12/03/2024
Lets talk about ball throwers!
If there is one thing I hate as much as extension leads.... It's ball throwers! ( Actually, I'm a miserable cow and there are lots of things I hate as much as these!... But just for now we will stick with the dreaded ball thrower!)
So.....you want to tire your dog out with minimal effort ? flinging a ball over and over again seems appealing? Whilst this may seem like a good idea let me explain why it may be causing more problems for your furry friends!....
Firstly, ball flinging can actually cause injury... Many dogs are encouraged to chase after a ball with little (or no) warm up for their joints. The constant twisting, turning and sudden braking can cause problems short term and long term. Is this why I loathe ' ball flingers'? ...nope! Your dog... Your choice!
So, why do I hate them so much?
Aside from the physical issues, your dog's hyper arousal and obsessive focus on the ball can lead to many negative behaviours, including ( but not limited to) : a lack of focus, poor recall without a ball, reactivity and guarding/aggressive behaviour with other dogs around balls.
I've seen it happen time and time again... A client starts repetitively throwing balls for their dog, soon the dog becomes obsessed and often only comes to their owner with the promise of a ball and another throw... A year later and a trip to the park now consists of three tennis balls and a squeaky ball to lure the hyper aroused dog back with once it steals another dog's ball or loses its own.
Personally, I don't use balls on walks as there are a few dogs who can be aggressive around them, however, I can certainly tell the ones who are ball obsessed. They often steal other dog's balls or worse still, jump up at strangers to try and grab a ball from their hand or their ball flinger 😬.
Maybe this all sounds a little dramatic? Maybe I just sound like a 'fun sponge'?
I'm not suggesting you should never play with a ball with your dog, I'm just suggesting you avoid your dog becoming 'ball obsessed '. There are plenty of other healthy games you can play with your dog to encourage and stimulate their natural behaviours :) .
Have a look online and start playing new games with your dog, they will thank you for it in the long run..
And so will your dog walker :)
Becci
