[leroysmomma]

Hello! I am the proud mommy of a 3 1/2 year old Yorkie-Poo, named Leroy. Leroy has always enjoyed going outside to play fetch with his numerous tennis balls. But over the last few months, is has become an obsession.

We have designated 'ball time' every morning before I go to work and every night when I get home from work. The ball time is in addition to 3+ walks we take each day.

It has come to the point that I feel like nothing but a 'ball thrower' for my sweet little guy! From the moment we return in from his morning walk, he is at my side crying and whining with his tennis ball. When we return from his afternoon walk, same thing- crying and whining with his tennis ball. He looks at me, looks at the ball and this goes on until we go to bed (sometimes he persists even when we are laying in bed)!

This behavior is so aggravating to me and I know that he is stressed or feeling anxiety over it. Please help with some training advice or other ideas that you have!

Thank you!
Erin and Leroy

[Penedono]

My first thought was to suggest reserving tennis balls as "outside" toys, and don't keep any where he can find them inside.
But then again, none of my own dogs even play fetch (which bums me out a bit, being honest!) so I'm obviously no expert.

[piratekitty]

I have a 7 yr old Terrier mix that loves balls too much also. We taught her how to fetch at 9wks old, and she hasnt stopped yet, LOL. What we have done is made it our idea when its time to throw the ball, not hers. And when we are done we hold up our hand and say all done. She may bark acouple of times, but we just repeat,and she stops. we pick up the ball and put it away out of sight. There is times when Im out in the yard doing yard work and she will drop the ball in my hand till I throw, and then I play a game of hide the ball, and she likes that too. One thing nice about that is she will hunt for it for ahour, till she finds it, it gives me time to pull weeds and keeps her busy. It took us time for her to understand that when were done were done. she now knows and she will toss the ball up in the air herself and catch it. This worked for us. Dont play or pick up the ball till he stops barking, once he stops, say good boy, and then reward with a throw, then wait again till hes quite again before you throw. It will take time but he will understand he his rewared for good behavior with something he love to do and its your idea not his. Keep at it they do finaly get it.

[Lara's mom]

I'm not seeing a problem here. I've had many terriers in my life and, they were ALL ball obsessed!