Building Toy Drive: Introducing Your Dog to the Ball on the Rope

[@tterexx426]

Woah this trainer is so nice and encouraging! Telling the person that she understands where they are at, and "your dog is actually already further than mine", and that they do a good job even if it didn't work that day.

[@canascrews]

Wow ! That is a world class trainer ! So much knowledge but still talks to everybody like a friend.

[@nickyp2820]

this is the best video I've watched for building my puppy's toy drive, it's a tricky process learning how to play with puppies but so worthwhile!

[@kcward386]

Your always putting out a great vid of what im working on with my pup. Thanks Nate for producing great content.

[@arawkindawg]

Fantastic video on getting the ball going with the dogs. This series is just the best thanks Nate and Trainers!

[@larkfitzgerald8300]

This is a great video. Thank you so much for making this. I have a six month old German Shepherd I would like to get involved in search and rescue but he does not have much of a toy drive. He is more food driven. I think the tools you showed in this video will be very helpful to us both.

[@debsheels856]

Some really good tips,I want my new pup to be toy motivated as my last girl wasn't interested in treats outside the house..I'm going to give a different approach this time round.😊

[@ingeborg-anne]

I've watched two of your videos, and both were super useful for my little man (7m poodle). I think that warrants a subscription!

[@davidkingyogato1097]

So much great information and a perfect demonstration. Thanks for posting this - I can't wait to try with my pup 😊

[@stlucia111]

Outstanding video . Very informative

[@sagarbhattacharya1087]

Lovely video. Can you tell me about free shaping?

[@suesmith7946]

This was great. My girl isn't interested much in toys (although the core of toilet rolls or an old sock is her favourite prize!). I'm definitely going to try this method. Thanks 🙂

[@blaiketillman3691]

Today I tested out some chew king rubber balls I got in from Amazon, and my dog seems to like it somewhat, and goes after it when thrown. Which is rare as fuck because she doesn’t like her other toys. But she loses interest as we keep going, so I have to deal with that right away. So, in this situation, what I am doing, since the ball is solid rubber and has a hole through the middle, I stuffed it with hot dog. Depending on the brands size, I could get four ball filled with just one hot dog, Then I have it in the freezer. I’ll give her while it’s frozen. If I do this long enough, she should start salivating at just the sight of the ball. Then I can simply randomise the days that it has frozen hotdog vs when it’s just empty. If you don’t get any luck, you could try it my way too.

[@michaelhough7818]

My pup loves the rope more than the ball, so ive been palming the rope out of sight, is that the right thing to do ?

[@leannewaldo6003]

Yes that is exactly what you do. Fold it up so only the ball is exposed. It wont take long for the dog to get the idea.

[@NateSchoemer]

Yes, I'll also use a second ball on the rope so that when the dog bites the rope, I'll do a value transfer for the new ball. I don't worry if the dog bites the rope; I just don't play with them when they are biting the rope. I'll get them to engage with the new toy. This way, it shows them that it's way more fun to bite the ball and not the rope. :)

[@FWAadventures]

Nate, my dog/husky mix plays with me with her chaser or her chuck it at home but doesn't think it's interesting outside...or in class so I always revert back to food. How do I help her want the toy as much as food or have her want to work for that toy? I know every dog is different with drive as well. Our local trainer we go to says she likes roughhousing or being pushed which she only does with her dad at home. I am starting to do it with her but she just looks at me like I've grown 2 heads.... hehehe 😂 I'm trying....ty😊

[@NateSchoemer]

I should be publishing some more episodes on building toy drive in the near future. You can see some additional toy drive building techniques in the video I posted today on the drop it command. Cheers! :)

[@tterexx426]

@@NateSchoemer Nice. Looking forward to more toy drive advice! I have been working with my Plotthound puppy (now 9 months) since I got her because I understand Hounds aren't the most toy driven, and she really isn't, food is her main motivation, but the last 2 days we had really great "play" sessions. I got a lot of advice from a friend who is a trainer of Schutzhund Malinois, but also of hunting dogs like mine. Never thought that so much of my training time will be spent with something that just looks like play to someone else. But we have this thing where I command her to go around an object, like an backpack, and the last two days I did it during a play session that I told her to "out" the toy and then sprint around the backpack and come back for tug as reward, and she came flying like a Malinois! Jumped and bit the toy and whirled around like a real pro 😎 I was so proud and happy.

[@WarKoreanZombie]

Try to wait until they have built up energy. I usually wait until my husky starts to show signs of zoomies and use that opportunity to build enthusiasm for chase and catch and tug possession games. I actually look forward to my dog having zoomies now!

[@FWAadventures]

​@WarKoreanZombie ❤yes!!! I've introduced her to a lotus ball bungee tug with rabbit fur and place food inside...she gies crazy, I'm still working on tug techniques and were working on her bringing it back to me after I let her win 😂hehehe not easy for a husky... she def is more interested in play when it's her usual zoomies time for sure!😂😂

[@tammystansberry7383]

Nate, I have two pups, same litter, almost 5 months old, both high prey drive, I'm preparing for K9. Neither of them will pick up a ball or stick when thrown. They chase it, smell it, then look at me like, it's not moving anymore. How do I get them 1. To pick it up 2. To bring it to me (without dropping it)

[@tammystansberry7383]

They go nuts over a flirt pole or puppy bite pillow, both have great bite

[@NateSchoemer]

Yes, I like to make sure I can keep the toy active if the dog loses interest when it stops moving. In addition, if they let go of it, you can quickly pull it away from them. This covers the main issues. We place a long line or something similar so we can move the toy from a distance. Once the dog gets it in their mouth, we move the toy as if it's a struggling prey that hasn't died yet, attempting to get away from the dog. Then we play dead with the toy; if the dog releases the grip, we quickly pull the toy away. This will make the dog hold on to the toy without wanting to loosen the grip, as that could cause the toy to move away. Once the dog catches it, we keep it active again while it's in the dog's mouth with light pops on the line that's connected to the toy. Lastly, we use another leash to guide the dog back to us. Once the dog gets back to us, we do a value transfer, like how I demonstrate in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5O5e313atysZ7Msi=ZLkgh-D0cKOK_xT4.

[@tammystansberry7383]

Thank you so much, I can't wait to implement!​@@NateSchoemer

[@miratraven5755]

Such a cool series. I love that you are having guests on regularly. It really helps to diversify your content. When would you say a dog (year old gsd mal mix with good play drive) is ready for a bite pillow or bite sleeve instead of a ball and rope or a tug? I wanna start doing bite work for fun, just me working with the dog, not with a professional since I am still a teen with limited income. Would you say a dog with medium to high play drive would transfer nicely to the bite pillow and bite sleeve? Also which would you suggest I start with (pillow or sleeve)? Thanks

[@barbarapostman3448]

where do we find the ball that you are using in this video? I couldn't find a link

[@NateSchoemer]

Thanks for pointing that out. I didn't realize I forgot to add that link. Here they are and they are now in the description as well. :) Ball on rope used in video: FIRM: germanshepherdshop.com/products/gappay-ball-on-rope?keyword=ball%20on%20rop HOLLOW: germanshepherdshop.com/products/gappay-ball-on-rope-full?keyword=ball%20on%20rop

[@barbarapostman3448]

Thank you !@@NateSchoemer

[@SoundlessFantasy]

My dog has no interest in the ball with the rope. But if it’s without the rope he goes crazy. How do I have the same with the rope ball

[@anastasiapalulis7828]

I have a question! I foster dogs regularly and some of them have no interest in toys. How can I build interest in it? ❓❓❓

[@marimarmaestre9313]

What happens if they run the other day because they don’t want us to take it?

[@bastiaesthetic18]

Hey my Girlfriend got a 7months old dog. Her and I life together. She has him now for roughly 2 months. He is from a shelter and had no socialisation at all. So he is barking at almost every dog. Also he cries when she leaves the house, even when i am still there. I would like to have my own dog (at least medium sized), but as far as i see it will be quiet difficult with her dog. We are already training, but those issues will take a long time (we are no pros). Dou you have any tips? Can i get a 2nd dog which is mine and train him separately, so that he does not learn bad behaviours from her dog?

[@tterexx426]

I am no pro either, but most professionals say, wait with a second dog until your first one is physically and mentally grown up - at an age of around two years! Also, they advice that you do not get a second dog until you are happy with the state of training in your first. I would also love to get a second dog but will wait until my first one is fully grown up. I know it's hard, you really see yourself with your future dog already, but perhaps waiting is best.

[@garaark9]

Hello sir can you help me bliss

[@ghjkhuikk5695]

So basically you can build prey drive but only on dogs already have prey drive

[@Dolldoll100]

Hi have a small nature Labradoodle she’s a real aggressive and attacks my other dogs. Is there any way of fixing her? Thank you do you know

[@tterexx426]

well I think there is in most cases a way of improving such a situation, but you will most likely need a professional trainer. Advice on the internet can make things worse, and it's hard to give advice without knowing the situation anyway. How old is the Labradoodle, how old are the others, male or females, spayed/neutered or not, what kind of attacks (does it occur when resource guarding, do they really injure each other, is it just rough play?)...

[@Dolldoll100]

@@tterexx426 Hi Labradoodle female will be 6 May 20 th 2 others huge Sheepadoodles turned 1 March 28 th both females the 3rd is a female a German Sherperd we rescue this one and according to the vet on January 6 th the guess on age was 6 to 9 months. I have all my life neutered and spayed all my animals. In fact I live on a farm and we catch a lot of stray cats and we go get them fixed so I we probably fixed about 30+ cats that roam here on the farm, so yes all my dogs are fixed and Lucy just that’s a Labradoodle just out of the blue will get violent towards the other dogs and the German Shepherd bit back and she’s already had stitches. I don’t want to get rid of neither one of them I do have training starting in May for the German Shepherd first since she’s the youngest, and was a rescue, but I had a question do you believe if there’s ever a situation where the dog fights that a whistle or a foghorn could stop it I just wanna be prepared even though I’m being cautious and I am getting them into training but it’s gonna be one at a time. Thank you.

[@tterexx426]

@@Dolldoll100 First of all, thank you for catching stray cats ant neutering them. That really helps the animals and the environment as well, as there are fewer cats that catch wild birds etc! Second. The other two dogs are rather young. The Shepadoodle has just turned adult and the Shepherd rescue is coming into teenage phase. This is a situation where they start to "discuss" pack rank amongst them. This might be the case for the fights. The Labradoodle perhaps feels like her once secure place in pack order is challenged by the newcomers/youngsters. I am not so convinced about a loud noise stopping the fight. Bucket of water might be of more help. Stopping a dog fight that has started is hard. Watch your dogs when they are together - a fight is usually preceded by long, hard stares, upright ears, stiff legs. But mostly stares are what you will want to look for - here you still can intervene. However, best to not grab one dog and turn it away because then the other dog could attack the back of it. Better: A sharp "hey!" And then tell all dogs to sit or lie down. Get their attention away from each other. It would be good to keep them separated when you cannot watch them closely. Perhaps you can install Babygates in your house? Will answer in more details later. Now I gotta get walking my dogs and going to work first.

[@tterexx426]

@@Dolldoll100 one more question: are the dogs good with each other most of the time and then the fights seem to occur rather "randomly" sometimes, or are the dogs showing signs of aggression to each other whenever they meet? Can the dogs relax in each other's presence? Could you notice any kind of triggers for the Labradoodle attacking the others? Most obvious would for example be over food, but it could also be that she perceives a toy or a sleeping place as her resource that she defends from the others. It could even be that it's your attention that she doesn't want to share.

[@Dolldoll100]

@@tterexx426 Yes the dogs are good with each other most all the time and there really aren’t any fights just sometimes with the German shepherd but I think she’s a little jealous because it’s not really fight it’s just more of a growl no aggression they are relax they sleep altogether all the time. The 3 play rough running all over the yard kind of biting on the neck but not like vicious. is that normal? YES what about the Labradoodle not really over food but she has this little cage she likes to go into and when they come up near her, she’ll Growl, and then a couple times she has gone out and try to attack? Thank you