Springer Spaniel Dogs - 15 month old Springer Spaniel suddenly Aggressive over a Ball

by Lisa
(Hampshire)

Training Springer Spaniel Dogs

My Springer Spaniel is very well behaved (apart from the ball aggression).

she has a good recall, socializes well with other dogs (when no balls are around) and is lovable and gentle at home, even with my 3 yr old daughter.

The problem however started about 6 weeks ago I took her to the local dog park with her ball and another dog raced her to it and got the ball, she became aggressive snarling and showing lots of teeth and really going in on the other dog. I got her away from the situation, and all was fine for a few days until the same thing happened again with a different dog, this time my dog drew a little blood on the other dog (a cocker spaniel).

I then started leaving the ball at home, but in the park there is usually someone who has a ball, I try my hardest to avoid it but every now and again my dog will chase after the ball, and then act act aggressively towards the dog who's ball it is.

My dog seems to be 100% focused on a ball when its about, its like nothing else matters and at this point her recall is not good.

I am really puzzled as she plays well with other dogs when no ball around and at home is lovable, and playful, I just don't understand how she can turn so suddenly.

Where I live, the dog park is the only place I can let her off, or else I would take her someone else.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Ok thanks for your question - I will do my very best to answer it for you.

A dog or puppy is a carnivore and is used to protecting anything that they feel belongs to them - this would have been prey that had been killed (when they were pack animals) - protecting it from other dogs and animals - but is can extend to a ball, object or food. Ok so you need to recondition your dog to accept something else that is more interesting than the ball he is getting aggressive over. So start with something other than the specific ball your dog loves - choose another toy that your dog likes but is not crazy about. Offer your dog an exchange - show your dog a treat and when he drops the toy give him a big 'Yes' and if you use a Clicker then click your Clicker at the same point as your dog drops the toy and you give him the treat. Practice this regularly and when he is managing it consistently add a cue word like 'drop'. Once your dog has mastered it with the less popular toy now move on to the ball that your dog loves to play with.

Another method is to use what is called the 'Two Ball Technique'. Start by purchasing another ball similar to the one your dog really likes - so you now have two. Throw the one ball and when your dog goes to get it and brings it back start throwing the second ball in the air and bouncing it on the floor - just make it seek more appealing to your dog. When your dog drops the ball throw the ball that you have been playing with and repeat the process by picking up the ball that he has dropped and bouncing it and making it seem more appealing (just like you did first time). By doing this your dog will realize that dropping the ball and leaving it will get you to play and keeping the ball will result in no play.

Hope this helps

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