This is a little bit of a hot topic at the moment amongst Trainers, especially those of us who see Ball Obsessed dogs day in and day out. Whilst the studies behind whats actually happening inside our dogs brains and joints are relatively new and few and far apart, as someone who spends a lot of time with working dogs these are my observations...
MOST DOGS LOVE A GOOD GAME OF FETCH, BUT WHERE DOES IT BECOME UNHEALTHY AND UNSAFE?
🚩 Fetch is full of high speed turns, quick stops and what is often referred to as a "Lack of Traction control" or "Whoops your brakes aren't working!". These types of movements put heavy strain on joints - especially when they become repetitive. Over time these heavy movements cause damage to the joints. Its not uncommon to see Hip issues in Border Collies especially and we should be doing all we can to prevent damage to their joints. Border Collies are known for their "Go Hard or Go Home" work ethic and they will play through the pain.
🚩 Fetch can become obsessive. Most people when they think of Border Collies immediately see a ball mad dog in their mind, and there's good reason for this. Border Collies decide that Fetch is their job - Often times they get a little bit of herding behaviour in there and Fetch becomes innately reinforcing for them. Don't let the happy side of Herding fool you into thinking this makes it healthy. Not all herding behaviour is healthy- think about herding cars for instance. Over time, as the game becomes more and more obsessive it causes Cortisol spikes. Cortisol spikes in and of themselves are not necessarily bad things however, when they are happening several times a day, every single day it becomes unhealthy for the brain. In the same way that we see Cortisol spike when a Dog engages in reactive behaviour, we need to give the brain time to settle and calm. When we play Fetch daily, these spikes flood the brain and the brain is not given a chance to break down the Cortisol before we yet again flood it with more Cortisol.
HOW DO I KNOW WHEN ITS BECOME UNHEALTHY OR UNSAFE FOR MY DOG?
🚩 If your dog is limping or crying but wants to keep playing
🚩 If your dog cannot switch off in the presence of a ball or other toys
🚩 If your dog is continually bringing you balls or other toys
🚩 If your dog is a senior and has played high speed Fetch their entire lives - Especially if they are now aching or sore and still want to play
🚩 If your dog is engaging in Resource Guarding behaviour of their ball or other toys
🚩 if your dog struggles with social interactions when a ball or other toys are present
🚩 Your dog gets to the park and immediately wants to play Fetch - They cannot concentrate on anything else. Almost like tunnel vision for the ball.
🚩 Your dog becomes distressed when there are no balls around to play with. They might go looking for them, stare at places they know they've seen a ball or become destructive trying to access a ball.
If you are finding your dog engages in any of the above, it might be time for a Vet check or to check in with a Trainer who can help you make a plan!
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS MY DOG CAN PLAY FETCH SAFELY?
Yes! You are managing your Fetch games appropriately if...
👌 Your dog can end the game themselves when they are tired or had enough
👌 Your Dog can turn off when there are balls present
👌 Your Dog is not searching for their balls constantly
👌 Your dog can and wants to engage in other games with you like Tug
👌 You can go to the park without your dog expecting ball play
BUT, MY DOG REALLY LOVES FETCH! I DON'T THINK I CAN TAKE IT AWAY!
Fetch isn't always horrible and there are healthy ways to manage and play Fetch with your dog. I highly recommend stopping Fetch all together if your dog is seeking help with Reactive behaviours as we want to limit the Cortisol in the brain for this training to work. You should also stop playing Fetch if your dog has been diagnosed with any Joint issues. Your dog is probably also not enjoying Fetch as much as it might appear they are!
😊 Limit Fetch games to only a few times a month. Take a day or two break between games and don't play for extended periods. Make sure the balls are put away out of sight between games. Make it a special occasion!
😊 Engage in a variety of games with your dog in the same place you play Fetch so they dont associate Fetch with that particular environment
😊 Play "Modified Fetch". Our Friends at Canine Enriched have made a wonderful tutorial for this- Throw the ball underarm while your dog stays in a sit or down next to you. Once the ball has stopped moving, release your dog to get the ball. This version is far more gentle on joints!
😊 Replace Fetch with Herding Ball games like Treiball, Sheepballs or a Jolly Ball Herding Ball.
😊 Follow up ball games with something calming like a Lickimat , Snuffle Mat or Scatter Feed to help bring that energy back down. If you raise their arousal levels, you must help bring it back down.
If you are unsure about whether your dog is in pain- Check in with Your Vet for a Pain Check or see a Canine Physiotherapist. Border Collies are known for being Stoic and won't always tell us they're in pain until they're in A LOT of pain. Your Vet r Physio should check your dogs Hips, Spine and Elbows especially.
Remember to always Warm Up and Cool Down your dog before and after any intense exercise! You can find out more about Appropriate Exercise HERE or by checking out our friends at Love Dog Training Co
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