Soccer Ball
Ok, I'm sure I am not the only person who has a Corgi who needs a way to keep busy! Madison is happy enough to play, or not, as the mood strikes you. She'll chase a ball but if you don't throw one, she's just as happy to curl up on your lap and go to sleep.
Jack, on the other hand... well, we can never do enough to tire Jack out. The dog needs a hobby. I'm thinking of agility, but herding would be my first choice. Not many herding instructors around here, though. In the meantime, keeping him happy can be a challenge. I mean, we walked the dog in a St Patrick's Day parade this spring. It was maybe three hours including the meet-up and the prep and the march. Probably 100,000 people along the route, a few dozen dogs in our group, dozens of kids petting him. I thought "He'll sleep for days!" Hah! An hour nap later and he was dragging out his toys for us to play. He chases balls up and down our hallway like a crazy dog.
I know a few people on here have given their dogs soccer balls. I have suggested it once or twice to my husband, but he wasn't sure it was a good idea (they do puncture). Well, we came into a free one today, and took it and the dogs over to the park, and oh my god! what a blast!!
Jack was chasing it like mad. I don't mean poking around after it, but full-speed all-out run, the length of the field and back. I don't know how he kept it moving so fast without tripping on it; it's almost as big as he is. He was panting so hard I could see his sides going up and down. He loved it! If there is a Canine Olympic Soccer Team, we can sign him up. Madison found it quite exciting too, but she didn't have the idea of how to push it so she just waited for Jack to do the work and went tearing after, barking.
My only suggestion would be to make sure you are in a fenced area. Honestly we have let Jack off-leash regularly since he was about 8 months old, as long as we're away from traffic, but he was running full speed in straight lines and I could envision him pushing it full speed right into a road that might be a block or more away, he was that quick. Also make sure there are no edges or corners they can run into, or banks they can flip over, because he had that crazed look in his eye and I don't think he noticed anything but the soccer ball. I think it really appeals to their herding instinct, as they can push it and bite it and bark at it and change its direction.
Well worth the time, if you have an intense player! Maddie is more submissive and when she pushed the ball carefully and not much happened, she didn't know what to do. Jack, however, has pushed things around with his nose since he was a pup, so he got the idea instantly.
Anyone else let their dogs play soccer?
Jack, on the other hand... well, we can never do enough to tire Jack out. The dog needs a hobby. I'm thinking of agility, but herding would be my first choice. Not many herding instructors around here, though. In the meantime, keeping him happy can be a challenge. I mean, we walked the dog in a St Patrick's Day parade this spring. It was maybe three hours including the meet-up and the prep and the march. Probably 100,000 people along the route, a few dozen dogs in our group, dozens of kids petting him. I thought "He'll sleep for days!" Hah! An hour nap later and he was dragging out his toys for us to play. He chases balls up and down our hallway like a crazy dog.
I know a few people on here have given their dogs soccer balls. I have suggested it once or twice to my husband, but he wasn't sure it was a good idea (they do puncture). Well, we came into a free one today, and took it and the dogs over to the park, and oh my god! what a blast!!
Jack was chasing it like mad. I don't mean poking around after it, but full-speed all-out run, the length of the field and back. I don't know how he kept it moving so fast without tripping on it; it's almost as big as he is. He was panting so hard I could see his sides going up and down. He loved it! If there is a Canine Olympic Soccer Team, we can sign him up. Madison found it quite exciting too, but she didn't have the idea of how to push it so she just waited for Jack to do the work and went tearing after, barking.
My only suggestion would be to make sure you are in a fenced area. Honestly we have let Jack off-leash regularly since he was about 8 months old, as long as we're away from traffic, but he was running full speed in straight lines and I could envision him pushing it full speed right into a road that might be a block or more away, he was that quick. Also make sure there are no edges or corners they can run into, or banks they can flip over, because he had that crazed look in his eye and I don't think he noticed anything but the soccer ball. I think it really appeals to their herding instinct, as they can push it and bite it and bark at it and change its direction.
Well worth the time, if you have an intense player! Maddie is more submissive and when she pushed the ball carefully and not much happened, she didn't know what to do. Jack, however, has pushed things around with his nose since he was a pup, so he got the idea instantly.
Anyone else let their dogs play soccer?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on
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Awwwwww! It makes me smile to see two tired but satisfied corgis!
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Permalink Reply by Beth on
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Great pic of tired, happy Corgis!!
Yes, we always make sure the dogs eliminated beforehand if we take them to a fenced-in ball field. We also never go in if it is baseball season or if the ground is wet. There are several ball fields near us, one of which is not used and slightly overgrown and very weedy; that's the one we use, but not if there are games going on. We'll have to take them there next time we want to play with the ball.
Once this ball dies, we'll try a water polo ball! Thanks for the tip.
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Permalink Reply by Judi, Dawn, Soffie & Griffyn on
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Griffyn LOVES his soccer ball we got at old navy. It has lost the air, but that doesn't seem to matter to him. He will chase it and bring it back for me to throw it all day long!! We have other balls for him to "herd" but the deflated soccer ball is still his favorite!
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Permalink Reply by Nicole, Stanley and STELLA! on
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Hi Beth,
I'm going to have to try this with Stella. I might have to get a smaller ball for now since she's still a puppy! I know exactly what you mean about never getting tired. Stella is exactly like that! She'll be active all day, take a quick nap, and get up and start all over again at 100 mph! Just the other day, I took her to my parents' house to play with their two dogs and run around (they have a huge yard). She napped in the car for 15 minutes and when we got home continued to play like crazy for another 2 hours! She's also even MORE energized after her puppy kindergarten classes since she knows all of the commands already and waits for the other dogs to finish. Between the constant treats and the car ride home she has more energy when she gets home than before she left! She just never sits still! She's actually driving me crazy right now while I'm trying to write! I know that part of her restlessness is being a puppy, but I also think that she'll be high energy as an adult, like Jack. After the puppy K, I'm starting her in agility, too! And now I plan on getting the soccer ball! She actually plays soccer with tennis balls right now. She's like a little goalie and the thought crossed my mind about "doggy soccer" Maybe she and Jack can start a team! :)
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Yeah, Jack loves to play goalie in the hallway here inside. It's one of his favorite games. Outside, though, with the big ball, he was all offense! LOL
I know what you mean about classes, too. When Jack took his CGC, he was good as gold but when I'd come home and let him in the house, he'd have a good frap around the living room for a couple minutes. It was like he had so much pent-up energy from sitting in class and being good! And he was nearly 2 years old already too.
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