My 19 month old border collie is extremely active and lives for her ball. She goes to obedience classes and on the whole is quiet well behaved - that is until she sees a ball. I've had to give up taking a ball out with me, which is a shame because she loves to chase balls and it is good exercise for her as she never seems to tire but she is just so badly behaved when she sees one. Tonight i relented as it was late, dark and wet and due to unforeseen circumstances she hadn't had much exercise today. It was a nightmare. She will chase the ball and bring it back towards you but she will stop about a metre away and drop the ball. I you move towards it she picks it up and runs off. I have tried turning my back, just ignoring her and walking off, shouting, off, leave it, no wrong - all words she usually responds to but she just won't with this ball. She wont sit or stay and as for getting her to come for me for a treat - forget it!! Its so frustrating because it defeats the object of taking the ball, she hardly gets to chase it. I can't understand the logic as surely if she wants it thrown then she would let me throw it. i figure she thinks if i get the ball it means that the game is over but that only happens at the end of the game so thats about 1 in 20 (if i get to throw it that many times!) The obvious thing to do is just forget the ball but it seems such a shame to deprive her of her favourite game. Also she is a terrible pest when any balls are around, refusing to leave the person holding the ball alone, stealing the ball and refusing to drop, so i think this is a habit that must be stopped. She can do a formal retrieve with a dumb bell (although shtill working on her siting and waiting until i say she can go,) and will sit in front and wait until i take it. I presume it is just excitement. Has anyone got any ideas how to get through to her?

Get two balls.

Karen

Have you tried taking a second ball out with you to encourage her to leave the one she's holding?

Oh tell me ablout it!!! :(
Libby is exactly the same, she even prefers her ball to hot-dog sausage treat However she's fine with a frisbee, and will bring that back, and leave it ok. Balls ( ;) ) however..........no chance. Let me know if you find a solution as I'm getting fed up trying to wrestle a tennis ball from a FCR every 5 minutes.

liberty

Yes, unfortunately the ball which i am holding is just not as interesting. Infact if i did manage to pick up the ball and chucked another she wouldn't run after it. She is a fussy madam! Just to say, this particular ball on a rope is reserved for walks only. Could that be the problem?

You could try this...

http://www.coastaldog.com/ballplay.htm

Kath.

Obsessive behaviour is common in Border Collies, I would not use the ball at all, reduce her obsession of it, try to occupy her in other ways.
Dawn.

Sounds to me as if she may be wanting you to chase her as well. That's what my dog used to do anyway, tease with the toy close by, then as you go to pick it up, grab it and run off just a little way, and drop the toy again, and repeat..... LOL!

I think it may be worth considering changing to a different toy, but also, why not teach your collie to retrieve to hand? And that she never ever gets the ball thrown unless she gives it to you to throw?

It will probably take some time, and you would need to start off slow and at home, on a long line, preferably with a different toy; gradually once proficient there, move to the garden, then the park and on walks. I expect there are posts on here about teaching retrieve to hand; if not hopefully your instructor could show you. Make it pleasurable or the point will be lost on her and she will have more fun teasing and controlling the ball - which being a BC, she will love :D

Lindsay

Edit: just noticed your girl does retrieve the dumbbell :) - but you may find you need to completely re-train her to come to you and give you her ball, as in her eyes it is not the same thing at all ;)

Just a thought, but if she likes her ball so much would she be the perfect candidate for fly ball. I saw a demonstration at a kennels near me who are going to add flyball training to there other courses, I was amazed at how focused the dogs were on the balls.

Robert

There's going to be an item on Flyball on Countryfile this Sunday BBC1 11am, ( that is unless they change the schedule like they have in the past! ).

Kath.

I had thought about that actually, not only is she ball obsessed but she is extremely fast and agile, and hardly ever misses her ball. The only trouble is that there isn't a club very close by. We are starting a 6 week course on agility soon, but she would prefer flyball if i could get to a club. Anyone kno of any in the new forest?

If you can get to Stocks Farm Equestrian Centre, at West Parley (near Hurn airport) there is flyball there run by someone called Kevin, but i don't have his details and i am not sure what evening it is, but i can try to find out :)

Who are you doing agility with?

Lindsay

I'm doing the beginners course with CHATS (Christchurch and Hycliffe Agility Training) in sopley. I might look into that thanks, Megan would certainly love me for it!

You'll enjoy yourselves then, as Sally is an excellent trainer :) She knows Kevin so will almost certainly be able to give you some details.

Good luck!!!

Lindsay

Ps If you want, i may be able to help you with the ball problem - no overnight solutions, i am afraid, but i am happy to meet up some time and be on hand to see what she does and maybe help you with some training? It won't be for a good few weeks yet though as i am so busy :)

What are people's opinions on fly-ball ? Had thought that mine might like it - but the trainers where I go to agility are very anti - they think that the health risks are too great and won't let their dogs do it.

Daisy

HI Kath

I was interested and recorded it - but the video switched off just as the dogs came on !!! So missed it.....

Lindsay

Hi Lindsay,
I thought it was a bit disappointing... only on about 5 minutes. Hope that makes you feel better about missing it!! Did get to see Ben Fogle's puppies though. :)

Kath.

I do feel better now Kath, thanks :)

What pups does Ben Fogle have - are they pups from his Lab Inca?

Lindsay

They are Lindsay, yes.

Kath.

Consider introducing her to a frisbee - she may be the same way with it or may not be. She may be more willing to drop her ball to chase a frisbee and alternate the two?

Be very careful with a frisbee especially if you have a bit of a manic dog. They twist their backs in the air and land awkwardly, if you use one keep it very low to the ground.

Sandra