Ball Aggression

[Miranda]

My 1.5 year old golden doodle Cali is extremely possessive of her ball.  Actually, any ball for that matter, if it's in the vicinity of her mouth.  She used to do just a slight low growl, but now it's pretty extreme growling and snapping at other dogs.  Mostly dogs she doesn't know, and that she doesn't want near her favorite toy.  I have been correcting her by giving a firm NO! and then taking the ball away from her for a bit, and making her sit next to me.  When I take the ball away, she just stares at me, with this sad face, because fetch is what with girl LIVES for.  I start to feel bad, because she won't play with other dogs.  She isn't really a social butterfly....just a ball hog :) (oh I should also mention i've tried taking other toys out with me instead of a ball....rope tug toy, squeaky chicken...and she won't go after them....she waits for the ball!) Anyway, any advice on this topic would be greatly appreciated! 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There's no reason Cali should have to share her ball or anything else with strange dogs, and there's no reason she has to be a social butterfly with them, either. As has been mentioned here many times, adult dogs do not need to play with other dogs...that is NOT what "socialization" means as it applies to dogs. I'm assuming you're talking about these things happening at a dog park. If you're going to the dog park to let Cali get some exercise off-leash, find a place away from other dogs to play ball, or forget the toys and take a long walk together. She can play with toys at home. It is not at all unusual for an adult dog to behave in a less than friendly manner with strange dogs, and it's not necessarily a bad thing, either. As long as she gets along with other dogs well enough to be around them when necessary- vet, groomer's, out on walks, etc.- there is no reason you should force her to interact with them on what should be a pleasant visit to a dog park for exercise and an off-leash game of fetch.
If she's acting aggressively when a human comes near her ball, that's a problem.
This recent discussion will shed some light on the issue:
http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/help-need-advice-on-dog-park

[Miranda]

I def. do not force her to play with other dogs and we don't go to a dog park. I would never take her into a dog run to play fetch because I know she would get angry with other dogs for trying to take her ball. We just go to an open field to play and some other dogs happen to wander by every now and then. I don't want her to share her toys (and I never gave a strange dog her ball to play with), I just don't want this growling to escalate into something else. She's fine on walks and at the vet and such, but a walk is just not the same as chasing a ball for 20 minutes. She's also fine if I take the ball from her, and actually drops it on command every time. I posted because I am worried that if she growls at the wrong dog...the other dog could turn it into something bigger. Maybe I'm reading to much into doggie behavior?

[Miranda]

oh and thanks for the link. i did search the site for "ball agression" but nothing came up for it.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It isn't really so much about "ball aggression' as it is about Cali not wanting to share her ball with other dogs. I posted the link to explain more about normal adult dogs' behavior around other strange dogs.
I don't know what your exact situation is in terms of opportunities to let Cali play ball off-leash. Is the open field fenced-in? Are these other dogs accompanied by humans?
The growling is normal; Cali is letting these other strange dogs know that they should stay away from her ball. That in itself isn't anything to be alarmed about. For another dog to ignore the warning and aggressively challenge her ownership of the ball would be unusual. But if you sense that there is danger to your dog, like strays wandering around, I'd try to find another place to play ball, one where you don't have to worry about the "wrong dog turning it into something bigger".
It is very normal for adult dogs to not want anything to do with other adult dogs they have not met.Cali is not behaving abnormally, and you shouldn't have to take away her ball to prevent a dog fight, ever.

[Miranda]

the field is not fenced (it's an old baseball field) and yes these dogs are accompanied by humans. After Cali growls they all sort of give me a dirty look and usually walk away. The kicker is, I always tell them before they approach that she won't play with their dog....she is only interested in fetch. Maybe it's the humans that need training and not the dogs :) I did read the link about the behavior....very helpful. Thank you!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

These other owners do need training...or at least educating. Ignore their dirty looks, you aren't obligated to provide entertainment or exercise for their dogs...only your own!

[Miranda]

Thanks Karen! Reading those other posts made me feel much better :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I hoped it would! :)

[Heidi]

We have the opposite problem at our dog park. We have a lady who gets upset if a dog goes up to hers and wants to play or chases the dog when he is playing fetch. I've noticed that the dogs figure it out pretty quick and move on but the owner gets very upset when a dog goes near hers. But, I do respect that is what her dog likes to do and is only there to play fetch. We have other dogs at the park that way too and the owners are cool and usually say something to fact that there dog doesn't want to play but rather play fetch only. They usually throw the ball and the dogs follow because of the chase and the dogs understand what that growl means. So in your case I think it's the other peoples problem not yours.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Gracie Doodle is totally obsessed with her tennis ball. If I have it in my hand she sits perfectly and I can totally make her head and eyes go in any direction with the movement of the ball in my hand...totally focused! When she has her ball around her friend dogs she has zero problem with them taking her ball. If they take it she just follows them around like a shadow waiting for them to drop it. If a strange dog comes up to her she doesn't have a problem unless they go in the direction of her ball which is in her mouth or between her legs if she is laying down. Then she gives a low growl (no teeth exposed) and she lunges her head at them. Gracie is totally a non-alpha non-aggressive dog. She has never snapped or lunged at a person or growled. The only time there is the slight low growl and a head whip is when the other dog gets up close and personal with her ball. When we are with other dogs she won't play with them because she wants to play with her ball. If there is no ball, then she will play but selectively. She picks and chooses who she wants to play with. No humping dogs!!!! Gracie would never go try to take a strange dog's ball. Actually, she won't take anyone's toy or ball unless they abandon it. Almost every day either in the morning or afternoon, we have up to 8 dogs in our cul de sac that we all get out and exercise at the same time. We all use chuck-its and they run up and down the hill on the sidewalk. Great for grinding down the back toe nails too! Each dog knows which ball is there's and they don't take each others...I take that back, occasionally Gracie becomes Greedy Gracie and if one of the dogs doesn't go get their ball and gets sidetracked, she will bring two back (she is working on three balls at once)! But, these dogs have all grown up with each other and are friends so there is never ever a confrontation. When we are around strange dogs I will not reprimand Gracie if she protects her ball nor will I force her to play with other dogs. Gracie gets along great or is indifferent to strange dogs. Like I said, she likes to pick and choose her dogs!

[Miranda]

Cali can be greedy as well! She will also come back with two in her mouth if another dog failed to actually retrieve, but I can always get her to release them. After reading some other posts, I realize it's ok for her to growl at the strange dogs, and it's just their way of communicating. She has never ever done that to a person. She will occasionally make a low growl towards one of her friends...but it's very rare. It's funny because she is completely submissive in every other aspect. She just loves her ball :).