I am new (brand new) to dog training. My question is about ball drive. I have a Jack Russell mix dog that has an intence ball drive. I also have a newly aquired Malinois 1.5 year old male. I have been trying to get the Mal intrested in the ball. Alone the Mal shows little intrest in the ball but when the Jack is there the Mal will try harder to compete for the ball. Should I use the Jack to help stimulate ball drive in the Mal or is this a mistake?

You have a Mal that won't go after the ball? Holy crap man............you need to get a different ball! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I wouldn't use the Jack for anything. Take every toy away from the Mal and only play ball with him for the next few weeks. Nothing else, only ball.

If the dog has any object prey drive at all that is the only way to bring it out. I'd also crate the Mal for a handful of hours before playing ball.

If the dog doesn't get interested, pick up your ball and put him back in the crate.

Greg , VanCamp's advice is very good. Only thing I can add to this is when you do take him out to play ball try to take him to an area free of as many distractions(people , trees , holes , any place he may want to investigate) as possible. Make sure the dog has been given plenty of time to go to the bathroom before you start also. In my area there are lots of playgrounds with fenced in tennis courts .

I'd use these courts when the playgrounds were nearly empty (usually when the kids were in school).I give the dog a chance to wander around and check the place out but I wouldn't let him mark anything or go to the bathroom since we took care of that before we got there. I'd then start throwing the ball. I'd give him a chance to chase and get the ball 2-3 times at first and then end ,leaving him excited and wanting to play more. I gradually increased it after that never playing till my dog got bored.

I've also found that as my overall obediance training with my dog improved so did his ball drive. If a dog isn't obediant he's more likely to run around and do his own thing (marking trees , sniff trash , chasing squirrels , looking for real prey , etc.)the ball just won't be interesting enough and he won't be focused on you or what you have for him.

Is the Mal interested in anything other than the ball? Some dogs go nuts over various type toys, yet don't like balls.......My Pit loves the rope-bone....yet could care less about the ball.....

If using a ball, I would make sure it has a string so you can build drive with it. Or try a soft nylon frisbee(one thats easy to fold up and hide). That should get him wired.

That’s just it. So far I haven’t found ANY toys this dog (Mal) seems to be interested in. Balls, Rope tugs, anything.... My other dogs will destroy a squeaky toy or a stuffed animal in a matter of seconds. The only thing I have seen this dog really enjoy is outside he likes to play hide and seek with my GSD. He will hide from the GSD or put a couple hundred feet between them then he will run the dog down and pummel him into the ground. They will take turns doing that to each other.

Greg, my SAR Aussie was just luke warm on the kong on a rope. I didn't let her out of her kennel run till she showed some intrest in itwhen I teased her with it. It didn't take long before she was screaming for it and now she comes out 4-5 times a day for 3-4 min play for SHORT sessions with the kong on a rope and she was always put up wanting more. Now, during training, she will do anything for me just to get her kong. Make it short and leave the dog wanting. This is the same thing as VC's suggestion of crating. She knows that coming out of her kennel is play/training time.

A friend of mine has a brother who has had experience training GSD in bite work. He herd I had picked up a Mal and wanted to come over and look at him. He had me put a leash on him and then this guy ducked around the corner zipped up his jacket and put his hood up. Then he came peeking around the corner and started moving like he was sneaking around. The dog went nuts on this guy, like he wanted to kill him. I had to work hard to hold the dog back. I don’t know what this guy was doing exactly but he did say as the dog was going totally ballistic. "He is wagging his tail, that’s a good sign" From what I have learned thus far, The Mal was working off his "prey drive" when he was going ballistic for this guy. Correct?? So if the dog shows no interest in "toys" what else can I do to motivate him? I’m willing to get him a create and try as VanCamp suggested. I just thought a little more insight on this dog might be helpful.