Playing ball comes as naturally to a dog as that crazy reflex spot on their bellies that we all love to find. The trick is getting them to bring the ball back!

Start by teaching your dog to sit and stay. Once he has mastered sit and stay, teach him the "come" command. Now your ready to play ball.

Toss the ball and tell him to catch. Once he has caught the ball tell him to come. He may not like the idea of giving back his "catch" so be sure to have a treat on hand to trade him for it. (Treats are okaay for trick training!)

Once your dog gets the hang of it, you can teach him tricks like go long, or run for it. Many dogs learn to play football with a soft foam ball and there are even some soccer playing dogs out there!