fetching balls bad idea,huh?

D

dottie

New member
Complete NOVICE....question....

A training book I am currently reading says " never teach fetch/ retrieve *using balls"....use only bumpers.


*I use both....tennis balls in a hook because I can pitch them a greater distance and because dog has more fun running to get them......and bumpers because it seems more formal and dog ....sits and holds better for me with bumpers.

So should I stop using balls?


Dog is 2y/o Brittany.....I am training to hunt.






Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tab? S
 
dottie said:
Complete NOVICE....question....

A training book I am currently reading says " never teach fetch/ retrieve *using balls"....use only bumpers.


*I use both....tennis balls in a hook because I can pitch them a greater distance and because dog has more fun running to get them......and bumpers because it seems more formal and dog ....sits and holds better for me with bumpers.

So should I stop using balls?


Dog is 2y/o Brittany.....I am training to hunt.






Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tab? S
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"Question" fetching balls bad idea,huh? "Answer" Not a problem as long as there not attached :cheers: ha ha Happy New Year
 
Dottie?

That very sense that led you to question the book is the same common sense that will make you a spectacular dog owner.

BAD BOOK, BAD! Go to your bookshelf!

Dog will learn play vs work, and a well-bred bird dog would plow through a room full of balls to get to a bird, once it gets with the program.

Get the pup on some birds and breeding will take over. You just work on obedience and control.

You'll be fine.

:thumbsup:
 
Unlikely any harm, but better probably is to use a pheasant-like object such as a bumper. I filled a dark sock with sand and taped some pheasant feathers to it.
 
Some British trainers incorporate tennis balls into their programs with retrievers. They will put the balls in a sack full of feathers and then toss them into heavy cover to teach the dog "loss" or "dead bird". Also they will roll them out along the ground then put the dog on the track to teach tracking.

Nothing wrong with tennis balls as long as they deliver it to hand each and every time. Don't make a game out of the delivery.
 
I guess it depends on the dog- and the person.

Too many people substitute ball throwing with proper exercise. I'll toss them in a pool but not much after that. I've seen dogs get obsessed with them and not be able to find the off switch.
 
I've had five Golden's - all excellent retrievers and all had lots of tennis ball's thrown...and birds shot over them. Members of the family and friends all have participated in the ball throwing exercise, with no adverse affect.

Would assume any of the "retrieving" breeds - Labs et al, have had similar experience with their dogs.
 
I don't let my pups retrieve their toys however my dogs (not puppies) do retrieve tennis balls. Be cautious has to how many and how often you give your pup birds. My new puppy get a freshly killed pigeon about once a week. The other 6 days she is retrieving bumpers at the rate of about 4 or 5 retrieves per day. She is now 3 months and we are introducing gun fire as she is driving to the dummy. At 4 months she will get a clipped wing pigeon. Hard to tell someone what they should do with their pup unless we know the goals you have in training. Mine will go through an advanced training program for a fully handling retriever. By the way, mine point as well but I do nothing to develop it.
 
I have a read I wrote called "beginnings of a gundog" I send with each pup. Happy to email it to you if you wish. Send a PM if interested. I quit putting training tips on here after some users argue with ya each time you post good proven knowledge ;). As far as a ball, fine, just no bells or squeakers. I use them on small 7-8 week old pups and older. I do like to go right to frozen pigeons at that age mixed in as well, and some bigger bumpers as they age. But by 7 months we are shooting over them finding ,flushing, retrieving, and delivering to hand.:thumbsup: Happy to help, just not on open forum anymore.
:cheers:
 
Only thing against balls that I've been told is some trainers think chasing a ball can lead to acl injuries for certain dogs. This theory is based on the fact that balls can bounce at extreme angles and can cause an acl tear because the dog has to change direction so quickly/aggressively.

I use a chuck-it with my vizsla because my dang arm would fall off if I had to throw a bumper or frisbee to her.
 
I have used tennis balls and dummies etc. and had no issues. But with tennis balls I rub bird ( flavor of your choice ) sent on them in my case I use a deodorant looking stick of pheasant smelling goodness.
 
david0311

Nor said:
Only thing against balls that I've been told is some trainers think chasing a ball can lead to acl injuries for certain dogs. This theory is based on the fact that balls can bounce at extreme angles and can cause an acl tear because the dog has to change direction so quickly/aggressively.

I use a chuck-it with my vizsla because my dang arm would fall off if I had to throw a bumper or frisbee to her.[/QUOTE

X2--Ok in moderation--but make dog sit until ball stops moving --then send--also use care on ground terrain ect--no black top driveways ect.:cheers:
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