Do tennis balls smell???

[Mrs UB]

This is Harv with his found tennis ball. He found it in this bush. We arrived at The Old Post Office yesterday (somewhere we've stayed before) and Harv was obsessed. My question is, how did he know it was there? This morning he disappeared inside the bush and proudly reversed out with the ball in his mouth. Did he smell it or did he remember that over 2 years ago he found another tennis ball in the same bush?

 

[Ashley]

I think they can smell them! Quinn always digs out old, broken balls buried in brush and muck on walks! However, she also remembers places she found things (like the full pizza on a walk at my parents- she checks there every time and that find was years ago)....

 

[Heidrun]

Tennis balls hold a lot of scent. I use them a lot to train hunting with my spaniels.

 

[Selina27]

Both I would say, since Cassie can smell a pheasant from 200yds away. And then go and look there again on a return visit some months later, not a year though.

 

[Boogie]

Zaba finds tennis balls on almost every walk!

 

[Jelinga]

Both, mostly scent but also memory! The ball will smell quite strongly to a dog and possibly the scent of the person who last held it.

 

[Atemas]

I say both - smell and memory. Red has found so many tennis balls on walks. She also remembers exactly where she lost one and will go sniffing (she makes little grunting noises when she’s onto the scent). She has astounded me at times at her ability to find balls she has lost ages ago. I don’t think we should ever underestimate their amazing memories

 

[snowbunny]

They hold a lot of scent - human, dog - but also do smell quite strongly themselves. They're very rubbery smelling. Have you never sniffed one? Weirdo

 

[Sophiedoodle]

Have you never sniffed one? Weirdo

Wait… that’s not normal?

 

[Atemas]

Have you never sniffed one?

No ……but I do wash them - every single time when we return from our walks . There’s always 1 or 2 drying in the airing cupboard. I like seeing them yellow and not caked in mud etc

 

[Cath]

It's because he is a clever dog

 

[Loraseal]

I think my Labrador is broke because he doesn't really do the tennis ball thing
I think he is very ckever to find the ball!
He is looking very handsome in the photo.

 

[JES72]

Gritty tennis balls are blamed for Homers teeth wearing down.

 

[Selina27]

I think my Labrador is broke because he doesn't really do the tennis ball thing

Haha, Cassie doesn't either ! She has no interest in tennis balls whatsoever, unless it's with Harley @Naya on an SW pack outing.

 

[Jelinga]

If I have a tennis ball on my, Rourke won't leave my side, so I never take one out in the afternoon!

 

[Naya]

Haha, Cassie doesn't either ! She has no interest in tennis balls whatsoever, unless it's with Harley @Naya on an SW pack outing.

Harley is a bad influence…..but she will only have ‘Chuck it’ balls. Very rarely will she carry or catch a normal tennis ball

 

[Lab_adore]

I think my Labrador is broke because he doesn't really do the tennis ball thing

Maxx couldn't give two hoots about balls. He will run and fetch one if we throw it and there are treats on offer but that's about it

Harv is so clever and what a dashing boy he is

 

[M.F.]

One of our regular mountain walks borders on a tennis club. Snowie is forever finding tennis balls. And not just the ordinary kind that are sold in the pet shops. These are super-duper bouncy professional tennis balls! They have such good bounce! We have a nice little stash at home. Pity none of us play tennis! But they are great for bouncing against the door or wall indoors and then Snowie catches them on the rebound.

 

[Selina27]

Harley is a bad influence…

Not at all!!

It's just so strange that Cass has zero interest in balls any other time!

 

[Sophiedoodle]

It's just so strange that Cass has zero interest in balls any other time!

Lilly is only interested in chasing a ball on the beach… nowhere else