A Different Way Of Playing Fetch

Does your dog’s energy outlast your arm and shoulder when you are playing fetch?  And as a result, are you not throwing the ball as far as possible for him to get some good exercise?  I know I’ve exhausted my arm playing fetch and even put my joints at risk by throwing the ball repeatedly for an extended period of time.  As I got more tired, my throws would get sloppier and sometimes I almost overextended my elbow or my shoulder.  I love golf, and I didn’t want to risk any injuries that would prevent me from playing every weekend.

Then one day I was throwing the tennis ball for my dog, and I was getting tired and wondering how I could throw it farther so he would be the one getting the workout, and it finally occurred to me how to throw a tennis ball farther… by not throwing it!  I ran into my garage and grabbed an old tennis racquet and started to lob the ball for my dog to catch.  And our game of fetch was instantly transformed.  Why didn’t I think of this before?!  Within minutes, I was offering him an assortment of ball distances, speeds, and trajectories, all with less effort on my part.  I could vary the arc of the ball depending on how much I wanted him to run, and I was amazed at how far I could hit it with just a gentle underhand stroke.  It was also fun to hit the ball high and watch him try to figure out where it was going to land.  I always get a kick out of watching him chase a high bouncing ball.

To my dog’s delight, we are now playing fetch for as long as he has the energy.  This low impact way of playing fetch has rescued my arm and shoulder joints so my golf game is not in jeopardy.  And I can lob the ball in a variety of ways to keep it interesting and fun for the both of us.

So go grab a tennis racquet and some balls and begin putting a new spin on playing fetch with your dog.  And if tennis isn’t your game, then grab your racquetball racquet, your baseball bat, or anything that will launch a ball with less effort.  And don’t forget to bring extra water and treats for your dog -he’s going to need them now!