How to manage a tennis-ball obsessed dog
I used to get irritated with Ace when we visited the dog beach and he wouldn’t socialize with the other dogs. Instead, he just ran around looking for a ball in a near panic.
I learned to accept this about my dog. He would always have that drive to retrieve, and I couldn’t change that about him.
Instead, I looked at the positives:
Play fetch in a structured way, with time limits.
I tried to keep the hyped-up, mindless fetch throwing to a minimum. Instead, I made my dog take breaks, and I included structured rules or commands. For example, I would make Ace sit until I released him to retrieve the ball. And sometimes I had him wait while I hid the ball, followed by the command “Find it!”
You may want to try disc dog classes, flyball or other sports with your dog. Ace and I took a disc dog class for fun and he of course loved this. We also did lots of fetch playing in the water whenever possible.
A Dog’s Best Friend Is A Tennis Ball!
Tennis balls are a classic, time-tested toy for dogs that can provide hours of fun and excitement for your pup. A simple game of fetch is great fun for a dog, it will improve their fitness and also build an unbreakable bond of trust and friendship with their owner. There is something rather magical about the special connection between canines and human beings. That loyal bond of love and affection that once established lasts a lifetime. Spending quality time with one another is the best way to strengthen this beautiful connection. Playing fetch with your dog is an extremely enjoyable experience for them, and seeing them so happy can be enjoyable for you too. Most dogs would do anything for a game of fetch, what a joy it is to see that happy gleam in their eyes as they spot a tennis ball! Countless dogs find the colourful fuzzy globes so addictive they will do absolutely anything to chase one. Tennis balls bounce erratically, fit perfectly between most jaws and are so much safer than that other dog toy staple, the stick. They are perhaps the most fun and versatile dog toys available, and have been popular for generations of pets. But beyond this perfect way to exercise, bond and play, what is it about the tennis ball that makes them so irresistible to our four-legged friends?
Are Tennis Balls Safe for Dogs? Answers
If my dog could choose between a tennis ball and a treat I wave in his face, he always goes for the ball. It’s like my dog is obsessed with tennis balls, but why is this? Well, I didn’t know, so decided to find out why some dogs love tennis balls so much.
There’s a concise answer below which I will then expand upon with my thoughts on canine evolutionary traits, psychology, and behaviors relating to tennis ball obsession.
Why do dogs love tennis balls? Dogs love tennis balls for reasons including their in-built predatory instinct. There is also the way the ball behaves and feels (for example, the “hairy” texture of the ball) compared to other balls, making it mimic prey when chewed.