Ball Obsession

[Joe Beam]

Tula is has been obsessed with balls for as long as I can remember. She loves to play the fetch/tug hybrid game. I stopped doing the tug part around 2 years ago and she still takes a while to drop the ball after fetching.

When she sleeps it's either in her mouth or in her eye sight. When she eats it's either in the food bowl at the same time or in her eye sight. When she goes outside she has to find her ball and take it with and vice versa for coming back inside. It's usually the same type of ball (we have lots of them) but not necessarily the same ball every day.

If I put the ball away she will sit there and wait and whine for me to give it back to her. If she loses it under the couch she will whine for me to come and get it out for her. She is a very vocal boxer

Is this healthy? How can I wean her away from balls?

 

[LILYLARUE]

Oh what a laugh!

I know this is very serious to you but I couldnt help but laugh at the sight of this ball obsession. I think a behaviorist would do some good here. I use one at my vet's office and it's pretty reasonable. Not sure if your's has one or not. But there is a reputable one close to you I'm sure.

Have to wonder if this is a "bad" thing, this obsession. Is she aggressive if you try to take it away? Does she not eat if the ball isn't right there? Can you disuade her obsession with another type of toy or game?

I kinda wish my Lily did such silly things as this.

 

[Joe Beam]

it is kind of funny . It's like a pacifier. She's never growled when I take it away, but she usually wants to play tug when I go for it. If I ignore her she will put it on my lap and wait for me to throw it.

I'd say the most annoying thing is that she has to find it before going inside or outside. She'll be halfway in the door and realize she left it outside and then she will bolt back out there to find it.

She does get pissed when Chance tries to take it from her. Of course Chance thinks it's the best game in the world...aggravate big sis and get her to chase me! Have you ever seen two boxers run around with the same ball in their mouth's?

BTW... Tula's nickname is La Rue...funny.

 

[LILYLARUE]

If there is no aggression, maybe a possible case of OCD. A behaviorist may be able to help figure it out. Maybe she needs a ball on a rope to hang on her leash? That may help redirect her if it's no particular ball she is attached to.

Has she ever had a litter? A friend of mine's dog had a litter and they were all given away. Momma then became attached to a stuffed animal and "mothered" that dang thing all day long. She got over it after about a month or so. It was kinda sad. She must have missed her babies. Should have kept one baby for her I think.

And I happen to be partial but think all "LaRue" pups are the cutest!

 

[Joe Beam]

She was fixed right away and never had a litter. I didn't live with her until she was about 1 year old (she is my gf's dog). She was the first dog I ever lived with and we bonded very quickly. I remember playing fetch all day every day. I'd just sit on the couch and keep throwing the ball down the hallway. Then it kind of became her thing to always be ready to play fetch. I never thought she would still be this obsessed.

Do you have any idea what a behaviorist would do? Use treats to distract from the ball? I really can't afford to hire one.

 

[rfdfirewife]

Im not sure about what a behaviorist would do. I mean is there really any harm in it? Clay is addicted to his tennis balls as well. I call it his puppy crack its the only toy he really really gets excited for and will try to take everywhere with him. We only keep 2 out at all times. That way we get a break from the endless toting and playing once it rolls under a couch or bed. He eventually will go pu another toy and give the ball a rest. I guess I would say if you have "tons" of balls scale it down. It sounds like a pacifier...I dont see the harm as long as shes eating and doing everything else normally. Im sure clay would be the same if we dumped a bucket of balls out for him he would be in puppy heaven. Im sure its aggravating, but I know my inlaws taught their bulldog to drop the toys at the door before he goes outside.

You might start small. ex. no balls in bed. My two have learned they dont bring toys into the bedroom at nighttime. (I wake up with a rope toy on my pillow when they sneak one in) I guess I keep going back to : If shes happy why ruin a good thing?

 

[wiggle butt]

Ilsa has this same obsession. We usually don't mind it for the most part, but we do manage it sometimes. If I just want her to go out and pee and not take her ball with her, I make her leave it. This took a while, to get her to trust me, but she does now and she goes outside very quickly, for that matter. We also have an 'all gone' spot for when she really needs to stop. Like when it is bedtime or when she is maybe over-stimulated. When we put it in the 'all gone' spot she doesn't even look back at it. We even get kisses for doing it. funny!

You can always use this obsession and turn it into focus with something like frisbee or flyball. The dogs with a really high toy drive usually do well in these areas.

 

[Joe Beam]

Puppy crack... ...

There is no harm in it...I just don't think it's a healthy state of mind for her. I've been trying the "leave-it" before she goes outside...but she just sits on the porch, waiting for me to throw it outside. I'll keep trying it and see if there is a change.

I think I will try the frisbee again. The first time I tried it she would never drop it and it's nearly impossible to get one out of their jaws. But she is dropping her ball much better now. I think I need to make her realize she has outside toys and inside toys. I like the "all gone" idea.

Thanks guys.

 

[Sepra]

Obsession is really never a healthy state of mind whether you're a dog, cat or human. If it's a mild case and you havent seen it getting progressively worse then I wouldn't worry about it, but if you're seeing her obsession getting out of hand then I'd try and stop the behavior asap. If she starts getting really posessive about the obsession the result could quite possibly turn into aggression down the road.

That's just my opinion! Good luck with her!

 

[Dally Girl]

Same problem...

Dally does the same exact thing. All of our guests that come to the house love to play fetch with her just so they can see her put the ball in the water bowl while drinking. After she is done it takes her a couple of minutes to get it out of the bowl while her whole head is soaked! I would try distracting her with different toys. It works with Dally as long as she doesn't see me hide the ball. If she watches me place the ball somewhere she'll sit there and cry...... Good Luck.