So I've learned that the tennis ball is bad for the dog's teeth. The dog doesn't get it though.

I'm trying to switch Kelly from her beloved tennis balls to a rubber ball, tope tug, frisbee, ANYTHING. She will go for a any size or color tennis ball and even loves the fuzzy white one from Petco. She has no interest in a rubber ball, even though I bring out Abby (who's obsessed with the rubber ball) to show her how great the rubber one is. She will run after another object, but won't pick it up or retrieve. She will jump to get a tennis ball but won't move for anything else (except the springpole lure).

I'm having absolutely no luck except using an old burlap springpole lure - which I don't want to use because she knows that's the toy to bite and pull - not so safe for play!

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get her off the tennis ball? For now I use a couple tennis balls and switch them so they don't get wet.

Hi, not sure I can be of the best help. But, I sure will try.

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Does anyone have any ideas on how to get her off the tennis ball? For now I use a couple tennis balls and switch them so they don't get wet.

If you are trying to get her off the tennis balls, I would not use tennis balls. Yes, switching them on and off may be a little safer for the dogs teeth, but it dont help in the winging process.

Have your tryed the "four paws" ball, it is the tie-die ball with a bell in it. You can find them at any pet type wear house.(Petsmart, Petco ext. ext.) It has a saliva activated taste to it some dogs like. IMHO it is a good idea to get a pair of needle nose and take the bell out though, depending on your dogs jaw power and the wear on the ball, the bell may becaome a choking hazerd.

Have you tryed a "Kong"? These are very long lasting toys for most dogs and you can put a little cream cheese, or peanut butter in them to atract your dog to it the first few times.

The plus side to these two toys is you can put a string though them and kinda play with your dog with the toy. It may help build your dogs prey drive and your dogs atraction to the toy it self.

Im sure you will have plently of help on this topic. Other people may have more and even better ideas.

Hope this helpped.
David.

Hi Anne, I don't know if it is the smell/taste of those balls or the feel of them why the dogs like them so much. Whatever it is I would try to rub those hair off the tennis ball piece by piece with a file. Maybe you take off one third at a time until the ball looks like a rubber ball. If he accepts it you can switch. Maybe you can trick him like this.

I have had some luck with what's called a training baseball, sold in most sporting goods stores. It's the same size and shape as a basball ( afraction larger than a tennis ball) but instead of twine stuffing (very hard) it's basically a heavyish rubber inside.

I like them better than tennis balls for a few reasons 1)they're heavier so they travel farther on each throw 2)they're more durable 3)easier to spot than a green tennis ball against grass and/or at night.

Also (shame on me) I have mistakenly hit the dog with the ball on a full speed throw with no ill effects if thats a concern.

I have a tennis ball nut in my house too. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> The only other toy he absolutely loves is a foxtail. The ball attached to it is leather so it`s pretty durable. I haven`t had any problems with using it in the park where it gets wet and muddy. A lot of dogs seem to really like the leather. The tail is attached pretty well too. Einstein can pull a recliner with somebody in it across the room but hasn`t managed to rip it while we play tug in the park. I wouldn`t leave it out though. This is a foxtail: Foxtail sport

There`s a rubber ball underneath the leather.

Ooo - good ideas! Thank you! I especially like the one of filing off the fuzz! (I don't have to buy more dog stuff that way)