Learning to play ball with your Canine Corgi-kids is a fun and rewarding way to bond with them. They love it and they feel that besides play, it's bonding with eachother. I've taught the boys to return the ball to me and literally drop the ball in my hand (gloved). They could play for hours if I would, but they do get tired and I worry about injury. When they bring the ball back, my command is "release" and they release it from their mouth into my hand.
It's important that Dockers and Nikita help me guide Cody how we play. At first, Cody would run with the ball and his two elders would chase him. He thought this was pretty neat and that it was part of the game. I've been coaching Dockers and Nikita not to chase him and let him bring it to me so we can continue the game. We still have some work to do, but with the warmer weather and longer days now, we definitely have more time to get our games perfected.
As I mentioned, the kids love playing ball. I just have to mention "ball" and their ears perk up. I ashamedly must admit that when photographing them sometimes in order to get that perked up expression (ears stand at attention and intent eyes), I use a question with the word "ball" in it and that gets me a great facial expression. I'll say something like "Wanna play BALL?" That'll do it!
What kind of ball do we use? I use a tennis ball. When we're done playing, I put the ball up in the same place that they know where it is, but cannot get to it.
Why not just let them keep the ball? I worry that they'll work the ball all day by nibbling it and eventually break through it and choke on the pieces.
This beautiful image of Nikita shows him next to a golf ball. I don't throw the golf balls (that's another story for later), but he picks them up and lies with them.
Have a great weekend.
