Throwing balls bad press ?

[EmilyGilmoreCardiganEnergy]

I have just had a video call with a vet because my spaniel seems to be stiff and struggling to get up on the couch (he's 4 and has never had this before) , she thinks he might have strained something after lots of climbing and jumping/ ball chasing yesterday.
I will take him to the vet tomorrow if no improvements after rest.
In the follow up note she has said 'ball throwing has had a bad press lately, here's how to do it safely' with a link but it doesn't work.

Can anyone enlighten me to the bad press ball throwing has had and how I do it safely?

Thanks

Knees aren't designed to twist. Look at a slow motion video of a dog chasing a ball and you will see why it is really damaging. That's as well as the addictive nature of it.

Safely is warm the dog up and throw it for your dog to find at ground level.

Throwing balls for dogs is a really really bad idea. You see people go to the park with the ball flinger and then throw balls for 20 mins or so. Result a knackered dog, a dog that will have joint problems and usually a highly aroused dog. No good things happen at all with ball throwing.

However you have a spaniel and a ball is your friend for tiring them out safely and easily.

Hide the ball in the undergrowth, long grass, behind trees etc and send your dog out to hunt a still ball. Dont let the dog see where you put the ball but spaniels are born to hunt so encouraging your dog to find the ball will mentally tire out your dog and not do damage to their joints. It will encourage them to use their nose which will release dopamine and make then feel great (as opposed to chasing a ball which will release cortisol and make them wired)

Start with short hides then move onto really long hides that challenge your dog.

A quick google will give lots of evidence as to why ball throwing is a bad idea.

Article from CAMS explaining the issues with ball throwing although concentrates on dogs already with joint issues it explains the forces and issues for all dogs .

ball throwing disadvantages

Thankyou, we have been doing the ball throwing into long grass etc for him to find which he loves but also throwing but it's more he runs to get it when it lands than jumping up for it.
He was jumping over rocks on the beach yesterday though.
Will definitely read up and make the right changes.

@KeenOtter that link is incredibly helpful- thank you.

On a slightly separate note, at puppy classes (leader a fully accredited behaviourist), we were warned against ball throwing games because they tend to reinforce prey drive.

So I never do it, and have a dog who rarely wants to play that game, but loves running round with other dogs who might be chasing a ball. She doesn't jump or do hard turns, because she's just enjoying the run, and the other dogs (assuming they're her friends) never care because they know she's not competing to get their ball.

What does the addictive nature of ball throwing mean?

They can get entirely obsessed by the ball and the chase, to the exclusion of all else. I used to know a dog who would literally bunny hop backwards in front of his owner if he knew there was a ball available, and not rest until it was thrown for him. At least one that was done he was happy to run about with it in his mouth for a while, but some dogs will bring the ball back and drop it in front of the owner and just nag and nag until it's thrown again. They don't run around and sniff, they don't interact with other dogs or people (which can be an advantage in some situations), they are just hyper-focussed on the bloody ball.

One of mine is very keen on balls, which is one reason why I don't use them very much (I often have one on me, though, as a reward for a good recall). I limit how much I use balls with her, and very rarely throw them for her to chase; usually I get her to sit, throw the ball, let it land and then send her.

Ball throwing is really, really bad for the joints - it also greatly raises their adrenaline which means they often can't switch off after walks.

I see a lot of dog walkers out with ball throwers and I cringe inwardly every time. It may make your dog run and pant, and it may mean you can get away with a shorter walk, but the long term damage can be life changing.

Agree with this. Mine would be like the first bit you mentioned if we let him so we hardly ever take them on walks with us unless it's somewhere we can play games for him to find it or also to use as a reward the same way you do, but never just for throwing

I cringe when I see so many people on our local beach who just stand there launching a ball for 30 minutes

Look at gundog training.

Marked retrieves (dog goes when you tell them, not as you throw it) are great. The ball has already landed so no bouncing, quick sharp changes of direction when they get to it etc, and you can build up form marked retrieves to memory retrieves and blind retrieves and searching for the ball in cover (thick, long grass or similar).

Much more stimulating and I bet your dog will love it.

@maplelatte we are on a waiting list for gundog training so I will try and chase it up thanks.

Just wanted to be clear I definitely don't just stand around lobbing balls for him or use them to try and get shorter walks.
He has lots of enriching and varied exercise and balls have been a new thing but will definitely now be restricting it to just using to play 'find it'.

@EmilyGilmoreCardiganEnergy there are lots of online gundog resources. The Ladies Working Dog Group has loads of info, but you do need to join to access most of it.

Great thanks I will check it out this afternoon.

The Canine Arthritis Management website says how to mitigate the worst effects of repetitive ball flinging.

I say that the plastic ball throwers are sponsored by Metacam...

I know one poor collie who is so ball obsessed that the outside world practically doesn't exist for him, he's wholly fixated on the ball, or the want to have the ball thrown, it's awful to see. Though does make him a very easy dog in that he's not going anywhere!

I admit I use the ball as it's the most powerful tool I have for recall and reliably retuning to me (rather than looking for prey) and distracting her from other dogs/prey that might happen to appear etc, whilst giving her the freedom to run. But only after a long walk beforehand, and not for long. Apparently if your dogs tongue is curling at the edges then their muscles are overloaded and it's time to stop. For us this happens quite soon as she's a sprinter.

Just found this really helpful graphic on Facebook explaining the risks associated with ball throwing.