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by triodegirl on 23 February 2007 - 18:02
Ever see a GSD who can't catch a ball? My male could catch his ball blindfolded, while the female couldn't catch a ball by accident. She loves playing and will chase the ball all day long. But toss her the ball, and she just lets it bounce off her head. I have spent hours trying to teach her to catch the ball but she just lets the ball bonk her in the noggin then she runs after it. Does my girl need glasses or is she just uncoordinated?
by Shelley Strohl on 23 February 2007 - 18:02
Some do. Some don't.
Doesn't seem to have an awful lot to do with working ability IMO. Also, as they age, their vision goes downhill, just like ours.
SS
by triodegirl on 23 February 2007 - 18:02
I guess it could be worse. My friend's husky will close her eyes when she sees the ball coming. My female will at least watch the ball as it hits her in the head.
by bsceltic on 23 February 2007 - 19:02
My 4yo girl is the same way. She can't catch for anything. She'll try, she'll focus, stare concentrate and get's bonked every time. My 9 yo male has no problem catching anything and everything thrown at him (my Border collie was the same way). I don't think it has anything to do with her abilities in other areas.
by angusmom on 23 February 2007 - 20:02
we have a 14 mo gsd/bel mal mix who is ballcrazy. she catches golf balls and tennis balls and soccer balls. she's a great goalie. we also have a 9 mo gsd male who can't catch a ball to save his life. it usually bonks him on the head. he sometimes will try to play with a ball on his own (he's very clumsy) but our female usually takes the ball away. our male is also very large (~85-90 lbs) and the female is 53 lbs and very very agile. it took months before he would take any interest at all in playing ball. he actually likes to sit just behind and to the side of our girl and tackle her when she goes after the ball. ticks her off every time.
by redcap on 23 February 2007 - 21:02
I have two GSDs, both just turned 3, a male and a female. My male is ball crazy and will catch it on the fly when my husband throws it as hard as he can. The dog jumps into the air with his hind feet about 4 feet off the ground and picks the ball clean out of the toss on the first try most times. The female couldn't care less about balls and her greatest interest in this ball chasing is to tackle the boy after he actually gets it. He is good SchH material, and doing well in training. She is not SchH stuff at all, but loves tracking and has amazing instinct for sheep.
by czechGSD on 23 February 2007 - 22:02
angusmom: - Please beware of golf balls... I've heard of dogs choking on a ball that small. Even tennis balls have been a problem occasionally according to what our GSD breeder told us.
by ALPHAPUP on 23 February 2007 - 23:02
catching in the canine world ios not as easy as it looks -- the fact is dogs eyes if you observe are not set in the skull as are ours - therefore they must learn the way to catch as it relates to learning the ball's tragectory path and be able to have that meet at the end of the nose -- not always easy for all canines to pick up on so fast -- but keep trying -- it can be learned with thr right motivation and patience
by olskoolgsds on 24 February 2007 - 00:02
This is interesting, you have me curious. I think I will try starting my young male with treats at a very close distance, a foot or two, then back up if he gets it. Then continue with tennis ball. Unless someone has a better idea I will try this. He loves treats and really focuses, so it will be interesting.
by olskoolgsds on 24 February 2007 - 00:02
Re: above post. Just went out and tried this. The key was to quickly pick up the kibble before he could get it off the ground. No catch, no reward. It is working fine, just need to increase distance and as a young child learns to judge a balls speed and as ALPHAPUP said the tragectory, then this should work. Hope this works. P.S. start right on top of her, about a foot above, so she can get the idea, and say catch so she knows it's coming.
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