[KBLover]

I have something of a game idea. He has really taken off with loving his little baseball and catching it and pouncing on it if I roll it at him.

The idea is he stands at a spot and I roll a ball at him, trying to get it past him. He has to stop it and bring it to me then I would send him back to his spot. He's aware of mat work so I figure I could just use that concept for getting him to see his position. I imagine a mark and reward when he pounces on the ball would teach him what to do and build drive to do it.

Is this a good game to teach? Would this help achieve more eye-mouth-paw coordination in a fun way?

 

[KBLover]

Heh, maybe one day I could manage a video.

Btw, if a dog's tongue is hanging out the side of his mouth, that just meanw he's getting a workout, not that he's over-extended or that I'm pushing him too hard. I forget sometimes that he isn't a bigger dog or a working breed, and it's impossible to tell since he's all eager and going all out.

 

[KBLover]

Played this a bit "informally" to let him get the overall idea of the "job" at hand. He loved it. In fact, he started coming to the ball with his mouth on the carpet like a shortstop fielding a ground ball.

I started getting it past him, though, by changing the angle and he tried slap it with his paws, which didn't work. Then he tried his mouth-to-the-ground strategy and came a lot closer.

It's always fascinating to see how he approaches things, how he judges what is or isn't working for him and to see his adaptations to try to have success.

Then we had to stop because he kept circling around instead of getting ball - and I know what THAT means LOL

Since he has the idea - I'll come up with a name for the position ("goalie" is a good one). And start getting a little more formal with it in terms of teaching.