RonOwens

Hi, Now that I've sorted out Penny's recall (many thanks again for your help!), she has one annoying habit that I thought she would grow out of but she hasn't. Our house faces south, and the back door is glass (small panes) and when you open it in the morning, the sun reflect of it and casts a pattern on the garden wall which she loves chasing. It was fun when she was a puppy but now she weighs 64 pounds, she rushes out once you open the door and tries to catch the reflection. How do we break this habit? It is a bit of an obsession with her as when she wants to go out to chase it, she gets a bit anti-social or as we call it "hunting mode". If you go to pet her, she crouches down, lowering her back as if she is getting ready to pounce. BWT, her recall is now super and even her obsession with the tennis balls is betting less. A girl arrived in the park with 2 dogs the other day and proceeded to throw a ball for them and Penny stole it as usual, but after a minute, she went back to the owner and let her let her take it back. Thanks Ron

Yes, Ireland. No problem answering any questions!

Oops.. forgot to make it public! https://youtu.be/dv1XYyb_olQ

Just an update... the lessons are slowly taking effect.. it took a good few weeks of constant repetition but all of a sudden, she is staring to obey me. She will now recall every time, initially when the park was empty but in the last 2-3 weeks, when other dogs/people are there as well. As for the tennis balls, good progress as well. She found one this morning, as she came back with it in her mouth. She would never do this before. I even managed to get her to drop is a few times in order to get a treat. A neighbor's dog then arrived and became possessive again, but that's for another day. Here's a short video Penny being a very good girl !!! https://youtu.be/dv1XYyb_olQ Thanks for all you advice... Ron

Adrienne, Thanks for the advice. When I say "dog park", it's really only a local park that is used a lot by dog owners, because there are gates at either end that can be closed and are not visible to the dogs, lessening the opportunity for them to run away. And because it is used by the public, they can leave things in the ground which dogs will find and regard as On this morning's walk (We live on the west coast of Ireland), I brought a tennis ball with me to get her attention. But the park was empty and she is the best behaved dog when it's just the two of us. So when it was time to go home, I showed here the ball and she came over to me, I put her on the lead and let her have the ball. She took it and promptly dropped it and walked on - absolutely no interest in it. You're right... the problem is compounded by other people and/or dogs. The park is the only one you can safely let her off the lead and get some decent exercise, which she needs. And she always finds balls left behind by other dogs/people, so I think she feels she has hunted them herself. The increases the problem. She has 10 balls which she has found in this park and she keeps in her toy basket, and will take one out now and then to show you, but rarely plays with them I'll try the method you recommend... Here is a pic of the lady in question with here favourite sheep..

HI, Similar to the previous post, my Golden Doodle (30 months old) will recall very well in our local dog park (and in our garden) when we are on our own, after 10 mins or so of frantic exploring. She will come back each time. However, if she finds a tennis ball, she will not come back until she gets tired and this can take 30 mins or I can distract her with a stick. But she values the ball more than anything when outdoors, so a stick doesn't always work. Indoors, she isn't possessive with the ball. The problem is compounded if there are other people in the park. I can walk away and she is quite happy to stay there. I've tried all sorts of treats as a reward, but the ball is always more highly valued. Any advice ? Regards Ron Owens

Adrienne, thanks for all those tips. I will try some of them. I tried the multiple ball game, but she will run to fetch the second ball with the first one in her mouth and then swap them at a safe distance (or try to put both in her mouth!). You are spot-on regarding the "resource-guarding" .. she will growl at me outside of I try to prise the ball away from her, but will release willingly indoors. If I succeed in taking the ball, her lower jaw would quiver, she is guarding it so intently. I also tried the "higher value" treat (pieces of left-over steak, her favorite). She will do anything indoors for a piece of steak, but outdoors, she would come to me with the ball in her mouth and I put the meat up to her nose. She then tried to get me put the steak into her mouth behind the ball. I think a long training lead and no distractions is the best approach. Thanks again Ron

Hi, My Golden Doodle is 18 months old and has developed an obsession with tennis balls. It started when she was small and loved to fetch and she would drop the ball for me to throw again. This lasted 2 days, then another dog stole her ball. Now she won't bring them back and becomes extremely possessive with them. I can't even get her to drop them, her grip is so tight. I tried bribing her with all sorts of treats but none are "better" than a ball. Indoors, she is "text book" obedient... she will let me have the ball and has no possessive issues. Any ideas ? Thanks Ron

Hi, My 7 month old Golden Doodle loved to fetch a ball, and brought it back and say down close to me and dropped it for me to throw again. She really enjoyed it and it tired her out ! However, on the third day of this game, another dog stole the ball and since then she has become very possessive over the ball and won't drop it anymore. I tried the 2-ball method but she just runs after the second one with the first one in her mouth ... drops the first one and return with the second one and it starts over again. This means a lot more walking for me. I tried a high value treat (steak) and she will retrieve indoors no problem, and drop on command. But outdoors, the steak doesn't work.She actually tries to get the steak into her mouth with the ball still there! The value of steak is obviously less outdoors where the risk of losing the ball exists. Any suggestions ? Thanks Ron