Have you heard of treibball?

[Bonne Bouche]

Canidae sent a newsletter detailing the "sport" of treibball (link to blog), it seems really cool. Kind of like 'dog soccer'. Probably a really nice sport for doodles as its intended to both physically and mentally stimulate the dog. Here's a video on youtube:

here's the wiki link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treibball

You can see the connection to "herding" especially in the video above with the Border Collie. Kind of cool...

We just got BB an 8 inch Jolly Ball without a handle (bounce-n-play) and he can just barely pick it up, instead he just rolls around it. I am thinking it would be fun to teach him to try to roll it into a goal. As its not really a "retrieving" game when we throw it... but its very cute, and he loves it!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Thank You, Elaine  :) 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Earlier today I wrote my local Treibball Club and asked where can I get the ball?

Of course, I already ordered the ball in your link.  It was the best price, the right size, and it is puncture resistant.

Well, they already wrote me back.

Subject: Where do I get a Treibball?

Hi Joanne,
Eventually, we'll have anti-burst balls for sale on our site, but in the
meantime..regular Pilates/exercise balls are all they are. Any sporting
goods deptartment or exercise department (Walmart, Target or Kmart) has
exercise balls,45,55,65 and 75 cm., depending on the size of your dog. He
needs to be able to move the ball with his nose or shoulder at the
midpoint, so we've found the 65-75cm balls work best for med.-large dogs,
and 45-55cm for smaller.

(name withheld for privacy because I believe it is a legal thing to not repost email messages without consent)

President, American Treibball Association

To sum this all up, Spud does not qualify in this club if this is the ball they use.   Glad I did not hurry up and spend that $700.00 to sign him up  :)

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Ha ha rosey is my little soccer star! Would love if she could find a team who appreciated the sport! LOL!

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Yep... treiball is pretty cool... the dogs seem to love it. 

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

this giant ball might allow me to let my 2 play in the yard together.  They tend to fight over balls if we don't separate them for fetch, but since neither of them could actually "control" this ball, it might be the perfect solution. 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Sounds good, Amy.  They really can't take it all for themselves.  If you get one, let me know.  Mine should be here next week.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

On a side note; I think Ricki should order this ball for Tara since Tara has so much trouble finding balls.  You think Tara could find or see one this big?

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Hey Joanne, I just saw my name going down the front page!!!  I see you're trash talking my doodle!!! ;)

Actually I was wondering the same thing!! LOL!   Maybe a nice medium sized blue one! These are too big I think. That 45cm one might do it. I'm going to shop around for one.  Stay tuned for the video! LOL

Did you get one for Spud?

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Ricki, that must have been someone else who posted under my  name. I hate when that happens.  But, I did get mine today.  Did you order??? Oh, I hope you did. 

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I'm still deciding whether to get bigger balls (I mean for Tara, LOL) or to get her glasses. I've been waiting to hear your feedback about how Spud likes his. It looks like a winner!!! That boy can MOVE!!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

This is all beginning to remind me of the Star Trek Episode, The Trouble with Tribbles, really only because of the name. Balls generally disappear but don't multiply around here but sometimes the tennis ball number, helped by my neighbors contributions for her doodle buddies, does increase.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trouble_With_Tribbles

I already have dysfunctional ball of several types that I've wasted money on.

Example one:

http://www.petco.com/product/7951/Jolly-Pet-Teaser-Ball-Dog-Toy.aspx

The dogs still gnaw around the holes of this one on occasion but that's all it's used for.

One like this is so hard that if you throw it and it were to hit the dog a concussion would result:

http://www.pronto.com/mpm/compare/multipet-international-boingo-bal...

It's outside but merely for decorative purposes: )

The more ball reviews I read on Amazon, the more discouraged I get. Some balls too hard, others punctured. Some got sharp edges, the handles came off, etc. I will wait from reviews from you guys.

We end up using the good old tennis balls, and Chuckit balls. I did just buy a blue Orka ball, prompted by Ricki's discussion of dog vision but we haven't taken it out yet. Just about to do that.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

IT'S HERE. IT'S HERE

GBK and I, ordered a ball because of this discussion.

Truly exciting ball for the dog who are ball lovers out there.  Spud had a blast.  When he was a puppy he barked with a really loud high-pitched squeak.  We threw the ball outside and he was screaming!

So far, there are no holes in this ball.  It is made tough.  Heck, it is made for horses.

My pictures are really bad   :(   Sad, because it was so exciting.  This is the biggest thing that has happened in our house in a long time as far as toys and entertainment go with him

I'll get more and post later

.

He is moving so fast I had trouble getting any pictures