desertranger Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 **Obscure Monty Python reference. Teach him to play with bubbles and Bucket o' Balls. Take a clean paint bucket and fill it with tennis balls. The teach him to catch as many as he can as fast as you can throw them without missing one or dropping it. It has to be a definite solid catch. 'The cycle is catch, drop, repeat. The game is over when he misses one. Then he picks up the balls and puts them back into the bucket. I've taught variations of that game several dogs including one to chase the ball and return it to the bucket. It's a good game for an apartment dog. It's also fast. I also taught the same dog to the the same thing with golf balls that came into th yard and drop them into the pool when I lived on a golf course. ...caution AGAINST using tennis balls. Use something like racket balls. The "fuzz" on tennis balls is quite hard on dogs' teeth, esp. if they get dirty, and will grind them down like sandpaper! Racket balls are smooth rubber and soft - just be sure your dog can't swallow one (or get it stuck in her throat!) if she catches it on the fly. I did some research but could find nothing on the subject and it seems that fly ball uses tennis balls among other types. Arguments for or against. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumpin Boots Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 I did some research but could find nothing on the subject and it seems that fly ball uses tennis balls among other types. Arguments for or against. I had never heard of this before either, but then last summer I was at a friends house who has a 3 year old standard poodle that is ball obsessed. Her vet had advised her against using tennis balls anymore, as her teeth were getting worn down. I have to admit, I still play with tennis balls with our dogs, but they aren't obsessed and I make sure they don't chew on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack & Co. Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 The canine dentist told me that the big problem with tennis balls is the grit they collect on their already rough surface. (ETA: Which is what Diane Allen said.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertranger Posted March 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 Does that mean keeping them clean is in order and will that make a difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anda Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Does that mean keeping them clean is in order and will that make a difference? Assuming your Arizona terrain is much drier than the dry and dirty Colorado, you won't be able to keep those balls clean unless you keep them inside only. The second a freshly slobbered ball touches the ground it turns into a dirt ball. My dog is a big tennis ball addict. And his lower canines are slightly worn. He's 3 years old - and they've started to show signs of wear after he turned 1. I agree, it's all the dirt and grit that gets stuck to the fuzziness of the tennis balls that do that to him. I try to only let him play with smooth plastic balls, such as plastic road hockey balls, Chuckit balls, rubber bouncy balls, and the like. The only time he gets real tennis balls is at the dog park, where he switches them anyway with the dozens laying around, so there's absolutely no point to bring our own "clean" ones. BTW - does anyone know were to find in US road hockey balls? Two summers ago when we went on a trip to Montreal I bought about 20 for $1/each from Canadian Tire. We're left with 2 orange balls with heavy gashes in the middle - they won't last past this month. I haven't been able to find anything comparable in US. I looked online and they seem much heavier and way more expensive. ETA - fixed my stupid spelling of Montreal, of course only after it got quoted for posterity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms.DaisyDuke Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 BTW - does anyone know were to find in US road hockey balls? Two summers ago when we went on a trip to Montral I bought about 20 for $1/each from Canadian Tire. We're left with 2 orange balls with heavy gashes in the middle - they won't last past this month. I haven't been able to find anything comparable in US. I looked online and they seem much heavier and way more expensive. Imagine that, us crazy Canadians and our hockey all year long! We could ship you some if you can't track any down. I have also heard that about tennis balls, good thing Daisy could really care less about balls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertranger Posted March 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 John's in Az, I'm in SoCal same basic geology tho' mostly quartz monzonite type granites. Very hard on the teeth. Anda, a Canadian, can't find hockey gear???? Hocky Balls I guess I'll have to find something else because he's already ball crazy. The big advantage to tennis balls is they're cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anda Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 John's in Az, I'm in SoCal same basic geology tho' mostly quartz monzonite type granites. Very hard on the teeth. Anda, a Canadian, can't find hockey gear???? Hocky Balls I guess I'll have to find something else because he's already ball crazy. The big advantage to tennis balls is they're cheap. Oops, missplaced you on the map - all that talk about desert, maybe your name too And I am not Canadian - I am Romanian - same thing, just from a different continent, different country, different language (Latin origins for both, true) Thanks for the link, I might order the 12 pack for $19.99, but can anyone vouch for this type of balls - I saw some that were liquid filled - the worst thing I could give a dog - LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1sheepdoggal Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 What I had heard was that it was the glue on the tennis ball that had some kind of enamal eating stuff on it and thats what made them bad for dogs teeth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertranger Posted March 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 I've heard enough to now be wary of how much tennis ball play. Time to switch to rubber. I bought a 2 pack of Chuckit ultra balls for $8.50US at pet co. They seem to be all right although bit pricey. Kong balls are OK but even more so and considering how many balls a ball dog can go through that would be very expensive. Flyball rules also state that theballs have to be similar to a tennis ball in bounce but not necessarily size. (Tennis ball-2.7in a Chuckit 2.5") I did find a Chuckit 2 pack ultra ball at http://www.entirelypets.com/chuckit2balls.html for $5.99US that might be worth buying half a dozen or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anda Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Those Kong Chuckit balls will last you a long time, as long ad Jin doesn't loose them in some goffer holes or somewhere. And, if you haven't yet, you NEED to buy a Chuckit stick. I resisted the temptation for a long time, thinking I am good enough to throw balls to my dog with my hands. My life has never been the same after I invested in one of those magic sticks. Totally worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertranger Posted March 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Those Kong Chuckit balls will last you a long time, as long ad Jin doesn't loose them in some goffer holes or somewhere. And, if you haven't yet, you NEED to buy a Chuckit stick. I resisted the temptation for a long time, thinking I am good enough to throw balls to my dog with my hands. My life has never been the same after I invested in one of those magic sticks. Totally worth it. Thx Anda, I assume a chuckit stick is one of those launchers I saw. I saw a guy with one of those. While I still have a pretty good throwing arm I like the distance yo get with those. Regarding your comment on the plastic balls yu were using. I would watch those and see how the break. You wouldn't want any sharp edges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rainierlass Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 I too use the orange Chuck It balls - - NO tennis balls here due to the teeth issue - gal who owns my local natural dog food store just told me Chuck It came out with Glow in the Dark balls - woooooooo hooooooo!!! LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medic4taz Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 I have to say, our B/C is OBSESSED with just about any kind of ball she can get her mouth on. If anyone read my post from a few days ago - Kaycee had broken her foot while taking a bad bounce of a tennis ball, but currently she is in a soft cast and still CAN'T STOP PLAYING WITH BALLS around the house. She gets depressed if she doesn't have something shaped like a ball - tennis ball, racquet ball, stuffed ball, hockey ball. Good idvise for the future with her regarding tennis balls though. What are these Canadian Hockey balls??? Are they like the orange street hockey balls (hard plastic?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenajo Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 most tennis balls are made in China...which have a huge problem with lead in all sorts of products, often from the bright color paints. the symptoms of lead poisoning included eroded tooth enamal and soft teeth.... If I played ball with my dogs a lot I would probably do my best to find tennis balls made in the USA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DTrain Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Don't use tennis balls folks period. First of all they are designed to be abrassive so they will come of the racket true when they are hit. When they pick up dirt it just makes them worst, they are bad right out of the box. I use racquet balls. They are a little smaller than tennis balls but they will not damage the teeth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phej Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 My bc is only 2-3 yrs old and already missing about 30% of his canines... from, you guessed it, playing with tennis balls. I don't use tennis balls when I can help it. The chuck-it ultra balls are terrific and so are the foam Triple crown balls. The kong squeaker tennis balls are non-abrasive also. You can also buy safe and regular looking non-abrasive tennis balls made just for dogs (petedge, petco etc. carry them), but I have found them to be of low quality. btw, if you want to support bc rescue with your purchase, the nebcr store http://www.nebcr.org/prod_Toys.html carries the ultra balls for $8, kong ones for $5 (pckg of 3), the triple crown ones for $3 and the new chuck-it glow balls for $6 (those are not on the site yet, but you can email and they should be available). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertranger Posted March 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 I wanna thank everyone for saving Jins' teeth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaisingRiver Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 I like the chuckit mini (shorter 'arm') which I feel is less torque on my own arm and it fits in backpacks nicer. I use the orange chuckit balls as well. I've bought a set of two and still have them 3 years later even after I lost one in the seasonal pond when Diesel missed where it went and River found it about 3 weeks later when the water was gone . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beach BCs Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 I only use the orange chuck-it balls. TX would play with any type of ball but GA won't play with regular tennis balls anyway. She must have read the article about how abrasive they are. she wants to keep her teeth nice & sharp. I hadn't heard about the glow in the dark chuck-it. That's great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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