Took Charlie onto the drive with NO treats and NO whistle just armed with a very brightly coloured ball which is of medium size with holes and a small squeeky ball inside and it's on a bungy handle so an excellent throwing toy. He was leaping around my feet like something possessed and we retrieved no stop for about 10 minutes, Charlie bringing it back every time and so excited he didn't know what to do with himself. I know you will say 10 minutes that's too long, limit the retrieves but remember this is Charlie we are talking about and if that's what it takes then that's what I will do ???. At the end of the day we both had FUN and he was focussed so what more can I wish for I feel if maybe we start our session of this way with lots of fun he may be more focussed and interested in formal training with time for fun in between the more serious tasks.
Re: Just for FUN If Charlie is super interested after 10 minutes that is fine, I don't see you need to limit his retrieves yet, if at all, unless he starts mugging you for them. I think that anything which keeps Charlie focused on you rather than the far distance can only be good. However, if he starts to lose interest, then that is a different matter.
Re: Just for FUN I agree with Stacia Helen. You want to find something that grabs Charlie's attention and that ball does. I don't think you need to limit his retrieves if he's enthusiastic about it and enjoying it. All dogs are different. Scott and scout get bored if we do too much retrieving so I mix it in with other training and limit it. My old Labrador would retrieve all day. He never got bored of it and never lost his enthusiasm for it. He would race up and down the field for a ball and even when he was completely puffed if he was outside with a ball he would keep dropping it at your feet, or anybody's feet for it to be thrown. Scott and scout were quite a shock to me actually. It's finding the balance.
Re: Just for FUN Its all to do with what suits one dog Helen , and if it isnt broken, dont fix it , anything to keep Charlies attention on you is great
Re: Just for FUN I'm glad the two of you had some fun together, seems like you don't often get that with him. Good idea to try that, keep it up!! Building a positive association with you in his mind can't be a bad thing!
Re: Just for FUN Sounds like you had great fun I'm so pleased for you both I must admit that after getting a glow ball, Harley changed from doing the odd retrieve to now going for 5-10 mins at a time ;D
Re: Just for FUN sounds brilliant fun Helen! one of the nicest things that is, having good fun with your dog and seeing them enjoying what you are doing with them. since Brods has got obsessed with a ball (CyberDog balls are ace too by the way...) he is a zillion times more focused on me when we are up the hills as we always spend the first half hour of our exercise session with high speed ball retrieving, , I see it as the daily Team Bonding Exercise, as well as great fun for the dogs and me....really pleased Charlie's found something he loves
Re: Just for FUN Sounds like you had a fantastic time together The main thing is to stop before they get tired of it. Sounds like Charlie didn't get anywhere near being tired of it
Re: Just for FUN Thanks everyone Debsie, what's a cyber ball please? Ternaya, I bought one of those glow balls but not used it yet. Rachael, he was no way near tired and I stopped with him still leaping around wanting more Yep lots of fun was had and it was such a relief from 'training' and it was lovely to see him so excited xx
Re: Just for FUN have a look on Amazon Helen we have ordered in bulk!! . they are Cyberdog Squeakies, brightly coloured, softish , squeak like mad, go far, bounce well, and very durable. dont know what it is about them but my two love them especially Brods, and every dog we meet in the park nicks them off them... Their mate Lenny the Whippet, who doesnt do balls generally, was hoolying about with one the other day and actually retrieving it. his owner was quite incredulous ( my whippet....retrieves?? we discovered them about six months ago and they started Brods ball obsession....
Re: Just for FUN Thats great helen AS long as you and charlie are happy and having fun i see no problem with it, stopping before he got bored or tired is good, so you ended on a high and not a low of him getting bored and doing his own thing.
Re: Just for FUN Debsie, thanks, just had a look they are anything from £3.70 to over £5.00 each, Cyberdog squeaky space ball is that the one? Thanks Annabelle xx
Re: Just for FUN [quote author=debsie link=topic=4678.msg57538#msg57538 date=1393538080] Cyberdog Squeakies [/quote] THanks for the tip Debsie...just doing an amazon order now to replace my friends' chewed to bits' ball thrower :-[ why have I got the Labrador that is more mad for the ball thrower than the ball :-[...thankfully it is intact,just badly teeth scarred!you can't buy them here! Helen,love that Charlie is retrieving for the pure fun of it,sounds like you enjoyed it as much as him,and that makes me smile x
Re: Just for FUN you're welcome. and dont worry you're not alone brodick used to launch himself at the ball launcher too, when it was in motion throwing the ball, and would spend much of a walk trying to wrestle it out of my backpack so he could flibg it about, then when that was stopped wanted to carry it ( but would drop it and lose it quite often!) so we ditched, its one of the reasons i just drop kick balls instead
Re: Just for FUN Oh thanks Debsie ,that makes me feel a bit less like a mess.....I wasn't exaggerating on a thread last week when I said that Dexter was piggybacking me to get in my back pack to get the thrower...... 2 throwers today ( one each my friend and I )were too much.....mine got stashed up a tree so I could concentrate on Dexter producing some good manners ......I was gutted because I've had the clicker out this week training calm reaction to the ball thrower....seriously!its the usual proofing story...in the house ,then to the garden...all good .....I hadn't had a chance to practice it in the park though ..so throw in today's added excitement...another lab and a spaniel.....chaos!he even drew blood on my finger today as he leapt for the thrower from a lie down and snapped mid air as I went in for throw I am sure this dog is on springs!
