Dogs and balls go together naturally, but there are some issues that new players need to take into account.
The first consideration is the size of the ball in relation to the size of your dog’s mouth.
If the ball is too small it may get stuck behind your pet’s canine teeth or could possibly lodge itself in the throat as a choking hazard.
It is also a good idea to put the balls away after a game so these issues do not arise while the dog is unsupervised and to avoid resource guarding in a multi-dog household.
Beware of cheap tennis balls which may use toxic dyes – fragments of the fabric can end up in the digestive system and cause a blockage.
Tennis balls also have the capacity to pick up dirt and sand which transforms the surface into something akin to sandpaper, which has the potential to grind the teeth down to stumps.
Personally, I prefer plain rubber balls, but they also have the ability to attract a coating of dust or sand so it is best to use them on grass or in the shallows on the beach.
Throwing balls into the deeper water may cause the dog to ingest too much salt water leading to other health issues.
Indoors, pet hair may adhere to the ball so keep a rag handy to remove it to avoid fur balls developing.
The long-handled ball thrower is an excellent tool for exercising the active dog but try not to overdo it.
Racing around repetitively and leaping about can cause damage to the dog’s joints and in the warmer months may result in heat stress.
Tip: to adjust your long-handled ball thrower, bend it backwards. This will give you greater elevation and distance.
There are other risks in ball games including head clashes if two dogs reach the ball simultaneously. My dog Robbie lost three teeth this way.
Snatching the ball out of the air as the dog jumps for it may result in an accidental bite. Do not ask me how I know!
Personally, I use ball play as a training reward far more often than I use food.
My dog, Robbie, works much more quickly and enthusiastically for a ball than for food.
You can find some of the training games we play on the YouTube channel ‘Old Dog New
Tricks Australia’, and do not forget to visit the Facebook page of the same name – come along and have a ball!
