Dog addicted to ball...HEELLLLLP!

Hi,
I don`t quite understand. You want to break the habit without getting rid of the ball?
I would take away the tennis ball especially because of her teeth. Tennis balls are really bad for them because they are like emery paper.
Give her something instead of the tennis ball, any other sort of ball that isn`t small enough to swallow.
Then don`t put it somewhere where she can`t  look at it all the time, store it away in a drawer or so.
You have to decide when you let her play with the ball, don`t give in when she barks, ignore her then an give it only to her when she is quiet.
Let her sit or give another command she knows and then give it to her as a reward.
She has to learn that you decide whether she can have it or not and she can only influence it by doing what you say.

If she doesn`t want to give it back, trade! Take a real good treat like a little piece of cooked chicken breast or so and when she wants to take it and she drops the ball give the command (Let Go or something else), take the ball and give her the treat.
So she also learns another command.
If she doesn`t want to trade, ignore her. Let her know that playing with the ball is only fun when playing with you. Toys can be so boring when no one`s playing WITH somebody...[]

Hope, I could help

Thanks,


They have considered just takign the ball away and use another toy, which will most likely happen. But it will become the same way with the new toy. They want her to enjoy the toy, but not make it become a deviancy or a super obsession.

I guess just time with working with her. I personally don't let  her in unless she drops it. The offereing of treats just seems like giving her a treat for something she knows she is doing wrong.

Dogs don`t "know" if something`s "wrong" or "right", they just know if it`s a special behaviour is worth it or not. They really are opportunitists but that doesn`t  make them good or bad, it`s just the way they are acting.
 
Actually it`s really good that she is so fixed on a toy because it`s maks it a lot easier to work with a dog. Use her obsession to make her do what you want and give it to her only as a reward.
 
How should she know that she is doing something that`s annoying when no one told her before in her language?
Emma will learn that it`s not okay what she is doing when all of you ignore her "bad" behaviour `cause that`s the worst punishment for a dog. And on the other hand you must reward her for the right behaviour. This is difficult at the beginning so she will probably not drop the toy by herself. To help her find out what you want her to do you have to "persuade" her with treats but only at the beginning. Don`t use this technique always because then she will only do something in regard of a reward.
 
When she eventually drops the ball because no one plays with her and she`s getting bored by it, say "Fine!" and give her a treat.
I know this takes a long time but it does work and I´m sure she will learn.
 

oh, why oh why would you want to get rid of such a useful trait-- a powerful toy drive? You just need to use it properly. First get rid of the tennis balls. Not good for teeth. Get some Orbee balls instead. Soft, totally indestructable. Store the balls out of sight of the dog. Next you need to take control of the ball- it's yours, not the dogs. Do not ever let the dog carry the ball around in his mouth for long periods of time-- he'll think it's his. The dog can earn short periods of access to it, meaning dog gets the ball when the dog is good and obeys commands (do not use the ball as a lure, as in tossing it out the door to get the dog to go out; dog must go out first then dog gets the ball). Dog does not get the ball at any other time. For example, you have the balls. Dog wants them. Ask dog to Sit. When dog sits, toss a ball for a retrieve. You do need to teach the dog to drop the ball on command. With a ball-obsessed dog you can use the "two ball game" to teach a wonderful retrieve and drop on command, no need to use treats: just have two identical balls. Dog has one ball, so you offer the other ball in exchange. If you act really excited about YOUR ball, the dog will want it more than the one he has. If you're really having problems with the dog giving the toy back, the Orbee balls have a hole through the middle. You can put a thin rope through it so you can always retain control of the ball-- the dog can't run off with his prize. An alternative approach would be to first teach the drop on command and the retrieve using something the dog isn't very interested in, such as a dumbell or bumper, and then move up to the ball. When you're done, cheerfully collect all the balls and praise the dog, perhaps give a treat now and again. You don't want taking the balls away to be a punishment for the dog.

I never knew tennis balls were bad for dogs' teeth. [sm=sad.gif] Rupert has a bazillion of them.

I never knew tennis balls were bad for dogs' teeth. Rupert has a bazillion of them.

 
I'd never heard this before either.  My lab loves them. 

My aunt's 6 year old Golden uses her tennis ball as a "pacifier". She goes EVERYWHERE with it: to the bathroom, to bed, from room to room. Her teeth are actually worn down around the ball. It's kinda funny. (Yes I know, my aunt is bad. But trust me, her dog is well taken care of...)

Yes, tennis balls are bad for their teeth, not immediately but it will...man, I don`t know the English word for it....[8|]....it will "rubb" their teeth over the years! I have seen dogs that were used to chew on them for a longer time, their teeth were really bad!
 
It`s exactly as mudpuppy wrote! Use the ball, or better the alternative toy, to make her what you want! I wish my dogs would be so keen on a toy, this makes working with them much easier!! That`s  a real good idea with the two identical balls, my...haven`t thought of that!