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Post by Speeds on Jul 28, 2007 20:31:22 GMT 1
I hope this makes sense. I am trying to desensitise Zola to balls. They are his favourite play toy. At the moment if there is a ball around he will not retrieve any other article. The ball does not even need to be in sight - if I send to retrieve he goes to a ball. Secondly, the reason for trying t do this is that he is so obsessed by everybody elses balls  at agility. I can have him working and looking at me but if he catches a glimpse or hears a ball all is lost. Food and any other toy including his squeaky ball are of no high value to him - he wants their ball. If the toy is not a ball then he is not bothered so it is the ball that does this. Any help would be appreciated as I cannot think how to move on and banning balls is not an option. |
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Post by Speeds on Jul 28, 2007 20:32:18 GMT 1
Should have added that if I send for a retrieve to an article he has seen me throw, he will still go to find a ball.
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Post by marjolein on Jul 29, 2007 21:02:33 GMT 1
Just give him as many balls as he likes untill he gets sick and tired of them.
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Post by Speeds on Jul 29, 2007 21:13:06 GMT 1
Thanks Mar. I will give him more ball overload. How many is many - he has 5 at the mo on the go as well as other toys.
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kags
Puppy
Posts: 139
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Post by kags on Jul 30, 2007 5:45:18 GMT 1
I don't know what the answer is to that one. Eric goes through phases with his toys and tends to have The Toy of The Moment which chnages from week to week. At the moment it is a horrid scabby bit of raw hide! But he loves it and has fun throwing it about and being chased with it. I have sent for some new toys from the UK, as my friend has gone home for a month and offered to bring me back things I wanted from the UK. Guess what we are having nowt is all for the dogs! Pet shops are pretty rubbish here though.
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Post by marjolein on Jul 30, 2007 11:30:54 GMT 1
Just overload him with it Karen. Each and every time you have a spare minute, give him a ball. Make sure you just give it to him don't make a fuss out of it. I'm pretty sure that'll sort it soon.
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Post by cressy on Jul 30, 2007 18:16:54 GMT 1
Karen - would he destroy balls?  Just thinking Tesco's and similar are selling packs of plastic balls for toddler ball pools quite cheaply. If he saw those day in day out then he would be bored very soon!!!!! |
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Post by Speeds on Jul 30, 2007 20:08:49 GMT 1
Karen - would he destroy balls? Just thinking Tesco's and similar are selling packs of plastic balls for toddler ball pools quite cheaply. If he saw those day in day out then he would be bored very soon!!!!! He would squish them - we have a few hundred of those at home - but he would just think he had died and gone to heaven. He has balls scattered all over the place - not to mention the trophies he brings home from the woods near enough each day. I was trying to work on the choosing an item to retrieve Sue - like Phillipa showed us. If there is no ball there I can get him to retrieve the article I threw from the group on the floor. Put a ball down and he will watch what you throw and then take the ball. If you throw a Ball and there are balls there he will 90% retrieve the ball you have thrown - unless I hit the other articles and it is a ball and then he retrieves the ball that moves -  Anyway - am gonna try this overload theory for a while - although i think I'll be bored before him - patience is not my strong point ;D ;D |
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Just thinking Tesco's and similar are selling packs of plastic balls for toddler ball pools quite cheaply. If he saw those day in day out then he would be bored very soon!!!!!