Family Play Project , part 1

Yesterday we had the best walk. We also had the best time playing fetch/catch/’Go Get It’.  JM articulated this change in behavior two nights ago.  We were sitting on the lanai and JM was admiring the lavish lifestyle we give our canine companions when he mentioned that Sam and Yellow Dog were playing Go Get It differently.  “When I throw the ball, Sam just sort of trots towards it.  Yellow Dog RUNS after it, but then drops it half way back to me.  Sam picks it up and brings it all the way back.  Isn’t that funny?”

Yes it is funny.  Funny it took so darn long to get both dogs engaged in fetch together and funny that they started playing nice once I had given up all hope of ‘family play’.  

But not really funny, since Yellow Dog’s long-standing disinclination to play fetch or tug had me worried.  So worried that I began scouring the Internet and Amazon for resources on two-dog households. I poured over my growing collection of dog training books, dog behavior books, funny dog psychology/short stories books; I faithfully searched and read every dog-related forum, website, and archived chat (most online writing about dogs is not very interesting as it turns out-- we aim to be different). Nothing. Not one single blessed thing about how to get two dogs to play together.  

Next I called any family member or friend that had ever had two dogs.

So, here’s a funny thing--even if you call the most ardent dog-lover in your circle, once you ask them about how to engage two dogs in a single game and voice your concerns that there might be some sort of psychological damage being done to the dog not playing, they all realize they've left something on the stove, or are late for an appointment, or suddenly have to ‘take care of something else’. 

As if I needed additional proof I spent too much time thinking about my dogs.

What was a two-dog household to do? I went back to the books.  Perhaps the problem was that Yellow Dog simply did not know HOW to play fetch. I would teach him. After all, I had taught Sam (admittedly, he is a labrador).

Isolating dogs to teach basics like Sit, Stay, Down works because once the concept is grasped after a single learning/training session you can re-introduce the dog to his buddies and they refine their skills together. However, complex skills like the three to five command game of fetch requires much more patience, repetitive breakdown, and practice of each separate task that creates the skill.

The basic skill and associated tasks of fetch can be found in any dog book and mostly work, especially if you only have one dog to deal with.  I like the methods explained in Mother Knows Best and 101 Dog Tricks. 

However, Yellow Dog was having none of it.  He was not in least interested in fetching or chasing the stupid tennis ball. Sam was a distraction and he was miserable.  I had to isolate him on the lanai where he just whined himself into a tizzy. I was frustrated that it was taking me twice as long to train, play, and work the dogs each day. The dogs felt my mood and that quadrupled the effort needed to get Yellow Dog focused and calm. I gave up. Yellow Dog would just have to deal with his issues and it wasn’t my fault if he felt left out; we had tried.

For months we followed the routine that initially upset me into launching the ‘family play’ project:  I would throw the ball, Sam would gallop after it, pick it up and bring it back over and over and over again. We played fetch.  Yellow Dog would sit in his favorite tree and bark at us.*

So what happened this week? Why is Yellow Dog now playing fetch with Sam? How did they develop their team approach to playing? The answer is:

I inadvertently trained them to act as a team.

I observe my dogs.

Yellow Dog likes snuffling and rooting around chasing invisible rodents. He also like to chase real rodents, but more on that later. He likes close-up games.  He’d luuuve cat toys if only they were bigger and more durable. Mice made out of kevlar type of thing. Yellow Dog likes to go in for the kill quickly, none of this long distance trotting for him!

One day, Yellow Dog started taking the tennis ball away from Sam.  This was after we had gotten new balls and I was bouncing the ball in front of myself and catching it. I noticed that both dogs were fascinated by this movement. 

Once Yellow Dog took the ball away from Sam he became more concerned in the whereabouts and movement of the ball. For some doggy reasons only known to him the ball was an object of interest. 

Perhaps the close bouncing I had done reminded him of small prey, or perhaps the task of paying attention to the ball was easier if it was all at close range. Who knows? But now, Yellow Dog would ‘catch’ the ball if you bounced once in front of yourself at close range. He was really good at dropping it with little prompt.  Unconsciously I started taking turns with the dogs.

I would throw the ball, Sam would chase and fetch back. I would throw the ball, Sam would chase and fetch back. Sam would drop the ball too far away. He would be commanded to Bring It Here. Yellow Dog would suddenly appear and snatch the ball from Sam, pick it up, drop it. Sam would start running down the yard. I would then pick up the ball.  I bounced it for Yellow Dog. He caught it, dropped it (and usually wandered off). I would then throw to Sam who was patiently waiting at the end of the yard. Repeat. Over and over, repeat.

Now both dogs chase the ball but only Sam brings it back.  This is a great deal for Sam because as a big dog he gets tired faster, but with Yellow Dog to ‘pick up’ the slack, Sam doesn’t feel the need to run break-neck pace down the yard each time. Yellow Dog gets to ‘catch’ the ball every third or fourth time.

Family Play Project, part 1 ended up a success.  A long and drawn out success, but still.

I’ve taken enough of your time. Be sure to check the Dog Resources Page and watch for the upcoming Dog Destroyers vs. The Toy page!

*Sidebar: some dog-people discourage allowing your dog to ever be ‘taller’ than you. This is founded on the belief that dogs are domesticated wolves and require a strict ‘pack hierarchy’ to maintain harmony.  However, Inside of a Dog, Nova: Dogs Decoded, and Culture Clash all posit that dogs are more family oriented, rather than pack dominated.  The difference? Power and responsibility in a family is shared; each member contributes a unique skill or expertise to help further the family’s success.  Think about how your dog acts as a family member. What are his contributions and skills? Think dog skills, not human skills.