[anniesophie]

Is anybody elses lab possessive over their ball? Annie seems to be getting worse. If we meet another dog on our walks and she has her ball
which she normally has as she wants to play with it all the time she gets very aggressive, her nose wrinkles, hackles up and barks but her tail is wagging. Last night we met one of her lab friends from agility who she plays with beautifully when no ball is around but she was a real little minx to him. I find it so embarrassing and wonder if I should confiscate the ball?

 

[Moj]

Hopefully someone will be along who is more knowledgeable about interpreting behaviour than I, but it doesn't sound like aggression to me - more a sort of 'chase me chase me, ha ha, I've got the ball, c'mon, have a go if you think you're hard enough!'

Hackles up can mean excitement.

 

[Basil]

When you say her tail is wagging is it held really high with almost just the tip wagging?

Or is it a back level straight out wide wag?

Different tail movements often mean different things

 

[anniesophie]

Her tail is quite high wagging. A normal looking wag to me.

 

[Moj]

Hmm, I'm not really up on what different wags means :wink: but I think that sort of wag is an 'I'm the boss' sort of wag.

 

[...]

I think if you're uncomfortable in anyway, then regardless of her intent or meaning, you should just take the ball away.

Some dogs do get totally obsessed by their ball (my Mojo is one of them) to the exclusion of everything else, so it is better to keep a balance by only giving it to them sometimes rather than them having it because they are constantly demanding it, if you see what I mean. Otherwise you could find she may not want to socialise with other dogs, because all her thoughts are constantly on the Ball.

 

[anniesophie]

Thankyou for that Jules, that is just what I am finding she is totally obsessed. I carry the ball in my bumbag and as soon as I let her off lead
she just prances around me trying to get it. I will leave it behind tonight and see how we go no doubt she will not be a happy bunny but she may perhaps be a bit more sociable.