Ball hater

I've never met a nasty ball. Met lots of lousy throwers, though.

I don't think obsessive ball throwing is a constructive way to exercise a dog, especially a young one. Although it exercises them physically it also gives them a large adrenaline rush; not great for getting a dog to settle.

Yep - I'd agree. There are situations where ball obsession can be useful - but it needs a degree of control as well.

If used properly, as in training to wait for the next throw, only throwing when it suits you, it can train them to focus no matter how excited they are or how much of an adrenaline rush they have. Isn't that what we all want? A dog that will focus on us no matter what the distraction.

Yup. I find controlled retrieves (having the dog 'sit' and 'stay', walking off and chucking the training dummy and sending the dog in to hunt for it) to be far more satisfying mentally for a dog. A couple of long-ish distance controlled retrieves where my dog has to use his brain and he is pooped.

I only ever use a ball launcher on the beach for short periods. We play for 10 minutes then it gets put away.

IMO when it is played sporadically it isn't in issue. But when you see dogs that are literally shaking and salivating looking for a ball constantly when it isn't even there (yes, I know dogs like this!) you have to question how suitable a form of exercise it is. Obbession is never healthy.

Not what the guy said though was it? Surely common sense has to come into play at some point and there is a massive gap between never throwing a ball and constantly throwing a ball.

Enough balls now......... Not so much OT as OTT