Hi All,

Just received the Flinks vedeo on building drive. (along with the grooming rake, if anyone is wondering about Ed's stuff, it's all first class and they ship out quickly, good outfit to deal with). Viewed the first half, made a tennis ball on cord (my other ones had too long a cord, which is why the dod grabbed it by the cord, first lesson learned). If my take on it is correct, the idea is to use quick, jerky motions with the prey object, not let the dog get it to build frustration, and to pet the dog to build confidence and a better relationship with the dog (I knew about the frustration part, learned that I need quicker motion, but the part about building a relationship with the dog I had never heard of and sounds like invaluable advise, well worth the money spent).

Anyway, to make a short story long, I took the dog (well, she's a 10 months old, so I guess she's still a puppy) outside and tried the exercises, with moderate success, will need to work this a few weeks before proceeding to the next section (she let me pull the tennis ball from her mouth and she just didn't have the drive I'm looking for).

I'm going to try the tug tomorrow, but I'm thinking that quick movements will be more difficult.

Then I happensed to pull the laser pointer out of my pocket - her ears perked up and she got the look in her eye. I let her chase the little red dot for a while and noticed that she goes nuts over it (OK, I knew she goes nuts for this thing, she'll whine at the door at night like she wants to go out and pee, when I take her out she starts "looking" for the laser dot). It then occurred to me that the laser satisfied two of the requirements for a prey object - it makes very quick motion and it is the ultimate in frustration as she can NEVER get it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> . The obvious problems with it are you can only use it in the dark and you can't work on the relationship building part of the exercise. However, it really brings out her prey drive.

Should I put the laser pointer away and not let her "play with it" (I'm worried it will ruin her for the ball/tug). Or, is it OK for me to build her drive with the laser and use the other prey objects for the other parts of the excercises where a tangible object is necessary?

As always, the input of the members of this board is appreciated - even when people disagree, the debate increases my knowledge (and I hope, everyone elses).

Thanks,

Fred

If you look at the title of the film it is building drive, focus and grip. This cannot be done with a pen light. Using a ball on a string you are teaching the dog proper targeting and grip. Keep to the ball (tennis balls are no longer recommended) on a string. And as far as the in my arms command. Flink perfected this but calmly stroking your dog while he has the sleeve has been around a long time.

Tennis ball is what I had on hand, will try to get one of those rubber balls when I get to town.

Why are tennis balls not recommended (I think my Jack Russell's love of the tennis ball has caused his teeth to wear down, is there another reason?)

TENNIS BALLS + DOGS = DEAD DOGS! PERIOD!Tennis balls are NOT a good idea to use for any dog in my opinion and I think if you ask Ed he will agree. I remember him telling me this a couple of years ago in an E-mail. The reason is simple. A tennis ball can be punctured and or chewed into small pieces rather easily if left alone with the wrong dog. Never say you're dog won't chew it up. If they happen to chew it into small pieces and swallow a chunk then you'll either have serious medical problems or a dead dog. I would guess the latter. What I use and find to be extremely tough and durable is the yellow balls they use in these baseball practice batting cages kids use to practice in. My dog found both of his in a park and it took me forever to figure out where these balls came from. I could not find them in any store. My dog has had his for over two years and is crazy about them. I have not tried to drill a hole in them but I would imagine this would not be too difficult considering that these balls are very tough. They have taken many many bites from playing fetch over the past couple of years.

Good Luck.

Frederick, I do not think you're dogs teeth can be worn down by chewing on a tennis ball. What else is he chewing?

Frederick,

I've recently heard that dog saliva combines with the glue in the cover of tennis balls to eat tooth enamal. So I would definately NOT rule out the possibility of tennis balls being the cause of your Jack Russells teeth wearing down.

I noticed that at one year of age, the Jack Russell had a definate wearing of his canines. It was the vet who suggested that the tennis balls were wearing down his teeth, kinda like how a soft metal like aluminum can wear down a harder metal like steel.

At the time, I had him involved in flyball, and I exercised him by hitting tennis balls across a field. Now, I don't keep balls in the house (he was driving me nutso, he's very high drive) and I exercise both dogs by having them run behind my truck for ten miles a day (down dirt roads in the oil fields, almost zero traffic).

I'm wondering what Vince says about tennis balls, since he nixed them...

Frederick,

I heard what I did about tennis balls from Ed. I assume that Vince heard the same thing from the same place.

When I hear advice like that I tend to go with it. There is really no percentage in setting out to try and disprove it. Switching balls certainly does no harm; staying w/tennis balls could do harm. It's a no brainer.

Jason:

You are correct.

Makes sense...soon as I get back to civilization, I'll hit WallyMart and get some rubber balls (My JRT definately seems to have suffered tooth erosion from something...).

Anyone need a dozen tennisballs??? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />