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Dangers Of The Tennis Balls |
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TENNIS BALLS ARE A DANGER TO TRAIN WITH Read what some of the top trainers in the USA say about using a tennis ball to train with. Taken from the k-9 Training list. Training Drug Detection Dogs Re: [k9training] Ball Drive I assume with the toy that your department wants an
active alert. Next, I assume you know that tennis
balls wear a dogs teeth down and that a police dog
just died- as many dogs do every year, by having the
tennis ball lodge in it's throat and the dog
suffocates- so I would switch to the kong on the
rope- or add a rope to the tennis ball |
What department was that? I have heard of dogs getting small balls lodged in
their throat but never a tennis ball. I have heard of dogs getting intestinal
blockages from consuming tennis balls, also had a couple consume a Kong and need
an operation. Fact is some of them can almost consume anything like that if you
leave it with them.
I never leave a tennis ball with a dog. If the dog only likes tennis balls, then
I use them as a detection reward and take them away before they can be consumed
or the dog "wears his teeth down". The rope is a good idea because it keeps the
ball from rolling and bouncing all over when you reward. This can be hazardous.
I prefer a bite type toy, jute ,etc., that does bounce or roll all over the place.
I know this might sound unconventional to some but I check out the dogs drive
and if it is suitable then I do not too much "formal" searching for the hidden
toy. I think this just develops a conditioned response to search for the wrong
target odor. I try to form a bridge ASAP between locating the target odor and
receiving the toy. Not locating the toy odor to receive the toy.
Mike Herstike
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I personally train w/ as many 'toys' as I can think of to use. Rubber hose,
fire hose, wooden dowels, pvc pipe, towels, kongs, rope, to name a few. I
never personally use tennis balls. The reason: I have heard that the glue
used in some balls can be toxic. I have never had it happen personally or
w/ any dogs I know. Also, I don't want ANY other chemicals or odors to
interfere w/ the odor I am training on.
Just my two pennies
***************************************************************************** From Jim Hornbeck This is just a few of the many post that has been made on the k-9 training list about tennis balls. I would like to express what really does happen with the tennis ball. For training any odor detection it is a mistake to use a tennis ball because it, I=Has the wrong odor (RUBBER SMELL) to be training a detection dog with. II=The dyies in the tennis ball are toxic to the dog.
III=The ball can explode and small pieces get lodged in the stomach
IV= The ball is a danger to use on the street for a reward because of it’s ability to bounce and roll out in front of autos. ********************************************************************* Watch this site for more k-9 training information Jim Hornbeck Missouriwhiteshepherds.com
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