There are some key differences in playing catch (baseball, football, lacrosse, whatever) with a human and playing catch with a dog. Sometimes, playing catch with a dog is known as 'fetch.'
First off, dogs do not throw back. Many times they will drop the ball at your feet, hoping that you will continue the one-sided game with them. My dog will drop the ball at your feet the first time and move the ball a little father away from you each time he brings it back. He has learned that if he drops the ball farther from you, you are more likely to move and, thus, commit to at least one more throw. Overall, he's not a very intelligent dog. He's a good friend, though. Except when he steals my seat on the couch.
So, I usually continue the game.
Secondly, and this is the most important part: there are key differences in arm motion when throwing. When playing catch with someone else, you can follow through on your throw and really feeeeeeel the extension, the release of the ball at the peak and hear the pop when they catch it. When throwing the ball to your dog or favorite household pet, I have found that the only satisfaction I get anymore is when I can trick him, make him run more than usual and leave him a little confused before he finds the ball. Plus, when I release the ball, it's short and the motion is not nearly fluid enough. If I were to follow through, the ball would end up in the spiky bushes at the back of my yard. I don't want to hurt my dog. Once, he came back with a spiky bush limb in his nose. He didn't seem to mind.
I like to follow through. I haven't exactly been following through with my diabetes care lately. I'd like to, but it's like playing catch with my dog. I've been stunted by something else. I suppose that's what therapy is for.
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