Think we getting there

When we got Dexter the only thing the rescue mentioned that may need some work on is his ball obsession. From what we know he would get himself into a bit of a frenzy at times when the game of fetch was over, and for the first two weeks we dreaded putting the ball away tbh as he would drive us mad repeatedly looking for it and forgetting his manners by jumping up everyone including our youngest (who is generally so calm and gentle around) to try and find a ball that he had seen oh put in the garage, total tunnel vision going on. He would also cry for a good while afterwards and despite being visibly knackered would get himself in a bit of a state for a while and nothing seemed to distract him.

We contemplated no ball at all but this seemed unfair, he loves to play, it's a good energy burner and we enjoy it too, not to mention it keeps focus if he is offlead.

So we tried a different tack, we have a specific place we play ball (large clearing about twenty minutes jog away) and we play for around half an hour. He carries the ball himself to and from, but we take the ball and put it back in the garage when we get home saying "all gone" and holding our empty hands up. He will then start his nuisance routine We totally ignore him at this point (I find this hard, he is my baby after all! but I am doing well) and as soon as he gives up and lies down we praise, chew treat and relax.

We have gone from an hour or more of frenetic behaviour to a magical five minutes today. Only took three weeks! Staffies can rival me in the stubborn stakes, and I am very stubborn...got to admire that perseverance but I'm chuffed he's getting with what we are doing, he's so much more relaxed for it and can still play his beloved fetch too. Happy days.

Awww, brilliant! Shows what perseverance can do!

Glad to hear it is going well, it just takes the time and patience which some people are not prepared to put in. You are making very good progress there, keep up the good work both of you

Think you going to make a top training / behaviour advisor on here Rach , where exactly is the South Staffordshire border for you then ?? Maybe you could pop up here and teach Tommy a few more manners

Brilliant to hear that a lot of progress has been made well done to you all. Now you just need to help me stop Loki jumping onto the kitchen counter every ten seconds

That's great news. We have to do the same thing with Suki sometimes as well

It's a double edged sword with ball fanaticism eh! Really helpful at times, and gives you a right headache other times!

ANattyRat wrote:Brilliant to hear that a lot of progress has been made well done to you all. Now you just need to help me stop Loki jumping onto the kitchen counter every ten seconds

I will put my thinking cap on.....hang on got it, the only thing you need to do is completely remove all of your kitchen

well done and if I may say, very well handled.

Thanks Lynne, he's my first dog as an adult so I'm trying bucketfulls of common sense and essentially the same approach I would with my kids really, ignore the bits you don't want (if possible) and praise the bits you want to see more of. I'm sure we will hit bumps in the road but common sense + love + forum should equal success long term I reckon