I remember seeing a post on here about someones dog only going for the string on a ball on string. it was forever ago and i tried searching for it but can't find it.

I will ask the question, maybe someone has good advice or can just point me to that thread, but my 14 month old boxer only goes for the string. i've tried bunching the string up in my hand and she'll grab the ball, but once she has it for a few seconds she'll drop it and go for the string. i can try shortening it so it would be difficult for her to bite/chew on, but cutting it will likely cause it to fray a bunch. on tugs also, she tends to like the handles a bit more. she bit the tug if my hand is on the strap but once i let go she'll go for the strap. right now i have a tw0-handle tug, one handle and i just picked one up with out a handle figuring i can may get her use to one without any handles and maybe switching her over to ones with handles.

any thoughts?

Perhaps the ball is too hard for your dog to get a good grip on?

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once she has it for a few seconds she'll drop it and go for the string

That has to end. Use your leash and be quick to prevent her from picking it up again.

I would probably use a long tug and cut the handles off - not that I could tell you if it's the best or most correct thing to do.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Well, I am using the one ed sells, i also have a Kong with a rope on it. So i don't think they are to hard.

I will begin to try and direct her bit onto the ball/kong and once i see that she lets up on her grip or begins to move towards the string i will yank it away from her. Teach her to grab on and hold on.

I have just begun using the tug with no handles on it last night. i would hold it with both hands on the sides and she would bite on to the middle careful not to get my hands (she is nice like that <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. any time she would let up on her grip i would reach and either grab it from her or she would tighten up her grip. Towards the end of training she was gripping pretty good in the middle of the tug, prancing around with it a bit without readjusting her bite to the ends, so it looks like i am on the right track.

I never really did any grip work with her, so a lot of this stuff is new to me and her. But my interest in schutzhund (and a club near my house) has gotten me to focus more on these issues.

Some dogs work better on the tug as it is easier for them to take aim at. There is no rule that your dog has to use a ball on a string for training. Some dogs work best with the ball on the string while others work best with a tug. The main point being that you go with what works best with the dog. A ball on a string is easier to hide than a tug, but it is by no means impossible to hide a small tug either. By small I mean a tug that isn't even as long as your forearm (wrist to elbow), but close.

However, if you want to stick with the ball than I would just cut the string shorter and add a release command teaching the dog that when he gets the release command he get the "ball" right into his mouth. If he drops the ball and grabs the string make him out it right away and work him back-up before the release command is given and the ball goes back into the mouth. Remember, if the dog does it right a couple of times then end on a high note. Don't wait until the dog loses interest or starts to perform poorly.


Good Luck

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I never really did any grip work with her, so a lot of this stuff is new to me and her. But my interest in schutzhund (and a club near my house) has gotten me to focus more on these issues.

Do you mean you recently started using the ball and string? I've seen where if you start the dog as a puppy the ball is too big for their mouths so they target the string and continue as a habit. Not sure if this is your case but as was mentioned earlier you don't have to use the ball and string. You also don't necesarily need them to target the ball as opposed to the string if you are getting the results you're looking for. Boxers are notorious for taking the smallest parts and that includes the ends of the sleeves which is obviously a much bigger problem.

Hmmm... My little border collie did the same thing. I fixed it by (now you have to kinda picture this) squeezing him over onto the ball almost by pulling the string through but preventing his mouth from moving with it. So imagine he bites the string, the ball is out the left side of his mouth, and the string is out the right more or less... I put my free hand over his mouth and gently but persistently pull the string through until, out of frustration, he re-grips onto the ball. Then he wins the ball and gets praised for holding it properly.

I just sort of started doing it I don't know why it works or if it would work for every dog. I also don't know if some dogs might have the tendency to go for your hand either... But I know it worked for my pup.

I haven't had to do it for the last several weeks. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I guess he clued in that he wins and gets praise when he bites the BALL.

The dogs know they can get the ball by biting the string which is much easier to do. It is up to the trainer to teach the dog the purpose of the exercise. I do the same as Jennifer does , and after 3 or 4 sessions of this the dog usually catches on. Every training exercise should have a purpose and goal.