Obsession With Balls On TV

by Jean
(Dover Plains, NY)

My 5 year old Aussie, Tucker, has always loved to play ball but when he sees a ball on the TV, he completely loses control and turns into a different dog. We cannot watch any kind of sports without him going nuts and jumping up at the TV and barking. If there is a TV on a TV show with sports playing, he will see it. He could be up stairs sleeping and if we are flipping through the channels and he hears a game on, he will come flying down the stairs and jump at the TV.

When we try to keep him off the TV by making him back up or leave the room, he starts the Aussie scream and it seems as if he is in pain (could it be the sound?). We have tried every approach (did each for months at a time) and nothing seems to work. We have gotten him to ignore the TV after really working at it but the next day, he is right back were he started.

Tucker had other behavioral issues that we were able to over come but this one seems to be getting worse. People and trainers have said they have never seen anything like it before... HELP! Is there anyone who has a similar issue and some tips on how to let us watch a game every know and then? I could send a short video of him doing this if it would help.

Thanks,

Jean

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