Why Playing Fetch Every Day Might Be Harming Your Dog — Especially if They're a Working Breed
There’s one question I get all the time:
“Angelique, should I play fetch with my dog every day? He LOVES it!”
And my answer is always the same:
No.
Especially not if your dog is a working breed—Malinois, German Shepherd, Dutch Shepherd—or any high-prey-drive dog, such as hunting dogs or competitive Agility dogs.
I know that might come as a surprise. I see it in people’s faces when I say it. Your dog brings you the ball with bright eyes, tail wagging, full of life and begging you to throw it. It feels like bonding. It feels like exercise. It feels like the right thing to do.
But from a scientific, behavioral, and neurobiological perspective? It might be one of the most damaging habits you’ve unknowingly built into your dog’s life.
Let me explain why.
Fetch Isn’t Just a Game—It’s a Trigger for an Instinctual Pattern
Dogs like Malinois, GSDs, and Dutchies have been bred for generations to work with intensity and focus. These breeds were selected for traits tied directly to the predatory sequence:
Orient → Stalk → Chase → Grab → Bite → Kill.
In modern working roles—police, military, herding, protection work—these instincts are carefully shaped and directed.
Now think about what fetch is:
The ball = prey
The throw = movement stimulus
The chase = instinctive reinforcement
The grab and return = closure and reward
Except…it’s not real prey. And there’s never any closure. There's no “kill bite,” no final resolution. Just an endless loop of anticipation and arousal—again and again.
And that’s where the real problem begins.
What Happens in the Brain During Fetch
When your dog sees the ball, their brain lights up with dopamine—the “pursuit” neurochemical. This creates the drive to chase.
When you throw it, adrenaline surges. Cortisol (a stress hormone) follows. And each time you repeat the cycle, you’re wiring your dog’s nervous system for high arousal.
But there’s never any rest. The pattern never ends. And over time, this creates a dog who’s stuck in a chronic state of alertness, always waiting for the next throw.
The Nervous System Needs Balance
Dogs have two main nervous system modes:
Sympathetic: "Fight, flight, chase"
Parasympathetic: "Rest, digest, recover"
Fetch constantly triggers the sympathetic system. And many owners never help their dogs transition back into parasympathetic calm.
This can lead to:
Panting, pacing, inability to settle
Obsession with balls, toys, or movement
Reactivity to dogs, children, or cars
Destructive behavior
Poor sleep and digestion
Immune system depletion
Long-term behavioral burnout
You’re not tiring your dog out—you’re wiring them tighter.
Fetch Can Become an Obsession
Fetching has the potential to become highly obsessive—especially in high-energy dogs with unrestricted access to balls. For many dogs, it quickly becomes the only thing on their mind.
In my in-person training career, I’ve met countless dogs whose entire life revolved around fetch. They stopped engaging with the world, with people, and even with other dogs—because the ball became their entire identity.
And that’s sad—because there are so many ways for a dog to live a rich, fulfilled, and well-rounded life beyond chasing a ball.
Dr. Mechtild Käufer, in her book Canine Play Behavior: The Science of Dogs at Play (Dogwise, 2003), draws a clear distinction between play and compulsion.
“...a playing dog looks forward to the joint activity he will enjoy with his owner. The addicted dog reacts with extreme arousal to the ball, but displays clear signs of stress both during interruptions in play and at the end of play. The human ball thrower is completely replaceable.”
She discusses how repetitive, stereotyped behaviors and neurochemical changes (such as dopamine deficiency and opioid receptor involvement) play a role in fetch addiction. When the game crosses a threshold and becomes compulsive, it stops being beneficial—and becomes a behavioural red flag.
Physical Health Matters Too
I’ve only briefly touched on it, but the injury risk of fetch deserves its own post. Watching how your dog moves during the game is crucial:
Sliding
Twisting mid-air
Hard landings
Unsafe jumping
These can all take a toll on your dog’s body—especially over time.
Not every dog is physically suited to play fetch. And that’s okay.
In fact, I never play fetch with my own dogs anymore. I don’t even own a tennis ball. And if you do play fetch, please make sure it’s always on safe, grassy surfaces with good traction—never on tiles, hardwood floors, or concrete.
So, What Should You Do Instead?
Balance is key. Instead of daily, high-arousal fetch, consider:
✅ Tug with structure
✅ Scentwork or mantrailing
✅ Controlled flirt pole games
✅ Enrichment-based training
✅ Calm decompression walks
✅ Teaching “down in drive” – arousal with regulation
A Note on Individuality
While breed certainly influences drive and instinct, individual variation should always guide your decisions.
The key is to look at your dog in front of you—not just their breed—and ask:
Is this game benefiting their wellbeing?
Or has it crossed into a compulsive, neurologically-driven behaviour?
Breed matters. But it doesn't decide everything. Your dog’s unique temperament, health, environment, and relationship with you all play a role in determining whether fetch is helping or harming them.
But My Dog Loves It! Isn’t That Enough?
Your dog may love fetch. Just like a child might love candy for dinner every night.
But your job isn’t just to give them what they like—it’s to give them what they need.
And what your working dog needs is not just movement… it’s balance. Regulation. Rest. Relationship.
The Bottom Line
Fetch every now and then? Fine—with structure, cool-down time, and emotional regulation.
But fetch every day? For a high-drive dog?
It’s a one-way ticket to burnout, obsession, and stress.
Train the dog in front of you. Build a relationship that’s deeper than a tennis ball. Teach arousal with control, play with purpose, and rest with confidence.
Because your dog deserves more than just the chase.
He deserves you!
About the Author:
Angelique de Kock is a qualified behaviour consultant (DipCABT C.C.A.B.), scentwork instructor, and dedicated student of animal behaviour. With years of experience working with high-drive and reactive dogs, she is passionate about helping guardians better understand their dogs’ mental health and natural needs.
Angelique has worked with a wide range of species—including dogs, owls, sugar gliders, parrots, rabbits, and more—bringing a unique cross-species perspective to her training and behaviour work. She runs online and in-person training programs, with a special focus on scentwork, cooperative care, and behaviour wellness. She is also the host of the Barkology podcast, where science meets compassion in the world of dog training.