dogs and footballs

[lozzzz]

is it possible to train my collie terrier X out of stealing other peoples footballs.if we are out and he is off lead and spots one i have no chance of him coming back with it.i cease to exist and it is really embarassing.

[tetherend]

You could try a bit of therapy with him.  Give him a football at home and coat it with something that tastes absolutely horrible to your dog.  Keep offering him the football.  Maybe next time he sees another football, he might not want to pinch it. 

[mslovely]

hey thats a gud idea

[missoni]

I had a similar problem with my dog.

I worked on improving his recall skills and give him an incentive to come back to you.  With my dog, he knows that every time I call him and he comes back to me, he gets a treat. 

If you start off at home just calling him over when he is in bed, giving him a treat when he comes to you.  You then gradually start testing it outdoors whenever he is distracted by something, building up to when there is a ball around.

It will take a bit of time, but my dog now will come back to me when I call him no matter what the distraction is.  The downside is you have to remember to always carry some (usually very smelly) treats with you.

Good luck