"BALL-DRIVE PURGATORY"

It is common for potential Bouvier owners to search for a puppy with "ball drive." This is an inherited instinct to chase and retrieve objects, supposedly a positive sign that the dog will be good at herding, obedience, etc. That was what we wanted, too. And, when we first saw Milo at 6 weeks old, he excitedly fetched a little rolled up paper ball repeatedly for me.

I was smitten! What a cute little guy. And so responsive!

Well folks, I'm here to tell you there's a downside to a dog with lots of ball drive.

January 1, 1998, 6:15am. New Years Eve party ended just 4 hours earlier. Everyone's asleep and close to comatose.  

Milo decides it's time to get up. More importantly, it's time to....PLAY BALL!!!

Milo jumps on the bed and drops his tennis ball at Mom's feet. Mom groans, having a bit of a hangover, and ignores him. Milo is, by now, standing at attention at the foot of the bed waiting for the ball to come flying thru the air so he can catch it. No luck. Mom and Dad are just not responding.

So Milo jumps back up on the bed, picks up the ball and drops it on Mom's knees, then jumps quickly off to get into prime catching position again.

Two minutes go by. Still no ball throw. So Milo jumps back on the bed and puts the ball on Mom's hand, then jumps back off and gets into position again. Nothing.

Back on the bed, places ball on Dad's chest. Off the bed.

Nothing.

Back on the bed, new ball, drops it on Mom's face. No response.

Then new ball on Dad's face. Nothing.

By now this has been going on for almost 1/2 hour.

Totally frustrated, (and Mom and Dad are laughing hysterically at each new attempt) Milo decides this game ain't gonna work.

New game: Dig out the lost balls.

This one works. Milo jumps up on the bed and proceeds to violently dig out the numerous balls he dropped into the covers earlier. Dig, dig, dig, dig.

This game got us up, folks. It also got us a little black & blue.

So, those of you who buy a dog with ball drive, well, consider yourself forewarned.