Looking for advice from any dog owners.
My 3 year old lab is relatively well trained. Almost exclusively walks off lead, recall is probably about 90%, will sit, will come to heel, will leave food that I have placed in from of him until I have told to go and eat it (doesn't stop his drool mind you).
We have never really bothered too much about balls as every time he got a tennis ball he has chewed it beyond recognition in minutes. But missus recently got a ball thrower and a plastic based ball that seems much more durable.
So we have a new lease of life with the game of launching the ball and he chases after it. He loves it. He will run, fetch the ball, and come running back to me. But he will then stay close to me . panting (obviously) and chewing the ball in his mouth. But absolutely nothing that I can do will persuade him to drop the ball. Normaly if I shout "leave" he will stop whatever he is doing but not this time. Trying to entice him with a treat when he returns with the ball but he is not interested. Occasionally he will obey my "heel" and "sit" instructions at this point but nothing will get him to drop the ball.
There is obviously ingrained habit here that I am now trying to change. The habit of having a ball in his mouth and just chewing it. I now want him to drop it.
Any advice on how to do this?
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