Sam is usually so good at the play field, loves play and mixing with the large variety of dogs who meet most mornings but following this mornings dreadful behaviour , he is having time out : I`ve learned with Sam that playing at retrieving has to be done when there are no distractions and so I stopped taking balls , dummy or safestix to the field because it stops being training and becomes a mad frantic session . This morning another Lab was there, Sam and Flynn both know him well and his owner always has a pocket full of tennis balls , Sam got into a complete frenzy over them , bringing them back but doing a sort of pushing at me and refusing to give up the ball . During one of his frantic pushes at me , his teeth caught my hand and drew blood, he didnt bite , just got frenzied . He hasnt ever done this before, was in a really crazed state and became a hooligan within half an hour . I decided to take them both home, Sam still had a ball which he wouldnt give up so once out of the field and both on leads, I stood with him to calm him down and kept telling him to leave which eventually he did and then became subdued, as though he knew he had behaved badly . I think time out from the field is whats needed , let manic play and more structured ways of exercise and training , its a shame because I like them both to enjoy the company of other dogs but I think its the best thing to do for now .
Re: No more play for a while Oh dear Kate, that wasn't much fun for you. It sounds as though Sam is really passionate about retrieving and got himself a bit overwrought. One thing you can do with a dog that is retrieve obsessed is lots of retrieving exercises at home. Less passionate dogs get bored by these, and you may find it helps to calm him down about retrieving if you do the same thing over and over. Let me know if you need some ideas. If you are struggling with the delivery, letting go and handing over nicely, you can teach a structured version of this with a clicker. Pippa
Re: No more play for a while Thanks Pippa , Sam is extremely passionate about retrieving and at home in the garden or in areas away from other dogs, he gives to me beautifully, will drop right into my hands, but in the play field, its as though he is afraid that some other dog might take his prize away from him , he wants to give it, but cant ! Maybe the best thing to do is to keep him away from ball games with other dogs and keep the more structured retrieve for home . It will be a case of looking to see if other dogs have taken balls and if so , head for another walk
