Re: Boomer Balls no you're quite right! thats whats so great about the forum, its good to see what folk think about things...while they do seem desparately keen on them, I do wonder about the frenzied side of their keeness . i think you're right its about knowing your dog too....i wonder whether it should just be kept for brods as an immense recall reward, his jackpot so as to speak...he doesnt seem frustrated at all just excited...hmmmmmm....what do you think heidrun?? what do you think for my hunting boy.....maybe it will actually dampen his retrieving drive even more ??? like, tch dummies are boring, this thing that flips about is much better cos i can chase it....
Re: Boomer Balls You could use it to teach him self control around the ball. Chase it on command and leave it on command, stop whistle and recall.
Re: Boomer Balls [quote author=heidrun link=topic=4887.msg61010#msg61010 date=1394874287] I'm going to be a complete and utter spoil sport and say that I don't like these toys that whip up a dog into a frenzy. What if the dog wants to desperately retrieve such a ball but can't because of its size? The only thing the dog is going to feel is total frustration, hence the frenetic behaviour. My cocker Murffi is very excitable and his frustration threshold is very low at the best of times so something like this would make him blow a fuse without a doubt, and I hate seeing his nervous system frazzled like that. I can see how they can be used for dogs with a strong herding drive, one could even teach the dog to move the ball through gates etc, like sheep. But for dogs with a strong retrieving drive? No, sorry again for being a spoil sport. :-\ [/quote] That's very fair comment but like Debsie could use it for Brods, I wonder would it be a useful tool to try for Charlie who doesn't have a strong retrieving drive but he does have a strong hunting drive, might be worth a try? :-\ Having said that he couldn't get enough of his tennis ball on his WALK today, absolutely thrilled
Re: Boomer Balls [quote author=heidrun link=topic=4887.msg61046#msg61046 date=1394886689] You could use it to teach him self control around the ball. Chase it on command and leave it on command, stop whistle and recall. [/quote] Wow that will be a challenge as Brods loooovvvees that ball so much, but always worth a try - good luck
Re: Boomer Balls [quote author=heidrun link=topic=4887.msg61010#msg61010 date=1394874287] My cocker Murffi is very excitable and his frustration threshold is very low at the best of times [/quote] Now I'm thinking about frustration thresholds. I very much doubt Charlie is in the same spectrum as Murffi - Charlie is just a nutty Lab puppy that seems a bit slow to start maturing (restricted exercise and no proper training isn't helping). But, what kind of things can help a dog control frustration?
Re: Boomer Balls [quote author=bbrown link=topic=4887.msg61202#msg61202 date=1394960261] Just thinking of your leg rub video and thinking of Murffi...... ;D ;D ;D ;D [/quote] ;D ;D Yes, I definitely have made loads of progress getting Charlie to relax and be calm in the house. And we are ok in a few familiar streets. That's about it though! It feels a bit worse again because no water treadmill, which was a huge help. Still, once we're on full exercise, and we can blow the energy off, things will hopefully improve dramatically. I hope. I worry a bit that a constant "state of excitement" will become a bit habitual though. But yes, I bet nothing like Heidrun has to control in Murffi!
Re: Boomer Balls I'm sorry but I have to say I really do not like boomer balls one bit. We used to use them in the kennels I worked in and some of the dogs literally went insane over them. I had one dog that actually turned aggressive over his boomer ball because he became so obsessed with it he wouldn't let you near him. I've seen dogs wear down their teeth from chewing them and some dogs get so obsessed they dribble constantly and give themselves sores.
