pit bull, dog aggression, and obsession with ball???

I do not get the chance to watch his shows often and I have not seen this one either, so would be interested to hear what happened. 

I'd agree with you about introducing the muzzle slowly.... if the dog hates it he's going to be in the wrong frame of mind and already on a handicap when you put him in the challenging situation. 

If it were me I would try taking the toy away to keep it's value high, super charge it and keep it for re-training the dog, so he learns "when I see another dog, Mum will get the toy out!"  I doubt this is what CM does though.  I'm going to watch this one with interest to see what the significance of the toy is and how taking it away helped as well as how the muzzle was used.

Me too because Ella is OBSESSED with her bad cuz balls. Whenever someone gives her attention she automatically HAS to go get a ball and put it in her mouth and bring it to us. She doesn't drop it (all the time) in front of the person, but she will usually twirl it around in her mouth. It's like she's inviting the person to attempt to get it from her so they can play with her.

Whenever I call her over just because I want to pet her or give her kisses, she will come to me and as soon as I go to pet her she'll walk past me and go get a ball.
When we watch movies at night, she HAS to have a ball to lay down and chomp on or twirl around in her mouth.

I have been told that for her to be this obsessive with her toys is unhealthy, but I've had others tell me that it's no big deal and that she just wants to play.

Oh, and if she walks up to me and drops her ball at my feet and wants to play, I won't. We only play when I want to play.

First off I think the dog was a mix breed (maybe he/she has pit, maybe not) he/she was not just ball obsessed, but was obsessed with rocks to the point that he/she was bleeding for the mouth as well as tearing up his/her paws. It was a bad situation (would you want your dog in the possition?). Cesar did more than just whip a muzzle on it. and as far as putting a muzzle on a dog goes, most professionals do this to stop injury to either the dog or anyone else. Introducing it slowly isn't always an option.

Obsession is not IMO a normal dog behavior.

So, like, is my dog screwed?
I mean, she's not injuring herself because of her bad cuz balls, but whenever we (or anyone else) gives her attention she will go get a ball immediately before returning the attention.
Also, she walks circles around us a lot. She'll pace with her ball in her mouth. It's almost as though she reminds me of a shark minus the intent to eat us.
What does this behavior mean? Does it mean anything?

I'm sure continual work with NILIF will or might improve this.
Is it a behavior I should even be concerned with?

Too bad Cesar costs like a TON of money, because I'd surely just like to hear his take on it. I mean, not that I'd for sure apply his techniques (and not that I would disregard them either), but I'd like to hear his thoughts on it.

"I would have done this, instead of that", those posts pop up all the time.......watch the show first, then comment on what was going on......[8|]

chewbecca, there are some excellent people in the Chicago area who could probably help you, if you think your dog's preoccupation with balls is a problem, so I doubt that your dog is "screwed".  []  You might be surprised at how reasonable the cost might be. 

ORIGINAL: spiritdogs

chewbecca, there are some excellent people in the Chicago area who could probably help you, if you think your dog's preoccupation with balls is a problem, so I doubt that your dog is "screwed". [] You might be surprised at how reasonable the cost might be.

Well, I'm taking her to an excellent trainer/behavior consultant now, but until those 2 people brought up this episode to me, I didn't even think twice about her love for her bad cuz balls.

I think we're referencing 2 different episodes here. 
 
I do remember the rock obsessed pit/mix named Punkin.  Cesar took Punkin back to his center and Punkin lived and played with the "pack".  He worked on changing up rocks for playing fetch with a ball with the other dogs.  At the end of 2 weeks, Punkin could leave rocks alone and walk normally on a trail loaded with rocks.  It was a matter of trading out a rock for a game of fetch and alleviating the obsession.  I'd have to watch the show again to clearly and accurately comment on the exact things that were done.  I don't recall any muzzle on this dog as he wasn't aggressive.
 
I don't recall an episode with a ball obsessed, aggressive dog needing a muzzle, so clearly I've missed that episode!

I cannot imagine it would be the toys that were problematic. Half the BCs in the world would be in need of schooling by CM![]

Also, is one of those places in Chicago that you're talking about, "Anything is Pawsible"?
Because I've heard absolutely POSITIVE things about Rendy. Current clients and past clients speak about her as though she can walk on water.

If my trainer wasn't local and fabulous, I'd be taking Ella to Rendy.

and as far as putting a muzzle on a dog goes, most professionals do this to stop injury to either the dog or anyone else. Introducing it slowly isn't always an option.

 
Usually owners can avoid the stimulus while they muzzle train the dog.  I can't think of any cases off the top of my head where it would not be possible to introduce the muzzle slowly.  I'm sure there are a few, but I doubt there are many.
 
Has no one  seen the show ref'd in the OP?  The one with rocks sounds completely different.  Espencer where are you dammit????

Spiritdogs is right, your not screwed, the problem can be fixed, just mention it to your trainer.

ORIGINAL: brookcove

I cannot imagine it would be the toys that were problematic. Half the BCs in the world would be in need of schooling by CM![]

It's not, it's the *obession* the owners have created or allow to grow that is.

Also, I wanted to comment that sometimes I feel like a bad, or unsure dog owner. There's this and that that can be right or wrong. It's like parenting. In my lifespan developmental psych class my teacher not only told us that we needed to take that class BEFORE having children, but that we are to NEVER flush "poopy" down the toilet in front of our children when we are potty training AND we're never to spank a child after the age of 4. So...according to her, I screwed up before even walking into her classroom.


Sorry, didn't mean to go OT there, but training my dog reminds me of raising my kids.