Lazy Cattle dog

[TAVS]

So Mason our Aus. cattle dog is lazy. He wont play ball (Tennis ball; large kid balls; fetch with a stick or anything). He has a lot of energy and is starting to be destructive so it would be really great if he would 'play' but he prefers to go back on the deck and just watch us like we're crazy fools. Any suggestions??

 

[AusCatDogs_4Ever]

Teach him a few tricks, and possibly enter him in obedience trails. Mental exercise is just as important as physical.

There are other ways he can burn some energy besides playing fetch, here are some other things you can try for physical exercise:
-Go for walks
-Jogging
-Take him swimming
-Agility
-Go to the dog park

Here's a game Charlie likes to play:

FIND IT
This one is great fun for the dog. Show your dog a treat or his favorite toy, and then place it out of his sight but easily accessible in a dark room. Tell him to SEEK - his success you will praise enthusiastically. Obviously, the rewards for the dog are multiple - he gets a treat or finds his toy plus a very happy handler. If using a toy, be sure to reward his find with some play before starting again.
You can increase the difficulty of FIND IT by hiding the dogs treats in less accessible places, like in a shoe, or on a low shelf. This can be practiced indoors as well as anywhere else!

You can make up your own games too. Find something your dog likes to do and turn it into a game.

 

[elegy]

ok, so he doesn't like to play ball. what kind of games does he like to play?

 

[Giny]

OT, sorry, but AusCatDogs_4Ever I have to say I was thinking of you yesterday. We went to our local garden nursery and one of their employees had brought her 8 week old female ACD with her. She was so adorably cute, looked a lot like your Charlie with her coloring. She seemed so smart too for her age. Any who, just thought I'd mention it.

 

[AusCatDogs_4Ever]

OT, sorry, but AusCatDogs_4Ever I have to say I was thinking of you yesterday. We went to our local garden nursery and one of their employees had brought her 8 week old female ACD with her. She was so adorably cute, looked a lot like your Charlie with her coloring. She seemed so smart too for her age. Any who, just thought I'd mention it.

Awww sounds adorable, and yes, they are very smart.

 

[TAVS]

ok, so he doesn't like to play ball. what kind of games does he like to play?

He likes to play flop on his belly in the dead grass; get all dirty and have his belly rubbed. He's very lively but he'll never play. Every once in a while he'll run in circles really fast (about 3-5 times).

 

[elegy]

does he like to chase you? have you ever tried teaching him to play tug?

my dogs don't have much interest in balls, either, but boy oh man, if i "sneak up" (while saying "i'm gonna get youuuuuuuuuuuuuu") and goose luce in the bum and then run, i can get her all riled up and burn off a ton of her crazies in a short time!

 

[tessa_s212]

does he like to chase you? have you ever tried teaching him to play tug?

my dogs don't have much interest in balls, either, but boy oh man, if i "sneak up" (while saying "i'm gonna get youuuuuuuuuuuuuu") and goose luce in the bum and then run, i can get her all riled up and burn off a ton of her crazies in a short time!

Lol! How cute! Cocoa does like tennis balls, but she also loves it when I roll her on her back and rub her tummy.. I do this in a playful manner and she'll bite at my hands. I then proceed to roll her around and she'll try to bite at my hands some more. Cocoa LOVES this! Haha!

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

There are plenty of games you can play besides ball. My border collie mix has VERY little interest in toys (I don't think she had them as a pup). I chase her, and get her all riled up. She'll zoom around and then run up to me and jump and me and then run away. It's a lot of fun. Another thing I do with her is put her on her back, and get her all riled up. She gets excited, rolls over, gets up, and runs around.