Leerburg | Q&A Playing with your Dog

on Playing with Your Dog

Is an automatic ball launcher that uses tennis balls worth the risk? Do you know of any other launchers?
I have a very high energy Golden Retriever mix, how can I teach my dog that running with me is fun?
What are some good toys for drive building with my dog? Is a drive building toy different than a training toy?

1. Question:

Good afternoon!

I found an automatic ball launcher for my crazy-ball-drive 14 month old male GSD, but am hesitant to purchase it before I receive expert feedback regarding the safety of using regular size tennis balls. I order the Orbee balls from you guys, preferring the ones on a string because it's easier to throw, and I can use the smaller ball without worrying about him swallowing when he catches them.

I have read enough horror stories about tennis balls to be wary of using them (and heed your warning about the glue and their enamel issue), but thought this ball launcher would be HEAVEN for my young male. He already naturally returns balls to a container, i.e., a bucket, water bowl, on top an end table, into a basket, or anything he can find to deposit it into. I emailed a vendor asking if larger or alternate balls can be used, but the feedback I got was "only regular sized tennis balls."

Is it worth it? I don't want to take any chances to endanger him. If not, do you know of any other launchers??

Karey

Answer:

I don’t have any advice for you on this product and the safety of using the regular size tennis balls with your particular dog. I don’t use regular tennis balls for my own dogs and haven’t for many years, mostly because they are too easy to tear up and because of the abrasion to the teeth.

I would never use one of these ball launching devices for my dog for the simple reason that I want my dog to play with me and MY toys. I don’t want him getting reinforcement from playing with a machine. It goes against the way I raise, train and live with my dogs. If my dogs are playing a game with a toy, it involves me or they don’t play.

It may be fun for your dog, but it’s not conducive to our philosophy. Why does he need you if he has his bucket of balls and a machine to throw them? This is also a great way to create an obsessive dog that becomes neurotic over retrieving. Highly prey and retrieve driven dogs live on the edge of being OCD anyway, and this kind of play actually encourages it.

I use a ChuckIt! to play fetch with my dogs.

Just my opinion.

Cindy

2. Question:

Dear Cindy,

My 18 month old GSD/golden retriever mix has an extremely high energy level. The way we (try to) tire her out now is by playing lots of fetch with her ball, which she absolutely loves. I would also like to start taking her on runs and eventually on bike rides. My question is whether you can 'teach' a dog that running is fun? Walking her is fine, the issue is that when I run with her now, she lags behind and really doesn't want to pick up pace. I'm trying to encourage her, giving her lots of praise and sometimes treats when she is running next to me, but that only works for 20 seconds or so and then she falls behind again. I've also tried popping the leash, which works well, but I feel like I have to do it too much, which, I can imagine, is not making running a fun exercise for her. As soon as I'm turning around to go back home, she's full of energy and can't wait to get back. Back at home, she immediately heads for the place where her ball is kept, giving me the impression that the run is physically not too much for her (we've only been on slow 1.5-2 mile runs anyway), but that she would just rather play with her ball. Is there a way to encourage her running along with me, or do you think I'm asking too much of her?

Thank you very much,
Silvie

Answer:

The first thing I would do before taking any dog on a run is make sure she doesn't have any physical issues (like hip dysplasia) that would make running uncomfortable. If she checks out ok physically, why not try taking her ball along? Take her for a short run and then stop somewhere and play along the way. She'll start figuring out that going with you means the fun goes with you too.

She obviously would prefer playing ball to doing anything else, so use that to your advantage.

I hope this helps.

Cindy

Thanks:

Thanks very much for your prompt response and advice! I was actually already thinking along those lines, I guess it really is all about common sense.

Thanks very much for all you do for us, partly because of the information on your website, dvds and newsletter, our dog is such a sweet, happy and well-behaved dog. Keep up the good work!

Silvie

3. Question:

Cindy,

What are your best drive building toys and are they different than your training toys. I don't like those tugs with a loop on one end because my dog tends to get to close to my hand. I like something that gives more space and distinction from my hand, like a ball on a rope. But this isn't a good drive building toy is it? What do you recommend ?

Thanks alot,
Roz
Memphis

Answer:

I use many different toys for my dog, and there is no difference to me or my dog as to what they are. A training toy and a drive building toy are one and the same.

I like to mix it up, so my dog will play with me anywhere, with whatever item I happen to have. My dog should play with me and a plastic cup or pine cone if that's what I happen to have. Obviously, I'd rather use toys but my point is that if you get your dog used to playing with many different items it will become less about the toy and more about the interaction with you.

Also, it's a matter of training and how you present the tug as to how your dog targets it. This is going to be covered in detail in the newest Michael Ellis video. If the dog is getting too close to your hand, then you may be presenting the toy incorrectly. This will be released in the next several weeks, The Power of Playing Tug with Your Dog.

Some of the toys I use regularly are the following: but my dog may be more engaged with me than your dog is with you so your experiences may vary from mine.

Jute Rolls
Firehose Tug
Flat Leather Tug
Mini Tug
Wing-a-Ball

I hope this helps.
Cindy

When purchasing any product from Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. it is understood that any and all products sold by Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. are sold in Dunn County Wisconsin, USA. Any and all legal action taken against Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. concerning the purchase or use of these products must take place in Dunn County, Wisconsin. If customers do not agree with this policy they should not purchase Leerburg Ent. Inc. products.

Dog Training is never without risk of injury. Do not use any of the products sold by Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. without consulting a local professional. The training methods shown in the Leerburg Ent. Inc. DVD’s are meant to be used with a local instructor or trainer. Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. cannot be held responsible for accidents or injuries to humans and/or animals.

Copyright 2009 Leerburg® Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. US Copyright Link. By accessing any information within Leerburg.com, you agree to abide by the Leerburg.com Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.



Raising Puppies	Training DVDs	Training Equipment	New Products