Don't know if you heard the pistol shot

[lizblackdog]

We had something of a milestone today. Spike has always been very reluctant to surrender a ball - usually I just leash him up while he still has it, and count on him dropping it while we walk home from the park, which nearly always happens because it's not really THAT interesting for him to walk around carrying it once he knows I won't throw it any more.

For reasons I don't feel like going into, today's walk ended with Spike in the house on the dog couch still holding his ball like grim death, and me needing to get it away from him before he destroyed it (he's destroyed one this week already that I can't afford to replace, and we lost one of the rubber rings the week before. I'm starting to be very grateful there are always plastic bottles lying around outside. I'm not actually kidding.)

So I stood there offering treats and asking him nicely to let me pick the ball up, and eventually he actually did. He put it down and he let me pick it up, knowing full well that I was picking it up with the intention of taking it away.

There were a couple of false starts, and I took a collie headbutt to the nose during the discussion but HE DID IT. He got so much cheese for that.

I love my shark boy. Also, my nose hurts.

Comments

[yesididit.livejournal.com]

way to go spike! puppy agrees its very difficult to give up your ball, AND leave it so i can pick it up. he much prefers to play keep away.

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

BALL ARE SRS BSNS. ALL YR BALL ARE BELONG TO SPIKE AND PUPPY.

[slave2tehtink.livejournal.com]

ZILLEMONSTER TAKES EXCEPTION TO THIS. ALL YR BALL ARE BELONG TO HER TOO.

Except she will give them back but ONLY once we get into the house. I have to let her carry the ball in, and then she hands it over after I close the door unless it's her House Ball in which case she puts it in her crate.

She is Gud Dog.

Also, WAY TO GO SPIKE!

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

This is the first time Spike has EVER given one back without the clear understanding that it was only so I could rethrow it - and he's not even all that cooperative about that. Usually the best I can hope for is for him to drop it after he's leashed and not stop me picking it up.

He's still a good dog though. REALLY HE IS.

[yesididit.livejournal.com]

*grins* at out ball loving doggies.

[yesididit.livejournal.com]

very srs bsns!

i keep meaning to make an icon of puppy with his balls saying all yr ball are belong to puppy.