Obsessive behavior

Pearl · 09-19-2010

We just adopted a pure bred german shepherd from a rescue organization. Approximate age 2 y.o. He is obsessed with tennis balls and fetch. His body language shows fixation, tense, unable to deter attention to anything else at this time. He aggressively goes after the ball and gives it up only when he is ready to do so. There is nothing else in his world at this time. The play time does not seem to be play, but this is MY ball and I am determined to own it. Am afraid this will turn nasty somewhere down the road. Help....

CorkyMax · 09-19-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pearl

We just adopted a pure bred german shepherd from a rescue organization. Approximate age 2 y.o. He is obsessed with tennis balls and fetch. His body language shows fixation, tense, unable to deter attention to anything else at this time. He aggressively goes after the ball and gives it up only when he is ready to do so. There is nothing else in his world at this time. The play time does not seem to be play, but this is MY ball and I am determined to own it. Am afraid this will turn nasty somewhere down the road. Help....

No expert by far on dog behavior but a couple things popped into my head as I read your post. First--What would he take if you held (not toss) a treat (an irresistible one--like liver treat or a piece of hamburger) in one hand and the ball in the other hand? Make sure he smells the treat before he starts to go toward the ball--maybe hold the treat a little closer to him than the ball. If he takes the treat--praise him well and repeat the same procedure--letting the ball be a little closer to him each time. Make sure when you reward him, you make him feel that he is the best dog in the world!
Obedience class and after learning the basics and a few that would work with trying to get him to---say bring things to you---Don't throw anything for him but have a toy laying on the floor for instance and have him Fetch and bring it to you--Praise him lavishly and reward him with a treat.keep repeating. After he has got that down---Throw something--Not the balls till he learns to bring the other things to you. If he gets this all after many times. (and you treat him every time he does 'good.') Try it with the ball. Praise and treat for retrieving it.

Note that this breed requires firm, consistent handling by a strong adult. They must be firmly trained to obedience from an early age. I quoted this from a 'breeds' book I have. Here is a link on more info on the German Shepherd: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/germanshepherd.htm

CorkyMax · 09-20-2010

Just read the message you left me on my profile page. Am answering you here. I just got done talking to someone who said the dog probably needs more exercise--walking --too much energy! And my 2nd suggestion was dog training classes. I am not a dog behaviorist or trainer so that is all I have to offer. Maybe some members in here will have some other ideas. More will see this question as the week goes on--Weekends are a little slow sometimes. In the link I gave you and what it said in my breeds book----This breed needs a strong firm handler to put him in his place. And if I recall--Training should be started very early for this breed. Being as you do not know much about his 1st 2 yrs--being adopted from a rescue---I am wondering if someone gave him up because they couldn't handle him, must not of had the 'care' to train him.--Probably was not trained. This breed needs a firm hand and probably never got it from the previous owner.

You might get some books (library) or go on line to find some info on training your dog. But training classes are prob. the best bet.

DoggieVogue · 09-20-2010

My boyfriend's australian shepherd had the same issue with her frisbee, she is still obsessed with it but we just designated when she could play with it and when it was time to stop. She would get so obsessed she would run around the yard frantically looking for it and shaking. It was nuts! And she's not totally over it by any means, but with some training and making sure she knows who is in control, it never turned into an issue with aggression or possesiveness. just a fond love of her frisbee! For training we did commands like "drop" to make sure she would relinquish control of the frisbee into our hands, and did a similiar thing with the treats as Corky suggested! But you'll have to find what works for you. I definitely think this issue can be worked through.

superdoglover · 09-25-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pearl

We just adopted a pure bred german shepherd from a rescue organization. Approximate age 2 y.o. He is obsessed with tennis balls and fetch. His body language shows fixation, tense, unable to deter attention to anything else at this time. He aggressively goes after the ball and gives it up only when he is ready to do so. There is nothing else in his world at this time. The play time does not seem to be play, but this is MY ball and I am determined to own it. Am afraid this will turn nasty somewhere down the road. Help....

Hi. I have never adopted a dog before but. From a horse book i learned a type of massage that helps calm animals. Weird but I think it works. You rub you fingers in circle and slowly work up towards the head. Do a lot of petting. My dog is obbessed with tennis balls because they squeek sometimes and he likes to chase them. I think your dog needs some love. Do a lot of petting and give treats. He must be taking stress or something out on the ball.

Ghst · 10-03-2010

Does he return the ball to you? I mean does he bring the ball to you and give it up, so you can throw it again? If he doesn't give up the ball, you can try trading him a dog treat for the ball. Some dogs intensity level is really high, when focusing on things that they want to do. You could get him a dog pack and weight it some so that, chasing the ball sessions are a little more energy absorbing. Also you can toss about 5 -10 tennis balls all at once and watch his reaction. Try to determine if it is the ball, or the act of playing ball that he is so intently focused on.

Pearl · 10-03-2010

One of the questions you asked was: Does he want the ball or is the act of playing the game his focus. He wants that ball......he now will bring it back to you, but will not drop it immediately, he has to mouth it 4,5,6,+ times before he says ok, you can have it. Then he sits, with great intensity, not taking his eye off of the ball until it is thrown, and then goes after it with a vengeance. Then repeats. I have tried refocusing him with treats (good treats) but he is not swayed by food, the ball is more important to him. But one thing I have noticed: Once he starts to get tired, he is a little more ready to give up his ball, he will then drop it almost immediately at my feet. So maybe there is some progress there.

Ghst · 10-03-2010

Sense he is giving up the ball, I think you should get him a dog pack, and add weight so that retrieving the ball is work for him. GS are a strong working breed and must have plenty of exercise. His "obsession" I think is really him showing his energy in a activity that he enjoys. Some working Breeds need to be worked into calmness.

Pearl · 10-03-2010

Thank you. I agree with you 100%. He does seem to take it seriously as if it is his job.., and his ball is his job, and he sees it this way........he loves the challenges, the direction and the focus. It is interesting to him. He is in obedience class now and Prior to the class starting, there is an area there that is agility. I work him and he does it without hesitation, as if okay, this is my job for the day. So I will buy him a pack. Do you mean a back pack? have never seen one, can I get them on line? He has endless energy, more than my previous gs. He seems to enjoy challenges, his need to be stimulated is high. So me ,as the owner, owe it to him, to follow through with what he was bred to do. Work.....thanks again for the great suggestion.

Ghst · 10-04-2010

Yes they can be bought online do a google search for Dog Back Packs.
Dog Back Pack.jpg They run from $20.00 to $150.00