How to get a dog to play ball. [Archive] - K9Mania.com - Forums By Dog Lovers for Dog Lovers

View Full Version : How to get a dog to play ball.

Shara

03-17-2009, 07:27 PM

My Chiweenie will NOT play with balls. I have tried everything from cutting the inside and putting treats to anytime she touches the ball to give her a treat...I want her as my flyball girl as she is very fast and agile...I have been working on this for over 3 weeks. I have tried every sort of ball as well, mini tennis balls to foam soft balls...nothing seems to work...and I have tried everything!

Anyone have a suggestion?

Corinthian

03-17-2009, 07:39 PM

Shara

03-17-2009, 11:34 PM

My dog has NO play drive whatsoever. No retrieve drive. If you throw something she will actually shy away from it not even think of going to it.

I have tried treating her if she even touches sniffs or goes near the ball...again I have been doing this for several weeks and she could careless :( I am told if I keep at it she will eventually get it, but this is just frustrating!

Monsterpuppy

03-18-2009, 01:59 AM

Have you tried clicker training? (Load the clicker, then begin shaping look at ball, sniff ball, pick up ball, etcetera) Takes forever, but one of our teammates was having luck with it.

My dogs learned it from other dogs. Get a ball driven dog that won't intimidate your dog, throw the ball, praise the jeepers out of the ball driven dog everytime it gets the ball and ignore your dog until it shows some interest.

Honestly, though, one of my dogs is too ball driven. It's kind of better if the tug ranks the ball. From that perspective, you just teach the dog to catch the ball for a treat, then catch and bring back the ball. It's just a trick the dog learns, like sitting and such.

If the dog is already into tugging, you could try tugging with the ball.

Or find the ball for a treat.

Some people marinate the tennis balls to give them an extra appeal.

Another person on my team had luck with using a squeaky tennis ball.

Corinthian

03-18-2009, 03:59 AM

Are you throwing the item to the dog? For some dogs this is too intimidating and for them it's better to throw it away from them.

Susan Garrett who is well known in the Agility world also has an article on creating a motivating toys (http://www.clickerdogs.com/createamotivatingtoy.htm)

Shara

03-18-2009, 07:41 PM

Thank you BOTH so much I will keep at it, its just so frustrating, I know she will be a great flyball girl as her build is perfect and shes fast...just the ball thing is slowing us down :( I will keep at it and try all that is suggested and try my best. Will keep progress posted.

k9mania

03-19-2009, 12:49 AM

Shara, I agree with everyone. You need to load the clicker and then click as the dog looks at the ball (sitting), then click as she gets closer, then touch, then pick it up. You need to make it fun. It seems that you probably are trying too hard and the dog can feel your frustration. My puppy had no interest in the ball but loved the tug so I would not let her have the tug unless she went toward, then I upped it to touch, etc. She learned in 10 minutes to get the ball for the tug. You should have your dog getting the tug before the ball if you are thinking of flyball. You want them to be as excited about getting the ball as running back to the tug so that they go as fast both ways. I hope that helps.

Shara

03-31-2009, 03:17 AM

Tayla is still FAILING hard on this...I am at a loss...she seems to be more ready to play when other dogs are around, more of a "Im going to play with the toy so Shara will not be able to" more of a jealousy/greed type attitude...

I am very frustrated with Tayla Chan.