To throw or not to throw, that is NOT the question

The Hidden dangers of ball throwing

Throwing, catching and retrieving balls and flying objects are the main and often daily activities of many dogs and their owners. Sadly, we are very rarely educated what consequences that kind of play has on physical and mental wellbeing of our dogs.

Is ball catching really that harmless?

In one word – no.  Let me explain why.

Physical aspect

When a dog is catching balls and other flying toys, we witness a rapid distribution of large forces. We throw the ball, the dog rapidly accelerates, while catching the ball the dog may jump, twist and land on its hind legs or it may turn uncontrollably and stop abruptly. This is the perfect formula for disaster. The hind legs are primarily responsible for propulsion and are in no way adapted for landing after high jumps.  They are attached to the body by the hip joint, while the joint of the front limbs to the torso is purely muscular (dogs do not have a clavicle or collar bone as we do). That gives front limbs a better ability to withstand large forces.  Therefore, the primary role of fore limbs is to brake, turn and land, while the function of the hind limbs is to offer propulsion and drive.

INTERESTING FACT: The front legs carry 60% of the total bodyweight of the dog, unlike the hind legs, which carry only 40%.  However, in movement or when a dog is injured, this ratio adjusts appropriately.

"But my dog doesn't show any signs of injury after catching a ball"

Micro-injuries caused by throwing balls often remain hidden for a long time and often accumulate over years.  Dogs walk on 4 legs, which means that they can compensate the injuries and discomfort with other parts of the body.  They actually are very good at this, so we as owners may not notice an injury at the moment but a skilled therapist probably would. Those minor problems can then lead to major problems and joint diseases over time.  Injuries often times occur as an accumulation of problems and rarely (but also) suddenly.

Dogs adapt to imbalances in the body relatively quickly, so it can be very difficult to notice that something is wrong.

Due to elevated levels of stress hormones in the dog's body, problems usually become visible only when the dog calms down and some other symptoms, like muscle hypertrophy due to overcompensation, can be mistaken for the dog being fit and healthy.

If you can't notice the problem, it doesn't mean it's not there. 

Mental aspect

When an animal hunts in the wild and catches prey, the hunt is followed by a well-deserved rest that allows body to normalise the level of stress hormones.

We often throw the ball several times in a row, every day, several times a day, and so we get a dog with constantly elevated levels of stress hormones that finds it very difficult to calm down and gives the impression that he needs more and more exercise.  So we think that we need to throw him the ball for even longer because he is so restless.  In reality, quite the opposite is true – he actually needs more rest.

MATH: How many rabbits would a dog catch every day, compared to how many times we throw a ball to him?Elevated heart rate, elevated levels of adrenaline and cortisol, excessive enthusiasm, inability to learn, decreased control, and increased frustration are often the causes of behavioral problems.

"But my dog ​​loves running after the ball." But does he really?

Ball catching and physical rehabilitation

For a dog that is still growing, recovering from an injury, surgery or has one of the orthopedic problems like arthritis or hip dysplasia, it is very important to create a good homecare plan to optimise recovery time and make things easier for the dog.  Ball catching is one of the first things you will talk about with your canine massage therapist, because it slows down physical rehabilitation and is a huge potential risk for further soft tissue and orthopedic issues.  It is important to take a look at a bigger picture and put all the precautions into action as soon as possible.  Just as we advise to avoid stairs, jumping from heights and slippery flooring, ball throwing must also be taken into consideration.

5 simple and fun alternatives to ball throwing

Ball throwing can be easily replaced by many other fun activities that can mentally AND physically exercise your dog in a much safer way.

1# Treat search

Treat search can be done in 101 ways.  Small treats can be thrown in the grass, snuffle mat, you can hide them in rolls of toilet paper or make a treat trail with them.  It is important to increase the difficulty slowly and at a pace that suits the dog so he doesn't get frustrated.

IMPORTANT!: When doing the treat search make sure that the dog is NOT HUNGRY.  If the dog is hungry, the games of finding treats are very frustrating and cause unnecessary stress.

2# Hiding a ball

Instead of throwing, we can try hiding the ball.  There are no uncontrolled turns, as the dog can estimate when to start slowing down.  We can first hide the ball so the dog can see where it is, and then slowly increase the difficulty and hide it when the dog is not looking.  It can be hidden in an apartment, tall grass, forest or anywhere else.  Use your imagination, just make sure the terrain is safe.

TIP: You can also use any other toy that your dog loves.

3# Mantrailing, tracking

Dogs have an extraordinary sense of smell.  Have you ever hidden from him in the woods and found you without any problems?  We can teach him to follow people, animals (e.g. other dogs), search for lost objects (e.g. keys) or search for a specific smell (e.g. chamomile tea). Maybe you can join one of the dog schools that offer that? It could be a fun way to add to your life for your dog and you.

4# Swimming

If your dog likes to swim, this is an activity that is great for strengthening muscles while not putting too much strain on the joints.  For longer swimming use a life jacket as this will improve the dog’s swimming technique.

5# Observing

Sometimes restless dogs with a lot of energy seem to need more exercise, but often the opposite is true.  Try to stop on a walk for 5 minutes and just calmly observe the surroundings.  Shorten the leash a little, do not talk to the dog and wait for the dog to calm down.

BONUS#: Trip to a new environment and free movement

Do you always walk the same path?  A great addition to a dog's nose is that you don't always go for a walk on one path.  You can go in a different direction, visit a different street or go for a car ride somewhere interesting, where the dog can explore and »read the newspaper« somewhere else.  If possible, let him off lead and find him some suitable playmates.

The best thing you can do for your dog is to let him sniff on the walk.

 

But my dog loves catching balls too much and I don't think I can stop doing it!

If all of the above still hasn't convinced you then at least roll the ball to avoid jumping and landing on hind legs, and use balls that have a predictable direction, not ones that can bounce in random directions.  Warm the dog up well before the activity and cool him down after the activity.  Throw the ball a maximum of 1-2 times and if possible not every day.  Take extra attention where you throw the ball – the ground should be soft and safe.  Do not throw the dog on a sloping terrain, asphalt, slippery surfaces of muddy field full of holes.

For dogs that already have problems with movement and behaviour, throwing balls is a "no go" and I strongly discourage you to do it.  There are so many safe alternatives to ball throwing that you and your dog can enjoy and will also keep him happier and mobile for longer.  This is what we as responsible dog owners all want, don't we?

Author - Urša Petrovič owner of Caninaviva,

Case Study - The Ball was no good for Goodie

The following case study describes the effects that this dog’s owner and family attribute to the use of the ball launcher instead of walking for daily exercise. Ball chasing for 30 mins daily occurred instead of (or in addition to) walks from a young age until the point described in the case study. My findings support the owner’s hypothesis, however veterinary investigation and intervention has been minimal to date and there may be other underlying issues that have not yet been explored.

Background

Goodie is a young yellow Labrador with a loving cheeky personality and a busy and happy family life in the beautiful northeast of Scotland. Goodie came from an unplanned litter but is the much loved family pet of Stewart and his extended family. From a young age Goodie loved to chase a ball. He and his owner Stewart would often be found in the park with Goodie running long and hard chasing the ball flying from the launcher. Family life can be busy and ball chasing is tiring for a young dog, plus Goodie loved every second.

As time went on Stewart noticed that Goodie was getting stiff in the morning or after strenuous exercise, he started to struggle to get into the car as well. Goodie was still as enthusiastic as ever once he got going though, so Stewart did wonder what was going on. After a few days of rest Goodie seemed to recover and life, busy as ever, carried on. Goodie’s granny became more concerned while Stewart was working and she was looking in on Goodie every lunch time to give him a toilet break. One day, when Goodie was 3 years old things came to a head when granny went to let him out and Goodie couldn’t get up from his bed as he was so stiff and sore. It was time Goodie went to see the vet.

Vet Diagnosis 

Upon examination of Goodie his vet diagnosed sclerosis of both elbow joints and prescribed pain relief and rest. No further tests or investigation was carried out and following a period of rest Goodie recovered, to a degree.

Goodie has Clinical Canine Massage

When I met Goodie he was 5 years old and had been conservatively managed using supplements and restricted/reduced exercise over the previous 2 years. Goodie was reluctant to walk longer distances and could not get into the car without assistance. He would exhibit stiffness after exercise which sometimes lasted for days. Stewart told me that he attributed Goodie’s stiffness and discomfort to the use of the ball launcher when he was young. The days of running after a ball in the park were over and had been consigned to history and he was anxious to help Goodie be more comfortable going forward.

My stance analysis of Goodie was he stood straight backed and square with elbows slightly abducted. When moving abduction was more obvious and Goodie crabbed when trotting. Stewart advised that this was how Goodie had always moved. Goodie was not obviously lame however he walked a little stiffly.

Upon initial palpation Goodie presented as hypertonic through the muscles of his shoulder and upper forelimb bilaterally and both front flexor groups were adhered. He had bilateral Gracilis strains, ball shaped and hypertonic Gastrocnemius muscles and very wide ranging movement of both pelvic limbs (Goodie would routinely lie in sternal recumbency with his pelvic limbs fully stretched back in a ‘sploot’ position when resting)

Through the course of three treatments the muscles of Goodie’s fore limbs and shoulders improved in texture which revealed strains in the distal aspect of the long head of the right triceps muscle. He was experiencing myofascial pain in the thoracic Trapezius and Rhomboids on his left side and Goodie’s Longissimus Dorsi was reactive to palpation in the region of T5 – L1 sending spasms over his rib cage.

Results

After 3 treatments Goodie’s stiffness upon getting up from rest and after exercise was reduced and he was able to comfortably walk longer distances. His recovery after exercise was quicker and his stamina improved. Goodie’s reaction to palpation of his thoracic Rhomboids and Longissimus was reduced and the tone and texture of muscle tissues in his shoulders and fore limbs were improved. Goodie’s elbows had returned to a more natural position and he was a happier and more comfortable boy.

Goodie won’t be chasing a ball any time soon, but he doesn’t mind just carrying one about every now and then.

Owner’s View

Before we found Katherine and had Goodie treated he could be really stiff, he struggled with daily activities and was slow to recover after exercise. Over the course of his three treatments I definitely saw an improvement every time, he is less stiff and looser in his movement he also recovers more quickly and is more comfortable. Goodie will continue to see Katherine regularly so we can maintain this improvement.

Author - Katherine Wepener Owner of Kanine Konnections