Football 1: puppy 0

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BBP

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My poor pup (I say pup, hes 13 months now!). Two nights ago we were playing in the garden with his favourite toy, a football (relatively soft). I thoughtlessly kicked it when he was looking the other way and scored a direct hit on his bottom! (I could not have done this if I tried!). Poor pup yelped like he’d been hit with a hot poker. He hasn’t held it against me and ran to me for cuddles and comfort but oh boy has he decided his favourite ball is not to be trusted. He gives it reproachful stares, skirts round it and if I do much as roll it he goes straight to the gate and tells me he’s done playing and wants to go back in the house. It’s really sad! Usually you can’t drag him away from playing with that ball. I have guilt!

A couple of times today he forgot he was scared of it and did go grab it and chase it, but the second the ball didn’t do as he expected he went back to cowering by the gate. Poor little chap. Am I best hiding it for a couple of weeks and switching in a different toy, see if he forgets about ‘the attack’ it launched on him?

Life isn’t all bad in puppy land, he had gone from absolutely definitely not being allowed on the furniture to me caving in and accepting that he is allowed to think of the old sofa chair as his now. So he is currently curled up on the chair whilst I am on the living room floor (better for my back!)
 
I have no advice really as mine have always taken any 'attack' by toys due to a misthrow by me as an attempted coup which had to be immediately suppressed.

I wonder if he is picking up on tour guilt and it's making him wary? If so switching out the toy might work on you rather than him?

Shamefully I laughed at the story. I hope your poor pup gets over the football horrors soon.
 
I'd also worry about your feelings transferring to him.

I see a lot of people using a yellow 'soft' football on a rope, means you could manipulate the movement better and make it more of a prey item, will try and find a link. Because it's soft you can stick it under your pits for heeling etc as well. Might be a good alternative.
 
I don’t think it’s me, I don’t feel that guilty (if it had been the hard one I might have done!) Made me laugh a fair bit too, just how offended he was. No killer instincts or acts of retribution... unless he is spending his nap time plotting his revenge, playing the long game.
 
CorvusCorax said:
I'd also worry about your feelings transferring to him.

I see a lot of people using a yellow 'soft' football on a rope, means you could manipulate the movement better and make it more of a prey item, will try and find a link. Because it's soft you can stick it under your pits for heeling etc as well. Might be a good alternative.
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That might be good. He loves his flirt pole, that’s probably his favourite thing ever.
 
Poor sensitive boy:(. On the flip side it is actually quite impressive that he remembers and retains exactly what that specific ball did to him on that specific occasion.
I'm cannot offer any useful advice though - I have terriers...if something hits them they generally tend to assume that it wants to be friends, or needs killing :rolleyes:.

Also, mainly came on this thread looking for pictures, just sayin' 😜
 
Same kind of thing happened to Rosie. The ball in question has had to be discarded as she will never trust it again apparently but other balls are ok.
 
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