You can do other things such as refusing to throw the ball until Maggie gives you eye contact. You can either teach her a command for this such as watch or simply wait her out (could take 20 mins or so if she’s as obsessed as my dog) and mark the eye contact with “Yes!” or “Good!” and throw the ball. You can slowly work with her so she has to hold eye contact longer before you throw the ball.

I also took Ace to a Frisbee class last month (I know, crazy to bring a retrieving obsessed dog to a Frisbee class, right?) But he actually did really well. If he fixated on one disc, the trainer just grabbed a second disc and moved it around to get his attention. It helped keep him from fixating on any one disc.

Here’s a post I wrote about the eye contact thing during retrieving sessions: http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/05/12/tennis-ball-obsession/

I wish you the best of luck! Be patient and let me know if you come up with something that works well. Believe me, I could use some suggestions too!

All I want is for him is to be able to control himself when there is a ball involved. We should be able to play for ten minutes and then stop. I agree, the retrieving instinct in him will always be there.

Since his stamina is so high, simply wearing him out doesnt seem to have the same effects that it would in other dogs so here is where you need to get creative. Emotional stimulation may be your salvation. Trust me, I am not trying to blow smoke up your hind end.. I have 4 labs and have had to deal with some really ridiculous behaviors out of them and sometimes exercise just isnt enough. Hiding his prized balls in various locations and encouraging him to find them, giving him calm but short praise when he finds it and brings it to you. Immediately divert YOUR attention elsewhere and let him sort out his feelings with the ball. When the ball does not represent an animated game, he will loose his fixated desire – remember it takes two to tango. It takes time, but consistency is key. Use the ball obsession to your advantage, as a reward for something you want him to do. Apollo uses his ducky or wubba to train in agility. He fixates on the toy and moves over the obstacle. He is immediately rewarded with the toy when his task is completed. I take it back and we repeat. The ball diverts his attention away from the scary unknown and is a high value reward. Use his desire to your advantage.

I think you are on the right track by leaving the toys accessible at all times (as long as he is not destructive and can hurt himself) so that he does not view it as such a scarce resource. You will probably notice him running to get a toy and bring it to you when you enter the room, or come home or get up.. mine do this and I call it labragifting. Hera is quite assertive with her labragifting. I praise her for bringing me the toy and then ignore it. She soon looses interest and drops it off somewhere in the room. Its a natural retriever thing.

Keep up the good work and relax. He is still a long way away from being an adult dog.

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