Does anyone play/exercise their dog with RC cars?

[Lilie]

Originally Posted by JeanKBBMMMAAN

If the dog can catch it and shake it, smoosh it, or slobber on it, I'd say fine. If not, kind of like a laser pointer in that there is no reward at the end. And what Nancy said.

This is my thought as well. I do not utilize anything with my dogs that they can't 'win' at some point. I think it would be counter productive and do nothing but build frustration.

I have a very cheeky squirrel that has been teasing my dogs. It'll run up and down our big tree in the back yard. Hondo has left huge bite marks in the bark of the trunk of the tree as the squirrel is making him very frustrated. Hondo is normally a very quiet dog. Every dog has it's threshold.

I use a flirt pole. I also have toys on bungees that I'll hang in the event I am unable to work through the dog's energy. All games result in a reward for the dog.

[pancake]

Originally Posted by Nickyb

Get the traxxas truck, these things are built to be crashed/flipped and driven on grass and parts are easily replaceable. Look on craigslist for it used, I would honestly put maybe a fake squirrel on it so she goes after that and not the truck.

Haha you read my mind. Found a few on craigslist but those things add up if you want all the nice stuff, and then you add in the Lipo batteries and charger, but used is the way to go for me. I'm also going to add a little squirrel or squeaky toy on the end of it so that's the target. The car will be taught to be off limits. Though who knows how that will go haha
I already play with the flirt pole and have Michael Ellis' DVD on tug and she likes to play tug already at 13 weeks old. She doesn't have the attention span for retrieve but she does chase the ball and more than half the time does come towards me with it so that'll be something I'll be working on.
My philosophy is the more variety the better. When she's older, she'll learn to walk on the treadmill.

An radio controlled car can cover more distance, have more speed and agility, and bring out the predator in my dog and engage the mental hunting aspect of her more than anything else I could offer her. Short of dressing up in a costume and running away and having her chase me.
The large field I have access to is put to good use to have her full attention and could work to my advantage when training long distance recall.

Thanks everyone for the responses.

[hunterisgreat]

Originally Posted by pancake

Boats? Do they chase it in the water?


I actually think I found a good one, someone said their 75 lbs dog can't damage it and it has torque and speed. It's called the traxxas and it's a bit expensive but all the parts are replaceable for very little $, it's fast, it will allow me to engage with my dog in a huge field that a ball doesn't allow me to. I still throw fetch and play tug, it's not one or the other (as well as the flirt pole) but they're very boring for me and I want to simulate fast moving prey which I personally think is much more engaging and fun for the dog. I also think I can tie a small furry squeaky toy on the tail end and her chase that instead of the car itself.

I think i'll try a rc car forum cause I dont know anything about the various models and all the little differences. Maybe I can find one for cheaper, the traxxas is at least $300+.

Old roommates gsd destroying $800 traxxis. I have a traxxis mini e-revo... It's faster than the dogs but you will flip it and then the dog will catch it, and a dog can damage it. Boats are better... No impact on the joints, much easier to keep away, easier to control... An r/c car at 60mph+ is very hard to control.
http://YouTu.be/Txo1S4JwgXo

I tow one of those stuffing-less foxes with my erevo

Having done it all (including 2 helicopters katya godzilla'ed out of the sky), most effective are bubbles on a breezy day, and rc boats... Next is a car-starter powered coursing