Last week we received the medium Orbee Ball (with rope attached). I showed the ball to Nickie and Roxie and they went nuts over it! (Is it the minty smell???).

Anyway, I want to use it to give them lots of exercise but I don't want to get off on the wrong foot (like I have done on lots of other things with the two of them). Obviously I will only be working with them one at a time (I guess that is correct, isn't it?). How do I get the dog to just sit and focus on the ball without jumping to grab it out of my hand? Should I use treats to distract him? Should I throw the ball and teach him to retrieve it (we need to work on the "out). Is the ball mainly used for tugging?

I know these are very basic things to those of you who are so experienced in dog training. Just don't want to get any bad habits started (Nickie already jumps up (without the ball) when he gets too excited so I don't want to reinforce that).

Thanks for any suggestions.

Hi Diane!
As you know, I am by no means an expert, but I do both retrieves and tugs with my orbee.

You might want to consider starting off with a 2nd orbee, so that you can play 2 ball retrieve; this might make the out easier. I also have used food rewards to get Chula to out when I ask, but I am trying to steer away from that for the out command.

I found with Chula that she is happy to fetch and retrieve the ball if she knows that she'll get a tug when she returns to me. (I have a feeling with Nickie he might like to tug as well?) I throw, she fetches, then we tug for a bit, then I ask for the out. I normally do this with a long line attached...

I will be getting the 'Building Drive and Focus' dvd soon, so I probably will be changing how I play with Chula, but for now, that method seems to work well for us!

Lynne,
We only have the one Orbee ball - suppose I could use their HoleMolee ball as a second ball (they really love that one too!).

I always thought the "Building Drive & Focus" DVD was more for training protection dogs. Guess I was wrong or are your plans for Chula to be more than just the family pet?

Definately only a pet! I am interested in playing with her in a way that both she and I will enjoy; I think this video will do that.

Also, I think that building focus can only help us in obedience.

She really loves to tug; it's a greater motivator for her than food even, and I hope to tap into some of that motivation by learning the techniques that are implemented in the video.

(I'll let you know how it goes!)

Edited by Lynne Barrows (05/29/2008 11:02 AM)
Edit reason: spelling

Sounds good, Lynne! (By the way, I love the new picture in your photobucket album - Chula looks so noble! Is that your son with her?)

Use the ball in the same way as you would food. You can keep it hidden in a pocket and when the dog does a OB command pull it out and reward the dog. Tug with the dog make her out it and when the dog outs, reward with the orbee repeat the exercise over and over again. I do the same thing with my dog I make her down/sit/stand/heel/front whatever and when she is going into position or heeling properly I am giving her my bridge to reward word "good" and when in position I pull out the ball I give the reward word "yes" to say she has done what I want and pull out the ball.

As she has learnt what I want from her it becomes a game for her to get the ball. When she is not in correct position no reward no bridge word just a repeat of the command until she is there. It doesn't take them long to figure things out, especially with a high reward toy like an orbee.

Geoff, thanks...(I need to get an apron; with 90 degree weather lately, I'm not wearing anything with pockets large enough to fit an orbee!)

Also, if you have time, could you post that link to the 'bridging' method?
I skimmed it with interest when you first posted it; I'd like to read it thoroughly...

 Quote: Lynne Barrows

Also, if you have time, could you post that link to the 'bridging' method?
I skimmed it with interest when you first posted it; I'd like to read it thoroughly...

I'd contact her as well and buy her manual some ground beaking stuff IMHO. http://www.synalia.com/

I started with the Orbee ball last night with each dog separately - kept it very short - about 2 minutes for each dog. Had some small pieces of turkey in my bait bag for treats. I kept Nickie on his leash while I worked with him (mainly to keep him from jumping up on me--he gets so excited when he sees the Orbee ball & smells treats). He loves to tug but I need to do most of my work with him on the "out". He will only out now for a treat. He has such an intense focus when he sees the treat in my hand - will sit nicely and wait until I give it to him. Will try to work on that same controlled intensity when he sees the ball.

Roxie, on the other hand, did much better than Nickie - she outs immediately (without a treat). However, she wanted to put one paw on the rope while she was tugging on the ball. This morning I did another very short session with each dog. She did not try the paw on the rope at all, and Nickie also did a little better in not leaping around trying to get the ball when I wanted him to sit.

If I was a little more coordinated, I would incorporate the ecollars into the little exercise but it seems like I need a third hand to hold the remote! It was amazing to me how worn out the dogs both seemed to be after just this little workout! This is normal??

Hi Diane,
I think it's normal that they get so worn out after tugging. Mine also does, anyway.
I also keep Chula on a longline when tugging or fetching. When I ask her for the out, I put my foot on the line so that she can't avoid me. Seems to speed up the out process...