Every dog owner knows that there are certain toys that their dog cannot resist. For our Skipper, our big German Shepherd with a very small heart, it is all about... BALLS. From the first day he came to us, we knew that he was crazy about balls. It doesn't matter what kind of ball it is, as long as it rolls, can bounce, and looks like a ball, he gets excited. He also takes this passion very seriously. We can't deny it, if he were a human, he would be the new Romario. Our Skipper is a real ball virtuoso. He lives for it! But, that same Skipper also gets scared very easily. Especially of everything new, that makes noise, that moves, so what would happen if we were to give him a new, interactive ball? We wondered and decided to buy an interactive ball at Temu for only 4 euros to try. And to our surprise, we can say... He thinks his ball is GREAT!
Skipper may look like a big tough German Shepherd, and he often acts like one. He is incredibly alert, but he is also incredibly sensitive to things he is not familiar with. New objects, objects that make noise, objects that move, or even just things that smell strange to him, can scare him. So, when we first saw those interactive balls, we thought we better not do it. He would be scared of them and not want to play with them. We thought that, but it still stayed in the back of my mind. When we recently had to order something from Temu and needed a few more euros to fill the order to 20 euros, my partner asked, "Do you need anything else?". At that moment I thought ... "Hmmm no, I don't need anything now, but why not give Skipper an interactive ball if they have one for a few euros?". After a bit of searching, we found one. This ball moves independently, rolls in all directions, and sometimes seems to have a mind of its own. For a dog who prefers to look three times before trying something new, that seemed quite exciting.
When the ball arrived in the mail, we loaded it up and then took it outside. Skipper's eyes widened when he first saw the ball move. For the first 30 seconds, he stayed at a safe distance, tilting his head, and he watched the whole thing with a mixture of curiosity and doubt. A few hesitant seconds later, he took a few steps forward, his nose low to the ground and his eyes focused on the moving ball. After a first cautious tap with his paw, it was as if a switch had been flipped. There was no more fear. Our Skipper was completely converted.
From the moment Skipper realized that this ball was "playable", there was no stopping him. He started running after the ball with an infectious energy that made us laugh out loud. It was a joy to watch our Skipper so busy. The ball rolls in all directions and sometimes changes direction unexpectedly, which is a fantastic challenge for Skipper. He lets himself go, jumps after it, tries to catch it, taps it, and runs after the ball as if he is on a mission. It is not just a game, it is pure focus and fun in one.
This is also great for us. Playing with him is always fun, of course, but watching him challenge himself and keep himself busy is sometimes even better. I enjoy watching Skipper put all his energy into the game. He seems to have made his own rules of the game: when the ball goes in a direction he likes, he gives it an extra push; when the ball stops for a moment, he gets an expectant look in his eyes as if he wants to say: "Come on, move again!", and if it doesn't go fast enough, he hits it with his paw again. And that is exactly the intention. The ball moves for about 10 minutes and then falls into a resting position, where it can be activated again by the dog.
After such an intensive play session, Skipper is wonderfully tired of playing. Today it is grey and rainy outside, so I am not outside that much today. After the walk, I noticed that Skipper still had energy left, so I decided to get his ball, and after running after the ball for half an hour that energy was used up. With a satisfied look on his face, he walked towards me and we got back inside, Skipper and I, and of course, his precious ball! Skipper had already flopped down on his bed and quickly fell asleep. After such an outburst of energy, such a moment of rest after playing is an essential part of his day. The intensive ball hunt has done him good.
At first glance, it may seem like a simple ball, but for Skipper playing with that ball for half an hour is quite an intense adventure. It is a great way to get rid of his energy and to stimulate his senses. I'd say a dog's life ain't that bad!
