not a big toy fan, never was. I do have oodles of tennis balls though, just not in the house or laying around. Our dogs get RAW beef knuckles for pleasure when ever they want in the house though.

I understand what Koehler means by his words, there is a conflict of interest there I see.
 
I would like someone to explain ball drive vs prey drive ... maybe that would help me understand this a bit better with my dog anyhows.