Dog Ball Laucher

poohzee

Hi All, I was wondering how you all go out for walks with your dogs. I have a 7 month lab, and when we go walking i take her treats pouch< which I attach to my trousers, and her ball launcher. However I find it really difficult walking her (holding her lead and the ball launcher!) do you have any ideas or am I just being pathetic!!! I still need to use two hands whilst walking her as she is a puller - at the moment!!
Thanks

globalds

training ?

poohzee

I am training her - but my issue is trying to walk holding her lead and the ball launcher (until we get to the park) is there anything on the market to hold the ball launcher that anyone knows of?

globalds

A rucksack ?

GonzoAston

Dont know what type of pants you wear, but if its Jeans or simlare, will the handle end fir through the belt loops, at ur hip. The pull it through so the ball holder is at the end secured, if you see what I mean. Or if you can put a hole in the launcher, bit of string or chain, with a clasp.

I dont know really, as ive never used one, as my dog just looks at me when I throw stuff for him, as if to say "well, I aint fetching that. Get it yourself" :rofl:

WeirdoMagnet

I'm not a great fan of the ball launchers TBH. I don't like them because they send the ball so fast and so far - the dog runs almost too fast (ie faster than a hand-thrown ball) and doesn't pay attention to where it's going, it's so fixated on keeping up with and getting the ball, so quite easy to get injured IMO, especially with a young dog (especailly a gangly lab!) like yours which is still growing.

Better to throw the ball by hand - as the ball lands nearer it's easier to keep the dog under control and reward for recall.

Georgina

dizziblonde

I know there were people who bought telescopic ball launchers at Crufts this year - so they do exist and would be less to carry. Or a ball on a rope (what I tend to use) is much easier to cart about - and if you get one of the really heavy duty ones (because Mister Chompsworthy-Jawsomatic can kill a tennis ball in seconds), it also dual-functions as a handy bludgeon should you get attacked

ka7e

Can I suggest a harness? If you need 2 hands on the lead when he is only 7 months imagine what he'll be like when he's fully grown! My Lab would walk beautifully ONCE she had had a play off-lead, but like yours, she couldn't contain her excitement during the walk there. A harness saved the wear and tear on my arms/shoulders and her neck. After about 6 months we switched back to a normal lead and she was usually fine.

But I'd second the fact that a 7-month Lab may be over-stressing her young bones and joints. You really need to protect her against future problems with hips and back as Labs are very prone to them.

rising_from_the_ashes

A third for not using the launcher with such a young lab. They really need to be careful with their joints at that age and as Georgina says, they usually go nuts and run, leap (and in the case of mine) sometimes fall over/twist trying to get the ball quickly.

A walk in the park, probably playing with a few other dogs and running after a few hand thrown balls should be enough for her just now.

Person_one

Get a halti. Best thing ever for dogs that pull. Solves the problem in about, oh, 6 seconds?

bagginslover

Labs shouldn't be run heavily at that age-it will store up a heap of problems for you later in her life