Fetch and Its Effects on the Brain
The reason dogs love chasing balls is because it feeds into their innate prey drive. The action of running and catching the object releases adrenaline and some experts now believe that this can lead to the release of the powerful chemical cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone that influences mood and is part of the fight or flight mechanism. In a dangerous situation, cortisol helps a dog have the energy to either run away or fight, but prolonged exposure to the chemical can negatively impact on health.
In humans, it is known that overexposure to cortisol can result in anxiety, depression, digestive problems, headaches, heart disease, trouble sleeping, weight gain and issues with memory or concentration.
Many animal trainers and behaviourists are concerned that overexposure to cortisol can result in behavioural changes. Canine behaviourist Sindhoor Pangal, who has suffered severe anxiety herself, believes that ball chasing can lead to a spiral of stress caused by the release of cortisol:
Repetitive ball games can cause a dog to become over-aroused due to the excitement of the game. Dog trainer Sara Reusche believes that an over-aroused dog is actually an extremely stressed dog:
Many people believe ball games will help their dog burn energy and calm down, but in high-drive or obsessive dogs, the opposite can easily be true. They become more and more hyper as the game goes on, and have trouble calming down afterwards. If this happens every day, they end up never able to fully relax, especially if they are being walked three times a day and have balls thrown for them during each walk. The result is a restless, stressed dog that cannot settle, and owners respond by doing more ball throwing to try to tire them out, only to end up worsening the problem.
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Fetch and the Dangers of Over-Exercise
One of the more subtle hazards of playing lots of fetch is that your dog can start to suffer from over-exertion, yet because of the excitement generated by chasing balls, they will not stop. As mentioned above, ball chasing produces such a buzz of adrenaline that dogs will continue with the game even when in pain. If a dog plays fetch for too long and pushes past a point where their body is actually exhausted then it can result in health complications.
One under-recognised condition that can result from over-exercise is Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC), there are a few forms of the condition and they can vary by breed. In Labradors there is a specific form that was first identified in 1993 and is believed to be hereditary. Dogs with the condition will collapse after 5 to 10 minutes of intense exercise, such as ball chasing.
While the majority of dogs will recover within 30 minutes after collapsing, it is possible for a dog to die as a result of EIC. EIC is also known to affect collies and spaniels. It is likely more breeds will be discovered to have EIC as the problem is better recognised, but it tends to be more noticeable in high-drive breeds. Dogs with EIC should not be encouraged to chase after balls.
Another danger of ball chasing comes in the warmer months when people mindlessly throw a ball for their dog in hot temperatures. Because the owner is usually static, they fail to realise how hot their dog is becoming in the pursuit of the game. Every summer in the UK and US, dogs are rushed to their vets suffering from heatstroke. Sadly, some do not recover.
One of the common triggers for heatstroke in dogs is ball chasing on a sunny day. The very act of running out fast for the ball raises the dogs body temperature, then they carry the ball in their mouths, preventing them from panting. The owner immediately chucks out the ball again once it is brought back and the dogs body does not have a chance to cool down. If this carries on for too long, then heatstroke sets in.
Symptoms of heatstroke include:
Heatstroke is a killer. When a dogs body overheats the cells begin to die, the brain swells which results in seizures and dehydration leads to irreversible kidney damage. Scarily, this can all happen in a matter of minutes. The solution is plain: dont play fetch in hot weather.
Obsessive ball chasing can be bad for a dog mentally, as well as physically
Cortisol has many functions including working with certain parts of the brain to control mood, motivation, and fear. It’s best known as the stress hormone, helping fuel the ‘fight or flight’ instinct in a crisis. While very useful in times of danger, prolonged exposure to cortisol can lead to a number of health problems.
Search Pet dogs don’t have to hunt for their food, but you can use their skills to find their favourite toy. Start by briefly teasing your dog with the toy and then, while your dog is watching, throw it into long grass. Then encourage your dog to go and find it by saying in an excited voice “where is it?”. When your dog understands the game, you can make it harder by not letting your dog watch where you hide the toy. If your dog isn’t interested in toys you can play the same game but hide portions of your dog’s dinner or tasty food treats.
Alternating fetch games with nose games, such as treat searching, and mental games, such as dog puzzles, can be both rewarding and calming for dogs. Pet charity Blue Cross has some great ideas on different ways to play with your dog:
Professional dog trainer Sara Reusche runs Paws Abilities Dog Training in Rochester, Minnesota, USA and spends much of her time working with reactive and anxious dogs. She believes highly aroused dogs (arousal refers to a dog’s level of excitement and emotional control) are extremely stressed dogs. She says: “A highly aroused dog will be very excited, with a fast heartrate and respiration and poor impulse control. He may have dilated pupils or chatter his teeth. He may pant, jump around or on you, or vocalize incessantly. He may become grabby or mouthy. Alternatively, he may become ‘locked on’ to an activity, freezing in place and staring intently at the object of his obsession, spinning in circles, or pacing.”
Most dogs love chasing and fetching a ball, but could too much of this classic canine game have negative consequences? Some experts believe that repetitive high-energy exercise boosts a dog’s adrenaline levels to the point where powerful chemicals, such as cortisol, are released.
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Its common knowledge that the earliest domestication of dogs was for hunting purposes. Historically, people took advantage of dogs for their natural impulse to track, chase, and retrieve. The modern result of years of this domestication and conditioning is the game fetch. Ball chasing is a fun and popular activity for contemporary dog owners, but what is fetch actually doing to your dog?