Chasing Balls
Pet supply stores sell an enormous variety of toys; rubber tug-toys, pull ropes, and squeaky cubes, to name just a few. These high-end gizmos may catch people's eyes, but they often leave dogs yawning. As any child who has turned a stick into a spaceship can attest, the best toys are usually the simplest. And nothing is simpler than a ball.
Balls are so attractive, in fact, that larceny is common. Dogs in parks have been known to stake out the tennis courts, waiting for an errant ball to fly over. Little League games have been interrupted by dogs running into the outfield to grab slow grounders. And more than a few children have gone to bed crying because family dogs have shredded - or at least slobbered on - their favorite balls.
Dogs Were Born To Chase
Wild dogs and their ancestors (the wolves) weren't stealthy, silent hunters the way cats are. They had to chase their dinner. The fastest, most-eager runners were the ones who got the most to eat, and they lived long enough to have plenty of puppies. Multiply this by a few thousand generations, and the result is an entire species with an instinct to run and chase.
Dogs certainly don't confuse a baseball in the yard with a running rabbit. But the love of chasing has been deeply bred into them. What they once did for business, they now do for fun. Chasing is just one reason dogs love balls. Catching is the other. Many dogs have been bred to hold things in their mouths. A ball isn't as exciting as a downed duck, but the sensation of holding something is probably very satisfying.
Plus, dogs have the opportunity to carry balls back to their owners, and this makes them feel as though they're fulfilling their life's mission. It's precisely what their parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents did, and they're carrying on the tradition. One of the things that makes dogs great pets is that they're so adaptable. They're born with a drive to chase prey. When they chase balls, they're translating that drive into a game instead.
Dogs prefer tennis balls. There's something about these colorful, fuzzy globes that dogs find strangely intoxicating. This is partly because of the size. Tennis balls are small enough for most dogs to hold comfortably, and large enough so they don't slip down their throats, explains.
More important, tennis balls have a soft, spongy surface, which is perfect for picking up and retaining scents. They get a very personal scent from the dog's mouth as well. They can smell that it's their ball. Best of all, tennis balls have a springy texture that dogs adore. When they chew, the balls squish down, then pop right back. That bit of compression is a great workout for their jaws. Some dogs feel lost when they don't have a tennis ball to chew.
Chasing Balls
Balls are so attractive, in fact, that larceny is common. Dogs in parks have been known to stake out the tennis courts, waiting for an errant ball to fly over. Little League games have been interrupted by dogs running into the outfield to grab slow grounders. And more than a few children have gone to bed crying because family dogs have shredded - or at least slobbered on - their favorite balls.
Dogs Were Born To Chase
Wild dogs and their ancestors (the wolves) weren't stealthy, silent hunters the way cats are. They had to chase their dinner. The fastest, most-eager runners were the ones who got the most to eat, and they lived long enough to have plenty of puppies. Multiply this by a few thousand generations, and the result is an entire species with an instinct to run and chase.
Dogs certainly don't confuse a baseball in the yard with a running rabbit. But the love of chasing has been deeply bred into them. What they once did for business, they now do for fun. Chasing is just one reason dogs love balls. Catching is the other. Many dogs have been bred to hold things in their mouths. A ball isn't as exciting as a downed duck, but the sensation of holding something is probably very satisfying.
Plus, dogs have the opportunity to carry balls back to their owners, and this makes them feel as though they're fulfilling their life's mission. It's precisely what their parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents did, and they're carrying on the tradition. One of the things that makes dogs great pets is that they're so adaptable. They're born with a drive to chase prey. When they chase balls, they're translating that drive into a game instead.
Dogs prefer tennis balls. There's something about these colorful, fuzzy globes that dogs find strangely intoxicating. This is partly because of the size. Tennis balls are small enough for most dogs to hold comfortably, and large enough so they don't slip down their throats, explains.
More important, tennis balls have a soft, spongy surface, which is perfect for picking up and retaining scents. They get a very personal scent from the dog's mouth as well. They can smell that it's their ball. Best of all, tennis balls have a springy texture that dogs adore. When they chew, the balls squish down, then pop right back. That bit of compression is a great workout for their jaws. Some dogs feel lost when they don't have a tennis ball to chew.
Chasing Balls
posted by Guru Creation at
2:22 PM
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