Buster is frightened of footballs :(

It all started when he was a pup. Our other dog would happily play footie with my boys, the rougher the better! He was playing with my boys in the garden when Buster (as a pup) waddled into the middle of thier game and got walloped in the face with the ball. It startled him, but I think the thing that really did it, was I shouted at my boys to be carefull around the pup & therfore making the incident into a big deal :(

Now the weather is better, the kids are gathered in the street plying footie, we need to pass them to go for our walk. Over the years I've just worked on management as my boys nolonger play footie in the house/garden, so it's not something Buster has to face at home. I've been working on a positive association whenever we need to pass the kids with a ball. The kids (sometimes including grown men!) all know Buster is worried so most will stop the game while we pass, which is helping Buster lots. However, this is merely working as management and despite him being better (he no-longer tries to dive in the hedge to hide), there is obviously room for much improvement and I am not happy that he is still so nervous. (He's frightened of moving footballs & the sound they make when kicked).

I've found an old football and thought I'd start work on counter-condidtioning. My plan was to start by me simply rolling the ball softly around the patio while Buster is in the garden with me - treats at the ready.
I sat down on the bench, lifted the ball of the table and Buster came over and nudged it with his nose (I'm working on trying ot get him to touch things with his nose on command at the moment - just for fun - he obviously spotted this an an opportunity to get a biccy, LOL ) - so he had a biccy :)
I carefully placed the ball on the floor and he kicked it with his front foot (too lazy to bend down to touch with his nose & his elbows don't bend, so he can't 'pat' very well) :-D
He got a biccy, then walked over to the ball and booted it again! (got another biccy)

I've brought the ball in and he's just spent a few minutes wandering around the kitchen, booting the ball, following it & booting it again (cause he gets a biccy!). Amazing - he does not play with toys, other than rip the eyes off new stuffed toys, so this is looking like it could also be shaped into a game :)

I got my youngest son (11 years old) to very carefully place the ball infont of Buster & he booted it again :-)

The thing I am stuck on IS - he trusts me with the ball, I can dribble it around and throw & catch it without it bothering him (I've not tried kicking it very hard though), but he is nervous of other poeple with the ball.

It's not a waste of time getting him used to the ball in my company first is it? (before carefully moving on to getting my kids involved).

I plan to spned the next few days doing simple things with the ball - getting Buster to touch it as he's not worried about it moving if it's him or me that makes it move, so he get more comfortable with it and used to the sounds it makes when it's hit/moves.
Then (as & when I feel he's ready), I'll start to get him used to the sound of it being bounced harder by me etc...Basically get him 100% sound with the ball around the house/garden/out on a walk with ME untill I bring my kids into the equation, then my kids friends.

Sorry for the long ramble.
Any hints, tips, pointers, observations greatly recieved :)

Just took Bust out for a walk. On the way down the road we were greeted by a little lad running up to us, bouncing his footabll (bless, he's no taller than Bust and will hook his little arm over Buster shoulder, lean towards him and say "allright, my little Buster?"). Bust would ususally have cringed & ducked becasue of the football, but he turned to me for a biccy!

On the way back we met a group of kids with a football, my lad was with them and told them about Buster kicking a ball at home. Eager to impress his mates, I let him carefully place the ball infornt of Bust, who booted it :-D

He did get a little nervy (very subtle sings that none of the kids spotted ) as the ball was passed around between the lads but nothing like usual, he was happy to stand there getting the odd treat while I had a chat to them, usually he'd want to be getting past them.
I am astounded that there has been progress allready.

I am constantly amazed at the power of positive association (applied in the right manner)

Oh, in addition to what I posted in the first post, I have been taking the football out in the garden each time I go out for a ciggy, I'll tap it around the patio and try some keepie-uppies (LOL, the neighbours must really think I'm a loony). Also, if I have a snack, I'll tap the ball around the kitchen and occasioanlly give Bust a morsel.

Got the football in the kitchen and will keep it insight now, moving it around whenever I think of it - trying to capitalise on positive association/desensitaztion in any way I can!

Oh that's a brilliant story :) Go Buster!!

I have to hand it to you.  You have done wonders with your boy.  And, it's obvious that you have learned a great deal of patience in the process.  I admire your tenacity.

(However, I'm seriously concerned that your neighbours think you're loopy!)  :-)  :-) 

Thanks guys :)

Yes, Buster has taught me all about patience :)
He's been one of the biggest learning curves of my life! I've made lots of mistakes with him, but learnt so much from him that I can fix them.

He's worn out now, he doesn't usually do anything much during the day (his choice, as he's not interested in much other than other dogs & food!), so having several training sessions with the football has left him tired out, bless him :)

He's finished today off, with offering to rest his chin on the ball for treats (well, some chips off my plate!), so he's ending the day with the notion that football= fantastic 'human' food (his ultimate goal in life, LOL). So it really shouldn't be long before he thinks football = good :)

I'm so frustrated that I never tried this approach sooner. It seems so obvious, yet I've always only tried to get the positive association while out & about & confronted by fooball games, when that is the worst time to do it as he is actually frightened. I can be such a dim-wit about things that I suprise myself with my own stupidity!!

Thanks again and well done for managing to read all of my waffle :-D

> However, I'm seriously concerned that your neighbours think you're loopy!

Yes, they do! They saw me stood in my garden - on my own - chuckling rather loudly to myself earlier *blush* (re. the thread on the general board about dogs being frightened by thier own 'wind').  The look I got from them, I'm not sure if it was fear or pity!! LOL