Treibball (or Urban Herding) Could Be Your Dog’s New Favorite Activity
Do you think your dog would enjoy herding but you don’t have any extra sheep lying around? Maybe your dog would enjoy Treibball! In Treibball, your dog will herd balls instead of sheep to get some exercise and have some fun.
How Does it Work?
In Treibball, your dog will use their nose, head, chest, or shoulders to push a large exercise ball into a goal, such as a soccer net. They do this with eight different balls until they all have been pushed into the net.
Doing this as a sport has many advantages for your dog including strengthening your communication skills, teamwork, and relationship with your dog.
Can My Dog Do It?
Yes! Any dog who is fairly active will be able to do Treibball. From small dogs to big dogs, herding breeds and non-herding breeds, any kind of dog can have some fun doing this activity!
While herding breed dogs may take to the sport more quickly due to their natural herding instincts, any dog can with a little extra energy to burn will greatly enjoy this sport!
Can My Dog Compete?
There are several different organizations that sponsor Treibball competitions! The rules are not identical with each organization but are very similar.
There are different levels of competition based on skill level. A lower-level competition would allow the dog to bring the balls to the goal in any order, while higher levels may require your dog to bring balls to the goal in a specific order.
If you don’t live in an area that has Treibball competitions close by, there all also virtual competitions that accept video submissions.
What Should My Dog Know Before Starting?
Before your dog jumps into the world of Treibball, there are a few things that would be helpful for them to know. First, self-control will be an important factor. Have your dog get used to being around inflatable exercise balls in an area without wildly pushing them around.
Next, an important thing to teach your dog will be to teach them to orient to your front. If you and your dog stand facing each other and you move to the side, does your dog pivot to face you still? You will want to train them to do this so they know that they need to bring the ball to you and not take it in another direction.
Teaching your dog to wait for you will be another important skill. Your dog will need to wait for your command to bring you a ball when doing Treibball, so teaching them to wait on a mat or marker before doing something will be very beneficial.
You can check out this book Get The Ball Rolling to learn more about how to train your dog for Treibball.
What Will My Dog Learn Doing Treibball?
The biggest lesson your dog will learn during this activity is impulse control. When dogs can excited, staying in control of their actions can be difficult/ However, if your dog knows that they have to wait for a command before they begin moving the ball, they will learn how to better control their impulses.
Overall, if you are looking for a fun way to build better communication, develop teamwork, and give your pup an outlet to get out some energy, Treibball will be perfect! The mental and physical exercise it offers your dog will be hugely beneficial and they will have so much fun trying this new activity.