I had this plea from a client recently. “I have a small Kong ball my dog loves. I throw or kick it, she races after it and retrieves it – but she won’t release it until she sees me ready to throw a second identical ball. She then drops it fairly near me, I throw the second one then have to go and pick up the first one. And repeat. It mean I must always take two balls with me and if I forget and only have one ball, we can’t play as she won’t give up the ball at all and just carries it about with her. My dream would be a one ball system, returned to my hand!”
You may well have a dog like this. Why won’t they give up the ball, you ask? After all, you know you’ll throw it again for them.
But the dog doesn’t know that for sure, and that may be the nub of the problem.
The ball may simply be a really valuable possession for her and possession trumps you throwing it for her.
Perhaps you’ve wrestled the ball out of your dog’s mouth a few times.
Perhaps you always stop the game before your dog wants you to.
Perhaps you only play with it in one particular place and your dog’s got into a habit there
Perhaps your dog actually prefers holding or chewing the ball rather than chasing it…..
In the meantime, get in touch if you need advice about any aspect of your dogs behaviour.
We’re here to help!