Thanks - thought I was going mad

ETA - I should really say thought I was going more mad

My litter brother/sister are down to one ball, the others have gone AWOL and I will stock up at Crufts. Normally the male has possession & occasionally the female will get it but not for long and if the half brother gets a look in he'll drop it when he sees big brother coming toward him (wise move)! They're not that bothered about me throwing the balls, they just like to carry them

I dont have two males here but when out and about if a male dog comes runing over when he has the ball around 9 times out of ten, he will grab the ball and stand with the head up (my space, my ball, kind of a way). If a girly dog comes along, drops it front of her in fact I'm sure he maybe even forgets he had one

Loui has never gone over the score like that over toys when out and about BUT I always put his toy away when another dog comes along as I have seen him 'change' when another dog has eyed his toy up before, so I'd rather prevent anything happening than wait and see.

I think it sounds like an excited teenager has been told off at your house by the sounds of it though

Fair enough. I would personally avoid a fight, especially with large dogs like Shepherds. Cant see why taking a ball means so much, but thats me. Each to their own.

The vast majority of GSDs focus extremely easily on a ball. So it means training, play times, walks etc are so much easier when you know that a dog in question will do absolutely anything for the ball. That's why it's such a big deal.