How do I stop my dog from taking other dog's balls?
Zoe Schiller
2025-06-27 19:15:06
Count answers: 5
I have a 5 meter lead that I put him on to train him to come to me with distractions in the park. Ive tried all sorts of treats and things such as sausages and chicken and he loves them and will do anything for them but not when there is a ball or toy involved that another dog has. I have tried bringing a squeaky kong ball whenever I go to the park so if he does by any chance snatch someone's ball I can squeak it and he'll come running to me but that doesn't work either, he'll just completely ignore me. I only let him off when there is no one around on the field but occasionally someone will come with a ball and before I know it he will have gone and snatched it off the poor dog. He is really good at recall when we are by ourselves or in a place with dogs where there aren't any balls and will do anything for treats but whenever there is a dog with a ball he just won't listen.
Dorian Auer
2025-06-27 17:21:27
Count answers: 7
If your dog is stealing things because the game is so much fun, then don’t play. The idea is for your puppy to learn that taking your things is completely pointless because it doesn’t result in anything fun happening to them as a result. Make sure the stealing behaviour is not rewarded. Dogs will repeat anything that works out well for them. So, if your dog enjoys gaining your attention by stealing things, the best thing to do when they steal is to ignore them, as long as it is safe to do so. Simply wait until they lose interest and drop the item, then encourage them to do something else instead, such as play with a toy or enjoy a chew.
You could provide suitable toys and chews, make homemade puzzle feeders and engage them with some fun training. Always reward good behaviour. Make sure you give your dog lots of praise and attention for good behaviours instead, like playing with their own toys or relaxing by themselves. Teach your dog to swap things. It can be useful to get your dog comfortable with swapping something they have for something they consider to be of equal or greater value.
Dejah Aufderhar
2025-06-27 16:53:07
Count answers: 13
The first thing to do is to ensure we are not rewarding our dog when they steal another dog’s ball. This can be tricky, but it’s essential. Avoid giving treats or throwing the stolen ball. We need to tweak this approach to achieve better results. Our dog has figured out that stealing balls results in treats.
Introduce “Leave It” and “Drop It” Commands, these commands are crucial for managing our dogs’ behaviour around toys. Leave It: When we see our dog approaching a toy that isn’t theirs, we say “leave it” and reward them when they look back at us. Drop It: Only reward our dog when they drop their own toy, not when they steal another dog’s toy.
We need to ensure we are consistent with our rewards. Only give treats when our dog responds correctly to our commands. If our dog tries to drop a stolen toy in front of us without being asked, ignore it if it’s not playtime or throw it if it is, but do not give treats for this behaviour.
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