B_B and K

this was a problem I had with boston. she could care less if I was waving a million ropes over my head with balls attached to each one. she only wanted 1 ball and would not tug. also, once she got the ball she was in no hurry to run back. she came back, but she sauntered back with this look on her face that said, "look mom I got the ball" we tried having me run away from her as fast as I could, well she would chase me but it only worked a couple of times. I had to hide each ball after a heat because she wouldn't run another one if she saw I had a ball already. what my trainer had me do was take away ALL the balls and toys. Boston was only allowed to tug for playtime and she only got to have the ball during flyball practice. do you have any idea what happens when you de-ball your house? OMG she wen't nuts. she wined and searched my entire house for a ball. now she can probably do search and rescue because this dog can find a ball buried under a mound of rubble. now she tugs...but she still won't run back to me. I don't think she gets the concept that the race continues on the way back. lol she thinks it only a race to get the ball out of the box before the other dog gets it. *sigh* someday we'll be ready to actually compete. lol but flyball is a blast.

I have to agree with the fear transfer thoughts. I was told before that I transferred my fear of dogs onto boston. when I was 7 I was attacked by 2 large german shepards and ever since I've had that paralizing fear where my heart stops, I can't breathe or even move a muscle. boston picked up on that. you know though, ever since boston and I started obediance for the first time that has rather quickly subsided. the first few lessons were torture for me. I stayed well away from the other people and dogs there but now after being on this board, taking obediance, being around other dogs and learning what I've learned that fear is going away. now if I see a strange dog I"m no longer compelled to run in the opposite direction and don't have a heart attack. I still cross the street though. boston has calmed down alot and now if we are playing in a public place she doesn't even notice other dogs. up until someone told me I was transfering that fear to boston I thought it was all her fault for being a "bad dog" even though some of boston's problem is lack of self confidence alot of it because of me and now we are trying some of the things mentioned here. thanks for sharing this is most helpful

I'm not an expert so I can't "diagnose" your dog (for lack of a better word) but I can share my experiences with boston. Boston has always done the same thing your dog does. she doesn't like other dogs and for that matter people. For boston (and I'm only making reference to my experience) she's nervous. she's a fear biter from what the trainer and vet says. she's also got no self confidence. We've been working on this since we've had her and that's 2 years now. We are on our second time around in obediance class. we are only going for socialization and self confidence because she's got the obediance down pat. I also try to take her around others as much as I can aaaannnd we just took our 2nd flyball lesson. This is something that only her and I are doing. she's getting lots of praise and love and when we leave she thinks she's the queen of sheba. if all goes as planned flyball will help her with her confidence. From what other's have said and I've read, the more self confidence she has the less she will feel like this and act like this. I can't say that's the case with your dog but I hope in the very least my story lets you know you aren't alone.