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Tennis ball as a fun dummy? #2501761 08/13/11 08:11 PM
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Two_out_front Offline OP
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Do you guys have any thoughts on using a tennis ball as a fun dummy?

My dog gets so hyped up when i pull out a regular dummy after obedience training for a fun dummy. I am thinking once he gets to the point of retrieving training (ie singles, doubles, marking) that he'll act like a fool the second i pull out a white dummy because he thinks its a fun dummy.

Should i use something else as a fun dummy instead of a plain white one that I'll use for training? I want him to be able to distinguish between fun time and work time.


Re: Tennis ball as a fun dummy? [Re: Two_out_front] #2502192 08/14/11 12:33 AM
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kindall Offline
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Just use the bumpers for it all. They know the difference between training and fun.




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Experience is what you get, when you didn't get what you wanted.


Re: Tennis ball as a fun dummy? [Re: kindall] #2502315 08/14/11 01:21 AM
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sig226fan (Rguns.com) Offline
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I don't. I use a tennis ball a TON, it's MY ball. I can work her longer with it from the gun too;

She has a rawhide bone that's hers, we'll toss it and it's for fun;

Bumpers, dummies, balls, are MINE and she only gets to play with them while she's hustling her butt back to me.....

It may not be right, but it's working well with a 2yoa lab.


Re: Tennis ball as a fun dummy? [Re: sig226fan (Rguns.com)] #2502762 08/14/11 04:35 AM
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I use bumpers, balls, frisbies...doesn't make a difference.



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Re: Tennis ball as a fun dummy? [Re: Fooshman] #2507436 08/16/11 01:07 AM
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Thanks for the advice guys. I have been using the tennis ball for fun after were done and it is working very well.

He will do anything (sit, heel, here,) if he knows the ball is his reward.


Re: Tennis ball as a fun dummy? [Re: Two_out_front] #2511283 08/17/11 11:37 AM
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I started both my dogs out as pups with tennis balls then moved up to bumpers as they got older. Worked great. I had a jack russel that would retreive as long as you would throw it. She is the one that really trained my other dogs.



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Re: Tennis ball as a fun dummy? [Re: reeltexan] #2511293 08/17/11 11:43 AM
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I read in one of my books that you shouldn't use tennis balls. I didn't for about 4 years and then all the sudden I started using them. The only problem I saw at first is that Izzy would chew on it as she retrieved it. It was easy to fix, but she never did it with the dummies.


Re: Tennis ball as a fun dummy? [Re: stinkbelly] #2513179 08/17/11 11:14 PM
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Frisbees are hard to beat for "Fun Bumpers". I let the dawgs "break" and attempt to catch the frisbees in mid flight. They love two or three at the end of every training session. It's the only time I allow all three retrieve at the same time and that seems to make it even more fun for them ...















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Re: Tennis ball as a fun dummy? [Re: kindall] #2513709 08/18/11 02:10 AM
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Originally Posted By: kindall
Just use the bumpers for it all. They know the difference between training and fun.


I think this sums up most of the comments - use whichever you prefer. No matter what you use, it's what you communicate with body language & tone of voice that says "work" vs "play." Once pup knows the dif between YOURS and HERS, problems like biting/chewing are easily resolved. Have at it, enjoy the pup and good luck!




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