Why does my dog want to play Fetch 24/7?

The truth is the dog is just being a dog and doing what biology is telling it to do. When a dog is in this prey drive it is actually experiencing a drug-like induced high as their body releases endorphins that make them feel good, which as we all know can be addictive and therefore explains why they keep wanting to do it despite us trying to ignore them, hide the ball or stick, shouting at them to stop and so on. Wasn’t it in fact us humans that first started encouraging them to chase the ball, stick, frisbee (aka a ‘prey’ like object) mindlessly for hours on end for no other purpose than to exercise the dog? The dog is just doing what comes naturally to them, chasing prey to survive.

Dogs who are shy get self confidence, dogs who are easily distracted are focused and shy dogs come out of their shell. Dogs like yours, who tend to be a bit pushy will learn patience and manners. You're going to control when you pet your dog, when you offer toys or treats and when you're going to play with the dog. If you're playing with him, only continue as long as you want, then pick the toy up, put it out of reach and walk way. Consistency is the key. He may act up more when you first start training him, he's going to really work hard to get you to pay attention to him when he wants you to, but I promise if you don't give in, it'll be worth it in the end. NILIF is going to establish a very clear pack hierarchy in your house with you and any other human in the house in the top spot.

Balls can be a useful tool for playtime and for training your dog. Some dogs just can’t get enough of anything that’s round and rolls. They’re cheap and can easily be taken out and about on walks for a rewarding game of fetch and plenty of exercise. Some dogs can even get tunnel vision when their ball is thrown, bounding after it and knocking anything (and anyone) out of the way, and ignoring your commands as they do so. Some breeds are more predisposed than others to be obsessed with playing fetch. Learn more about what drives this behaviour in our blog on why your dog loves to play fetch. Balls can be great fun, but their use as a training aid for learning new skills and behaviours is limited.