What kind of ball should I use?
One too large to be gripped in the mouth and tough enough to resist claws. Gym balls are the usual choice.
Discs, balls and retrieving
Pushball
The simplified version of treibball: one large ball, a target and a dog learning to push in a controlled way, with its nose or chest.
About the discipline
What Pushball is
Pushball is an activity rather than a discipline with an international rulebook. The idea is simple: the dog pushes a large ball in a chosen direction.
It is often used as an introductory exercise for treibball, or as mental stimulation at home, because it needs no ground, no expensive kit and no other participants.
Simple as it looks, the exercise demands focus: the dog has to understand that it is not playing with the ball but taking it somewhere specific.
How it works in practice
How it is taught
- start with a ball that cannot be gripped in the mouth
- reward any contact with the nose
- add direction, then distance
- introduce a target or a goal
- gradually increase control over the line
Which dogs it suits
- any healthy dog, of any size
- dogs that need mental stimulation at home
- teams wanting to try treibball before joining a club
What you need
- a large, durable ball
- a clear space, even indoors
- small rewards for marking contact
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Pushball
My dog just wants to bite it. What now?
Reward only nose contact, never attempts to bite, and use a ball too big for its mouth. Within a few sessions it reorients.
Can it be done in a flat?
Yes, if you have a hallway or a free room. It is one of the few driving exercises that needs no outdoor space.
How long does it take to learn?
The first deliberate touches usually appear in the first or second session, if you reward correctly. Controlled direction takes a few weeks of short, consistent work. Five-minute sessions repeated daily beat one long session at the weekend.
From the same category
Related sports
Dock Diving
Jumping from a dock into water after a toy.
Air Retrieve
The dog leaps to grab an object suspended over water.
Disc Dog
Catching the disc, in distance events or freestyle routines.
Fetch and Retrieve
Retrieving trials for finding and delivering objects.
We do not run Pushball
This page is informational. We work in mantrailing, search and rescue and preparation for the TSAC and BH exams - but if you want an honest opinion on what would suit your dog, write to us anytime.