If they’re lucky, their owners have clued them into the sport of Treibball, a dog game invented by the Germans involving giant balls.
“It’s basically herding, but with these exercise balls,” said Elaine Eschtruth, president of the Four Corners Australian Shepherd Association.
She said any dog can be taught the game, during which they push balls around with their nose, sometimes through obstacles, but mostly just around.
Tacoma, a 7-year old Australian Shepherd, seemed happy pushing the ball at the Four States Agricultural Expo dog agility arena. She looked up for approval and was rewarded with a treat, then got back to work at freeing a ball trapped under a bar.
“It gives them physical and mental exercise, and that wears out dogs faster,” Eschtruth says. “It is fun to see them bounce around and come up smiling. It works indoors too, getting them to push a ball up and down a hallway when it’s cold and rainy outside.”
Some training tricks are to put some peanut-butter on the ball to get them started. Or hide a treat under the ball.
Jenni Berkman takes another dog game, Frisbee, a step farther with her Australian-Border collie named Angel.
Her throws are timed just right so Angel can get maximum launch for an acrobatic catch. Berkman wears a reinforced “vaulting vest” for tricks that enables her dogs to leap onto her back to launch for the catch. Angel is still working on that trick, but seems more than happy for the chance to jump up on her owner.
“It’s so fun to see dogs having fun with a Frisbee,” said Berkman, owner of Dogs Happen! a training and obedience service. “To see them progress and learn new tricks is satisfying, and good exercise.”
Audience member Brindi Jackson, of Durango, was invited into the arena to learn how to throw the Frisbee in a way Angel could catch it. Within five minutes she’s got it floating nicely.
“I’ve been looking for a sport for my golden retriever puppy Milo, and I think I’ll give this one a try because he likes to jump,” she said. “It seems like a good way to bond with your dog, get some exercise outside and be entertained.”
Berkman advises newcomers to the sport to take it slow. Refrain from making a dog jump too much until they are 18 months old. She suggests starting off by throwing rollers for the dog to chase and retrieve. Use treats to get them to drop and retrieve.
“They catch on fast. The sport has really advanced, the professionals are truly amazing to watch,” she said. “We’d like to form a local group to regularly go out and practice free style disc with our dogs.”
jmimiaga@the-journal.com
