tennis balls cause bad moth habits?

[jimbo&rooster]

My GSP loves to play with tennis balls and will retrieve them all day long. Here recently he has started to roll them around and chew on them a little when retrieving them. he has had a few birds in his mouth and been ok with them just wasnt shure if I should do away with the tennis balls as toys.
Jim

[original mngsp]

Depends on the dog. I have had dogs that played with tennis balls their whole lives without ever having it effect the retrieve. That being said I did have one dog that we took the tennis balls away because it caused him to hard mouth his retrieves. Once we replaced the tennis balls with a firmer ball, the retrieve was fixed.

Just watch what he does carrying birds and you should be ok

[seadog]

I know of a dog that died from choking on a tennis ball while the owner looked on in horror . IMO the risk is not worth it , so No balls of ANY kind for my hounds .