Ball focus

[Moobli]

I have been building Zak's drive and focus for his ball on a rope (which is the toy I use to reward my dogs during training) in order to further motivate him to track for his toy. I have laid a few short, single leg tracks since he came to me a couple of months ago, but decided to stop as he didn't have enough drive for his ball initially.

However, I now appear to have the opposite problem He is now so toy focused that he is constantly badgering me either for the ball that he knows is in my pocket, or he won't "out" the ball once he has hold of it without a battle.

Anyway, today I did no tugging type of play with him (which I also use as a reward) and just made him return the ball to me, "out" it and I would throw it again. It appeared to be working by the end of our session and he was leaving the ball, not immediately, but almost first time every time. I will continue with this type of training for the next few days before re-introducing tugging play into our routine again.

Does anyone have any other suggestions as to how they would train a dog to out his ball when he really doesn't want to. I have usually trained the out in pups and not in 10 month old workline GSDs who are desperate to hang on to it

Also, other than leaving the ball at home on regular walks, does anyone have any ideas as to how I can stop him badgering me constantly for the toy or trying to mug me for it when I reach into my pocket for, say, a polo mint or my ipod I am just ignoring the behaviour at the mo.

Cheers.

[Chip Chesterfield III]

I will tell you what I do but remember I am only learning this as well.

I don't tug with the ball on a string , I have a seperate tug which I can hold in two hands and he bites in between.

When he brings the ball back I grab the string and keep a moderate pressure on for a few seconds till he settles and then I let it go slack before I say "out"

At first I made the mistake of pulling as I said "out" but that only increases his drive to hold it.

The "prey ", in this case the ball, ceases to interest him when it is lifeless so he will out it easier.

a

[Moobli]

Thanks Chip - that is precisely what I did yesterday. Instead of tugging the rope, and therefore engaging in a tug of war game, I just let the rope go slack for a few seconds before asking for the out. It seemed to work by the end of the session. I will see how we go today

What are you hoping to do with your dog - compete or work?

[Chip Chesterfield III]

Originally Posted by Moobli

What are you hoping to do with your dog - compete or work?

First goal is to do a BH. By the time that is done I will have a better idea.

a

[Moobli]

Originally Posted by Chip Chesterfield III

First goal is to do a BH. By the time that is done I will have a better idea.

a

Good luck with it. Do you have a club nearby to train with?

[Chip Chesterfield III]

Originally Posted by Moobli

Good luck with it. Do you have a club nearby to train with?

About 40 mins away so not too bad.

a

[Moobli]

Lucky you The nearest club to me is two and a half hours

[Blitzen]

I find it easier to teach the out with a hard tug, or even the rubber rings, which I can take into both hands to immobilise it so as to stop the dog self-rewarding by creating movement in the toy itself. As soon as it releases it, I mark 'yes' and start the tugging game again. Works for me most of the time, but sometimes my dogs still do decide they would rather hang on, when a sharp 'No' will usually be enough.

As for the constant badgering, I had this with my GSD girlie, but it seemed to naturally become a non issue after I taught her an 'off you go' command i.e. I'm finished interacting with you for now, b*gger off and explore on your own now. I started off by saying this an pointing away at the start of the walk when I took the lead off when I knew she would go off to sniff/pee etc or any other time I knew she would go away from me, and she naturally associated it with going away from me.

She will still badger me just after finishing toy play, or even if I put my hand my pocket cause it is cold lol, but an 'off you go' signals to her she is not getting anything and she quite happily trots off.

Loads of repetition needed for them to get it lol. The trick is not giving in so they know that when they hear 'off you go' there is no point in badgering you.

Worked for me