Choose your Environment Carefully

When rewarding your dog with his favorite toy or just playing fetch, be cognant of the environment you are in. Recently a police service dog died during a training exercise when he ran into a post while chasing after a ball. Make sure the area you throw your toy is clear of obstructions. In the previous case the handler did not throw the toy towards an obstruction, but high drive dogs often anticipate the direction the ball is going and run fast towards the direction they think the toy is going.

Another area to steer clear from is hard surfaces such as concrete or asphalt. I have seen many dogs with chipped or missing front teether from catching their moouth on the ground as they are pursuing a ball. I have seen this with my own dogs. This is what I call "Handler Error". Its my fault my dog chipped his tooth because I was the one who threw the ball in the parking lot.

The best place to train and play with your dog is in an open field clear of obstructions. You can find such areas in parks and recreation fields. I'm lucky enough to live next to 13 acres owned by our public school. I take advantage of this area for exercising and training my dogs. REMEMBER! When out in the public make sure to pick up after your dog.