When do dogs play fetch

But because the dog is so excited, they carry on through the pain. For the many dogs who might have injuries or mobility problems, we're making these even worse, meaning pets need to be on medication.

This can take years off their life expectancy. The real issue is the way that many dogs are encouraged to repetitively chase ball after ball, with the intention of tiring them out. Say you throw a ball ten times during a walk, over seven days that is seventy throws, seventy times the dog has charged out, twisted or jumped to grab the ball and powered back.

Over the course of a year that is 3, high impact runs your dog has done, and over a ten-year lifespan, that would be over 30, and each of those throws has placed a strain on the body. Wrist, shoulder, neck and spinal injuries are a common result of intensive ball throwing sessions as Lynn Wetenhall discovered when her terrier cross Smudge developed two serious injuries—hyper-extended carpal wrist joints and strained lower back muscles, which were suspected to have been caused by chasing balls.

Smudge's injuries were fortunately found before they caused permanent damage and with physiotherapy he made a full recovery. Lynn has a simple message for other dog owners: "Don't use ball flingers. Do not throw balls up in the air for your dog. Some dogs are so obsessed by ball chasing, they don't know when to stop. One of the more subtle hazards of playing lots of fetch is that your dog can start to suffer from over-exertion, yet because of the excitement generated by chasing balls, they will not stop.

As mentioned above, ball chasing produces such a buzz of adrenaline that dogs will continue with the game even when in pain. If a dog plays fetch for too long and pushes past a point where their body is actually exhausted then it can result in health complications.

One under-recognised condition that can result from over-exercise is Exercise Induced Collapse EIC , there are a few forms of the condition and they can vary by breed. In Labradors there is a specific form that was first identified in and is believed to be hereditary.

Dogs with the condition will collapse after 5 to 10 minutes of intense exercise, such as ball chasing. While the majority of dogs will recover within 30 minutes after collapsing, it is possible for a dog to die as a result of EIC. EIC is also known to affect collies and spaniels. It is likely more breeds will be discovered to have EIC as the problem is better recognised, but it tends to be more noticeable in high-drive breeds. Dogs with EIC should not be encouraged to chase after balls. Another danger of ball chasing comes in the warmer months when people mindlessly throw a ball for their dog in hot temperatures.

Because the owner is usually static, they fail to realise how hot their dog is becoming in the pursuit of the game. Every summer in the UK and US, dogs are rushed to their vets suffering from heatstroke.

Sadly, some do not recover. One of the common triggers for heatstroke in dogs is ball chasing on a sunny day.

The very act of running out fast for the ball raises the dog's body temperature, then they carry the ball in their mouths, preventing them from panting. The owner immediately chucks out the ball again once it is brought back and the dog's body does not have a chance to cool down.

If this carries on for too long, then heatstroke sets in. Heatstroke is a killer. When a dog's body overheats the cells begin to die, the brain swells which results in seizures and dehydration leads to irreversible kidney damage.

Scarily, this can all happen in a matter of minutes. The solution is plain: don't play fetch in hot weather. Obsessive ball chasing can be bad for a dog mentally, as well as physically. The reason dogs love chasing balls is because it feeds into their innate prey drive. The action of running and catching the object releases adrenaline and some experts now believe that this can lead to the release of the powerful chemical cortisol.

Cortisol is a stress hormone that influences mood and is part of the 'fight or flight' mechanism. In a dangerous situation, cortisol helps a dog have the energy to either run away or fight, but prolonged exposure to the chemical can negatively impact on health.

In humans, it is known that overexposure to cortisol can result in anxiety, depression, digestive problems, headaches, heart disease, trouble sleeping, weight gain and issues with memory or concentration. Many animal trainers and behaviourists are concerned that overexposure to cortisol can result in behavioural changes.

Canine behaviourist Sindhoor Pangal , who has suffered severe anxiety herself, believes that ball chasing can lead to a spiral of stress caused by the release of cortisol:. But when we throw the ball, we throw several times each session. Imagine bungee jumping several times over. Imagine taking that many shots of steroids, every day. Repetitive ball games can cause a dog to become over-aroused due to the excitement of the game. Dog trainer Sara Reusche believes that an over-aroused dog is actually an extremely stressed dog:.

High arousal becomes the new norm. These dogs are often reactive and hyper-vigilant. Many people believe ball games will help their dog burn energy and calm down, but in high-drive or obsessive dogs, the opposite can easily be true.

They become more and more hyper as the game goes on, and have trouble calming down afterwards. If this happens every day, they end up never able to fully relax, especially if they are being walked three times a day and have balls thrown for them during each walk. The result is a restless, stressed dog that cannot settle, and owners respond by doing more ball throwing to try to tire them out, only to end up worsening the problem. Jumping and twisting for a frisbee can result in serious injuries.

Unlike games of tug-of-war or even training, fetch requires less energy from you, the human, so you can playfully engage with your Lab for as long as you like and until they get tired. As a no-kill shelter, we pride ourselves on providing a sanctuary for animals in need.

HSN Blog. September 9, Posted by Carolina. Quality Time for You and Your Dog Of course, underscoring everything is the fact that fetch provides some quality time for you and your Lab.

Facebook Twitter Google Email Pinterest. Back to list. Join Our Pack. This will let you get a feel for what kind of toys your dog is going to like.

Some dogs are ball lovers while others prefer plush toys. Treats — For teaching your dog to fetch you want to have a lot of small pieces of high-value treats. Clicker — if you use a clicker to train your dog , have it ready. Clicker training can be especially useful to help you communicate with your dog in the early stages of teaching the trick.

With a little patience and consistent practice, the finished skill will be a smooth cued retrieve of any toy. Compare Breeds Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side. Dog Name Finder Browse our extensive library of dog names for inspiration. Find out the best and worst foods for your dog and which to avoid. Additional Resources AKC.