Our JRT is 9 months. He is obsessed with balls. He hasn't had one for a few months since destroying his last one, but every time we are at the park he runs off with some other dog's ball. As soon as he has a ball he doesn't listen to a word we say. He won't come and food is no good.
I've been training him to 'leave' the past few days and it is working really well with food treats, socks, slippers etc Hubby gave him a tennis ball for the first time in months this morning. He started responding to leave but now just runs off. He is obsessed with this ball.
We want to be able to get balls off him when we go to the park and have him come to us instead of chasing him round. Just had a thought, possibly take a spare one to offer him when he has another dog's? Doesn't fix the problem of him not coming to us on command, but I think he might come if he sees we have another ball. Is that a good idea or not?
The kids like playing frisbee with him and it is great exercise for him but he won't bring it back!! What is the point? We thought he would realise if he brought it back he could play more but he just runs off and tries 'killing' and chewing it.
I don't know what to do, any suggestions?

I'd take you're own ball to keep his attention on you.

We don't continue to play with Rupert until he drops the ball as he just won't let go. He's finally catching on after a long time but he's the same, if he sees another ball, he'll have it, his or not! Luckily he knows "what's this?" when showing him a treat/ ball which usually gets his attention in time!

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mummy to:
Kittes: Bella & Theo - 4 year old moggies
Doggy: Rupert - 2 1/2 year old Collie x
Chinchilla: Gypsy - Ebony

I would say the same..
Have two balls, throw one ball, he will chase it, call him to you, he will probably come near to you but not close enough for you to take it,
Pull another ball out of your pocket, and say " whats this", he should drop the ball in his mouth because that will be dead prey to him now.
then you could claim the ball he has dropped with a leave etc, once he is consistenly dropping the ball then add a key word to it.
Hope this helps, good luck
xx

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Sarah xxx

It's easy but can take time as all things can but it is all dependent on the learning skills of the dog.

I'll start right from the beginning and you only move on to the next step once the dog can carry out the current step 10 times without fail.

You will need:

A ball or toy equivalent.
Treats - these can be little bits of food or the toy itself.

The command to give for every stage is the word you want to use or you can just reward the action itself until the dog gets it. This best done indoors without distractions.

1). Command. Dog sniffs the object to retrieve. Reward.

2). Command. Dog takes the object from your hand. Reward given.

3). Command. Object dropped and dog sniffs it. Reward given.

4). Command. Object dropped and dog picks it up. Reward given.

5). Command. Object thrown 1m away. Dog sniffs and you move twoards dog. Reward given.

6). Command. Object thrown 1m away. Dog picks object up you move twords the dog. Reward given.

7). Command. Object thrown 1m away. Dog picks up the ball and comes to you for treat. Reward given.

8). Command. Distance increased.

9). Job done.

Depending how much the dog learns from each step depends on how fast the learning snowball effect will be. After the command you must wait for the dog to work it out though as this gets the snowball rolling a lot quicker.

You should move it to the garden next and when out on walks do not go to the dog if it has the toy. Wait tfor the dog to come to you to see why you are not playing. If you go to them they think you want waht they have and it becomes a chase game then. BAD idea and very tiring.

Yes, two balls should be the answer and get the command in on what he does naturally, he will soon get the association and the other ball, it is the chase he wants and the kill - my terrier used to strip a tennis ball down to its bald state in a few seconds!

Kate

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