Without a doubt, playing ball is one of the favorite activities of our best friends. At first, it is a harmless game that allows them to exercise their body and their senses, in addition to sharing good times with their families. However, many guardians are concerned that their dogs seem to be addicted to the ball
If you have experienced or find yourself in this situation, you are likely to ask yourself questions like " Why is my dog obsessed with the ball? ", "why won't my dog drop the ball?" or "how to treat a dog addicted to the ball?".
In this article our site will talk about ball obsession in dogs, what are its possible causes and how you should act to address this behavior problem. We will also offer you some tips to prevent your dog from becoming addicted to the ball, so you can safely enjoy this game.
Do ball-addicted dogs really exist?
Perhaps talking about an obsessive or addicted dog can be very shocking because we understand the dangers and negative consequences of an addiction or obsession, which also affect physical and mental he alth. However, not only is it real, but it is more common than we usually imagine. The ball, such a common and well-known toy, can easily trigger obsessive behavior that requires specialized treatment.
Almost all dogs are motivated to chase the ball, exercise during their walks, and then rest in the comfort of their home. In this "normal" equation, when the ball is a game and not an addiction, the dog gets excited, has fun, spends energy, gets tired and resumes a balanced behavior when he returns home, offering the possibility that his guardians of that they continue with their routine and can dedicate themselves to other activities.
But an obsessed dog will constantly demandthat his guardian keep throwing the ball at him, seeming not to have satiated his need to expend energy, even having gone for a walk and after practicing exercise. We also tend to easily identify some symptoms such as hyperactivity, anxiety and tachycardia, as well as unwanted behaviors, such as excessive barking and whining to get the attention of their tutors.
In addition to harming the he alth and well-being of the dog, these behavioral problems often seriously affect the routine of their relatives and coexistence In the home. For this reason, the obsession with the ball should never be ignored or underestimated, requiring a specific treatment guided by a professional trained in ethology or canine education.
Why is my dog obsessed with the ball?
To understand why some dogs are addicted to the ball, we need to understand what this activity does to them and why it can become an obsession. The game of chasing the ball awakens the hunting instinct of our furry ones. Logically, the dog does not chase the ball with the same purpose or motivation as a canid when he goes hunting with his pack.
The latter must hunt to supply the basic need for food, undergoing a long and exhausting day of hunting, while the dogs play with their guardians as another way of enrichment that allows them to expend energy, stimulate their body and mind. But although companion dogs do not need to go out to catch prey to feed themselves, hunting is one of the instinctive behaviors in dogs and we cannot ignore or forget it.
When we throw the ball to a dog, we somehow artificially "recreate" the context of a hunt, giving him the chance to exercise their senses, their instincts and their bodily power to then enjoy the success of reaching their prey (which, in this case, is replaced by an object, that is, the ball).
However, when practicing this activity in artificial conditions, the dog does not need to walk for hours with a herd or expose itself to unfavorable environmental and climatic situations to reach its prey (which does tend to happen when animals come out to hunt in the wild). His effort is much less and satisfaction is achieved quickly and easily, so the dog may be motivated to repeat several timeschasing the ball.
However, the hunting instinct alone does not fully explain why some dogs become obsessed with the ball. Although it is true that dog breeds historically trained for hunting, as well as their crossbreeds, often feel a great excitement when playing ball and can develop a obsessive behavior in relation to her more easily.
As happens with almost all behavioral problems, the obsession with the ball is usually related to the education, routine and lifestyle provided by the guardians to their dogs. On the one hand, it is common for people to reinforce the overexcitement of their dogs, whether at the time of playing ball, eating or going for a walk, and many times they do it unconsciously, that is, without intending to encourage or encourage their furry ones to become obsessive or become hyperactive or anxious when performing some activity.
If you perceive that your dog is overexcited before or during the game with the ball, you keep throwing this toy over and over again, repeatedly, you will be reinforcing this behaviorThat is, you will be communicating to your best friend that he may continue to get overexcited and behaving in a hyperactive way that, in this way, you will throw his ball back to him.
On the other hand, the lack of time and the rush that we usually have every day can lead us to neglect physical and mental stimulationof our dogs. Basically, playing fetch is a game that, in itself, does not present an imminent danger to a dog. But if this dog does not have a routine of physical exercise and intelligence games that allow him to exercise his body and his senses, a simple game like chasing the ball can become an obsession. Because this activity becomes the only way through which the dog can release accumulated tension, expend energy and work on the physical, cognitive and sensitive capacities of the.
In addition, if we don't dedicate enough time to our furry ones to give them affection, play and have fun, making the ball game the only opportunity to share good times, we can also "push" them to resort to this activity whenever you want to get our attention
What to do if my dog is obsessed with the ball?
As we have mentioned, ball obsession should not be underestimated or ignored, as it represents a risk to physical and mental he althof the dog, in addition to harming coexistence with their guardians and relatives. Therefore, when you perceive that your furry does not leave the ball and constantly demands your attention to throw it, resorting to excessive barking, crying and other unwanted behaviors, you must act safely and firmlyto prevent symptoms from recurring.
First of all, it will be essential to stop playing the ball, since by doing so you will be reinforcing his obsessive behavior in relation to this activity. Yes, we know that it can seem cruel to deprive your best friend of something that they really like. But remember that when the game becomes an obsession, its effects cease to be positive and begin to threaten the balance of the dog's body and mind. The obsession with the ball, far from being harmless, can physically and mentally saturate the dog, and can even lead to a severe weakening of its he alth.
For this reason, the best thing we can do for our best friends, in this scenario, is to stop feeding his obsession and find a professional trained to assist us in your treatment. The ideal thing is that you go to a veterinary veterinarian specialized in ethology or a canine educator, who will be able to help you and guide you on how to treat this behavioral problem, based on established guidelines according to the needs of your furry dog.
During this treatment period, the duration of which can vary greatly according to each dog and the dedication of its guardians, it will be essential that you pay special attention to physical activity and the mental stimulation of your best friend. Your dog will need to find alternative ways to expend energy, exercise, have fun, socialize with other dogs, express himself, work on his senses, and prevent symptoms of stress and anxiety.
In addition to reinforcing his daily walks and introducing him to other physical exercises or dog sports, you will also need to offer him intelligence games and activities that stimulate his mind and allow him to develop his cognitive, emotional and sensitive capacities.
A good option may be to start your furry on searching, a very complete exercise that works on his senses, especially his sense of smell, and his mind. You can also take the opportunity to share good times with your best friend by proposing some of the homemade intelligence games that we show you on our site.
In the event that you need to leave your dog alone at home for a few hours, you can resort to the Kong, filling it with wet food or treats of its liking, to keep it entertained and prevent behavioral problems, such as destructiveness and separation anxiety. Also, remember the importance of providing an enriched environment, with toys and other stimuli, that offer your furry the possibility of entertaining himself and exercising his mind during your absence.
How to prevent ball obsession in dogs?
Many guardians wonder if it is necessary to deprive their dogs of this activity to prevent ball obsession. But the problem is not in the ball itself, or in any other object that we can throw to our dogs to stimulate them. The relationship that dogs maintain with their toys, their environment and the stimuli that make it up, will depend on the education provided by their guardians.
The ball, like all dog toys, is neither good nor bad. The danger of an obsession appears when the game with the ball (or with any other object) is not presented correctly in a dog's routine. For this reason, all the games that we present to our dogs must be inserted in the context of their education, where certain rules need to be respected to guarantee the success and safety of this exercise.
Before you start playing ball with your dog, teach him some basic obedience commands, such as sit, wait or stay, drop objects, come to your call, among others. Once you have fully practiced each of these basic training commands with your best friend, he will be ready to learn to play ball and perform many other activities safely, always respecting your commands.
When teaching a dog to play ball, guardians must also commit to following a certain routine. In other words, you shouldn't just throw the ball to your dog and expect him to return it to you, and so on, over and over again. Remember that this game must be inserted in the context of their education, practicing those commands that you have previously taught them.
Before starting the game, call your dog and make sure you get his attention. Then show him the ball, ask him to sit down and wait for you to throw it, always keeping an attentive and balanced demeanor. You should only throw the ball to him if these previous orders are successfully fulfilled. In the event that the furry is overexcited, nervous, or presents unwanted behaviors, such as barking excessively or jumping on top of people, trying to reach the ball, you must put away the toy and end the game
Playing with the ball, and all the other activities you practice with your furry ones, should be assimilated by the dog as a reward for their good behavior, such as obeying the orders of their guardians, and not as a moment of overexcitement or relief from their sedentary lifestyle. To achieve this, it will also be essential to follow certain basic guidelines, such as:
- Take at least 2 daily walks with your dog, from 30 to 45 minutes each.
- Provide him with adequate mental stimulation, with games, toys, activities and/or sports that allow him to develop his senses and exercise his intelligence
- Learn about and use environmental enrichment for dogs, providing a stimulating home where they can exercise and entertain themselves during your absence.
- Spend time playing with your dog, introducing him to different activities, going for walks, teaching him new commands and tasks, discovering new places, meeting new people… In short, reserving a special space of your day to share with your best friend.
- Educate your dog from the moment he arrives at his new home, investing in his training and early socialization to prevent behavior problems. Do not reinforce unwanted behaviors that, at first, may seem funny or harmless, but that over time can harm the he alth of the dog and coexistence in the home. Remember to use positive reinforcement to stimulate their learning and reward their effort.
Last (but not least), remember to offer adequate preventative medicine to your best friend, throughout their life. In addition to preventive visits to the vet, always keep your vaccinations and deworming up to date, and don't neglect your nutrition and oral hygiene.
