Question:

How do I reverse a newly developed fear of playing “catch?”

I have a two year old Eskipoo and she is extremely intelligent. She knows a ton of tricks and games, but her favorite game used to be “catch.” I’d bounce a tennis ball and she would jump and catch it, or, I’d throw her favorite stuffed toy and she would catch it. About two months ago while playing this game with her, she happened to move closer as I bounced the ball and it hit her in the face!! She yelped, and stopped playing immediately. She seemed okay…so I thought. Since then, she has a great fear when it comes to anyone throwing a ball. You can’t pick up without her running and ducking. The other night, she hid between our bed and the nightstand! I immediately began positive reinforcement and am now trying to re-associate the ball with positive clicker training, but I am not sure it will work. She is too smart for her own good sometimes, not that I blame her for feeling as she does, but I do hope I can get her over this fear and back into the game. Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks!
Linda

ANSWER:

Hi Linda,

Go out and buy a bunch of those super soft foam rubber balls. You know, the ones that we say you should never give your dog because they can easily tear bits off and swallow? Those ones. Buy a few and of course, never leave your dog alone with them as they are an abdominal surgery waiting to happen. However, they are wonderful for helping dogs overcome their fear of balls!

I usually would do this type of behavior modification training in the evening when both my dog and myself should, in theory at least, be relaxed and well exercised. Nonchalantly place one of these balls on the floor next to you but not near her and then leave it alone. They do not smell like tennis balls and they normally have a soccer ball, basketball, or baseball pattern on them so she should only associate the shape of them with the dreaded tennis ball. Leave it be and see what she does.

Most dogs will approach the ball for a sniff. If she does, give her a click and a treat. If all she does is lift her nose and sniff the air, give her a click and a treat. If she ignores the ball, just continue to relax with her and leave the ball alone as she may come around yet. If she backs up away from the ball or leaves the room, ignore the behavior but leave the ball where it sits. Eventually she will come in. When she does, give her a click and a reward.

You may need to do this for a few evenings but she should come around. Eventually begin rolling the balls along the floor away from her and see her reaction. Then move to rolling them not at her or towards her but near her. Once she learns to trust that the ball is not going to hurt her, she should begin to interact with you again. I am not sure if she will ever play ‘catch’ again but even if she could play ‘fetch’, she would be able to get significant exercise with the interactive play session.

Good luck!
Ann