Loading the Learning Centre
Please wait while the page is prepared.
Learning CentreLearning CentrePlease wait while the page is prepared.
Search focused answers, browse by topic, and move from a concise explanation into evidence, context and related reading.
Because ball play is highly reinforcing, every launch reinforces the behaviour (or chain of behaviours) that preceded it, so owners should use play purposefully with a plan rather than wasting its teaching potential, since 'what you chuck is what you get.'
Owners should be mindful of other people, the space they occupy, and other dogs nearby, since it isn't fair to launch a ball in front of an unsuspecting dog walker, and high-value items like balls can cause conflict between dogs.
Dogs need time to engage in natural 'dog stuff' during walks rather than constant ball throwing, and walks should be enriching for both dog and owner beyond just ball play, since a dog returning eagerly for more ball throws doesn't necessarily mean that activity is appropriate.
Limit the number of ball launches per session (e.g. a maximum of 3), then switch to a lower-arousal task such as hide and seek with the ball or food foraging, since chase play increases speed and drive and can be costly to overuse, while food-based tasks help slow and steady behaviour.
Avoid playing on ice, slippery mud, or steep inclines; make sure the ball or toy is appropriately sized/safe; consider putting the ball in a sock or threading rope through it to slow it down on landing; and avoid tennis balls, which wear teeth and bounce too much.
Ball launchers are highly motivating for many dogs, but they can cause conflict between dogs over the ball, contribute to obsessive/possessive behaviour, and are linked to increased arousal and stress hormone production through the chase activity.
Ball play is highly reinforcing, and every launch reinforces the chain of behaviours that preceded it, meaning dogs are always learning during play — so it should be used with a plan, much like the clicker training idea that 'what you click is what you get' becomes 'what you chuck is what you get.'
Chase activities are linked to the production of stress hormones, so it's healthier to limit launches, switch tasks, and favour calming activities like food foraging over repetitive high-arousal chasing.
Ball chasing can cause injuries such as slips, sprains, tumbles and collisions because it engages a dog's muscles like an athlete's; avoid playing on ice, slippery mud, or steep inclines, ensure the toy is appropriate, and consider modifying tennis balls or using a sock/rope to slow impact.
No — a walk should give dogs time to engage in natural 'dog stuff' like sniffing, and should be more entertaining and enriching overall than simply throwing a ball, even if the dog seems eager for more.
Be mindful of other people, dogs, and the space you occupy, since launching a ball unexpectedly near others isn't fair, and high-value items like balls can spark conflict, obsession, or possessiveness between dogs.