Help please!!!!!?

Question

When i play fetch with my dog, after she has brought the ball back she drops it out of her mouth, lays down and has her two front paws around the ball. Every time I go to get the ball she burries her head into her paws, so the ball is between her paws and under her head, and growls at me. I have tried to get her to give it to me by giving her treats, but she doesn't seem to associate getting treats with giving me the ball, and I dont really want to spend too much money on dog treats. I've tried using two balls and throwing one when she brings back the other, but that's not stopping her from being overly protective of her ball.We have little children around her most of the time, and Im worried that she might snap at one of them if they attempt to get her ball. Why is she so protective of her ball, and how can i stop it?

Answer 1

Key word is "play". Try TRAINING her to come, heel, sit, leave the ball. suggest using another training tool like a dummy (as in retrievining dummy) for training sessions. Always praise her highly for correct behavior. Walk away if she responds incorrectly, then call her to come, heel, sit...

Answer 2

If you can get her into dog training classes and the teacher could really help you with that behavior, also there is a book out by "The Dog Whisper" he has been on Oprah a few times.
If the dog won't bite then tell her no to stop the growling then just take the ball. Wishful thinking? Then have her on a leash, when she brings the ball back and drops it remove her from the ball. Praise her then you can get the ball and throw it again. See if that can help her understand that to play she must give the ball back. If she does not play nice then remove her again and put her a way with out the ball.

Answer 3

Try not taking the ball from your dog, but making her drop it. Usually if you are the dominant figure, she will drop the ball when you want her to. My puppy had food aggression problems, and similar to this the only way to fix it is to let her know who is boss. Hold the ball in your hand and don't allow her to take it until she is calm and submissive (another Dog Whisperer reference). Once she has calmed down, then reward her by telling her "good puppy/good girl," and possibly giving her a treat. You don't have to reward her with food every time, but once in awhile can help her realize that being a good dog will gain her food, which most dogs strive for. Getting to play with you should be a reward, and she should not be rewarded for poor behavior.

Answer 4

Don't try to take the ball and then back off when she growls. You should be able to take anything away from her at any time. If she was playing with something dangerous, as the owner you need to be able to take it from her. If you can't do that, how will she trust you to give her medication, etc.? Ideally, your dog should give up her toy to you when you say you want it (not try to take it), the same way she gives it up when a more dominant dog stands over her toy. But you should at least be able to take it, no negotiation, so wear heavy gloves and don't be afraid of her. And remember to stay quiet and calm, don't show anger (=frustration).

Answer 5

HI,

Our dog is a very dominant dog to the extent we ended up paying for a behaviourist to come to our house. She said that for behaviour like this, you should distract your dog and take the ball away and put it out of her reach (therefore showing her your in charge). Leave it for a while then play again, if she does the same thing take it away from her and leave it .....she isn't allowed it until she behaves nicely with it..........I know it seems cruel but it did work with our dog.

Good Luck !!

Answer 6

sorry i can't help you my dog does the same,except it wants me to play chase with it why it has the ball iin its mouth. its just a game to them .my mum has a dog that is ball crazy, but it will choose one person and one person only to throw the ball and if anyone else trys to throw it it growls and refuses to let the ball go to any one else other than the person that it has choosen to play with for that day.