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Fulfill your herding dog’s instinct by teaching them to stalk, flank and stop on cue.
Originally one of four games inside Better Than Fetch™, Ball on a String is now available as its own course.
Built on the Show & Switch™ foundation, this is the herding game that taught my own reformed car-chaser Raven how to slow down, stop mid-chase, and come back to me when every fibre of him being wanted to take off.
If your dog fixates on movement, ignores you the moment something runs, or shifts into a gear you can't pull them out of, this is the game that starts to break that pattern.
Lifetime access with a one-time payment of $97 USD
What You Get Inside Ball on a String™
The Show & Switch™ Foundation
11 info-dense videos covering our full herding game groundwork. This is the same foundation taught inside Better Than Fetch™ and Herding at Home™, and it is what makes every game in our catalog work.
The Ball on a String™ Game
Structured teaching progression drawn from sheepdog handling principles, translated for the pet dog owner. You will learn the stalking pace, the controlled chase, and the mid-chase stop. Advanced cues introduced include "Walk” to put the stalk on cue and "Stand" to halt them mid-chase.
Herding Game Skill Progress Trackers
The same foundation tracker used inside Better Than Fetch™, so your dog builds the underlying skills in the right order.
Clear checkpoints for every stage of the game so you know when your dog is ready to move on and when to stay put and build more reps.
Digital Downloadable Bonuses
Lesson Transcriptions
Lesson Transcriptions available in English, German, French, Italian and Mandarin Chinese
Equipment Guide
A digital guide to the toys and equipment behind every BTF herding game -recommended brands, alternatives, and what to avoid.
Here's what this herding game builds:
A working pause inside the game itself. Your dog learns to slow and stop mid-game while still engaged. The cue to stop is not a correction. It is part of the work.
Impulse control without suppression. You are not teaching your dog to ignore movement. You are teaching them to move with you.
A shared language for speed and stillness. "Walk" and "Stand" become cues your dog understands in their body, not just their ears.
Confidence for the handler. You start recognizing the moments your dog locks into the game as training opportunities rather than moments to manage.
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DOGS HELPED
From 49 countries around the world since 2024. Built on our proven Show & Switch™ method, designed as the foundation for fulfilling herding instinct without livestock.
Created by the Makers of Better Than Fetch™
Start Ball on a String™ in 3 steps
STEP 01.
Start with
Show & Switch™
Learn how to work with your dog's instinct instead of against it. Every game in our catalog runs on this foundation.
STEP 02.
Build The Enthusiasm
Learn exactly how we get our dogs enthusiastic and find their spark - the most important step before layering in the cues.
STEP 03.
Watch The Fulfillment Happen
Layer in the cues. Once your dog is stalking, flanking, and stopping on your word, the instinct loop closes and your dog settles.
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Meet the dog who found fulfillment and stopped chasing
Raven, former car-chaser
For nearly two years, Raven couldn’t handle seeing a single moving car or child without charging. No training could break his obsession. Not even steak. So what finally changed everything?
Three key things:
1. I stopped exposing him to triggers completely for one year (no walks or outings).
2. No more cookies for not chasing. We would immediate emergency U-turns if surprised.
3. Without sheep, I put together Better Than Fetch™ Herding Games with a huge focus on stalking, the longest and most mentally rewarding part of herding.
A year later, Raven is calm and focused in busy parks, completely ignoring cars, joggers, and kids. Same dog. Fulfilled instincts.
He taught me that even the most instinctive Border Collie can change if you meet their herding needs first.
Your dog deserves more than just another game of fetch.
If you've ever watched your herding dog pace, stare, or fixate on movement they can't control, you're not looking at a behavior problem. You're looking at an instinct with nowhere to go.
Say no to suppressing the instinct.
Say yes to giving it somewhere to go.
🎯 The complete Ball on a String™ teaching progression
🎥 11 Show & Switch™ foundation lessons - the same foundation used inside Better Than Fetch™ and Herding at Home™
🗣️ Exactly how I put Stalking and Stopping on verbal cue
📊 Skill progress trackers for both the foundation and the game
♾️ Lifetime access, including all future relevant updates to the Ball on a String™ course
💬 All video lessons with clear closed captions
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What if I buy Ball on a String and later want the full bundle? A: You can *upgrade to the full Better Than Fetch™ course at any time for $120. - Full course today: $197 - Ball on a String + upgrade later: $217 Both options are genuine. Buying the bundle today saves you $20, but the upgrade path is there for students who want to start with one game and grow into the full curriculum over time. *Upgrade instructions can be found on your course homepage.
Q: Is Ball on a String the same game that's inside Better Than Fetch™? A: Yes. This is the same Ball on a String™ game taught inside Better Than Fetch™, including the full Show & Switch™ foundation. What is not included here are the other three games (Goalie Dog, Outrun Game, Soccer Collie), the trackers for the other games, the Herding at Home™ discount code, and the Better Than Fetch™ Resource Hub. Those remain exclusive to Better Than Fetch™.
Q: How much space do I need? A: You can begin the foundation work indoors. The game itself is most often played in a garden, yard, or any open area where your dog can move freely on a long line. You do not need a field to start with, but the game is eventually best played in a spacious field.
Q: Is this suitable for puppies? A: The foundation work is suitable for puppies of any age. The full chase-and-stop game involves sudden changes of direction and speed, which is something to hold off on until your puppy is past the fastest stages of skeletal growth. To prevent overloading developing joints, it is recommended to focus on building foundational skills with Show & Switch™ if your dog has no self-preservation.
Q: Is PayPal the only payment option? A: Yes. For any issues regarding payment, kindly contact us for available options.
Q: Does my dog need to like toys? A: This herding game works to its fullest potential if your dog already has a strong interest in toys. We have had numerous dogs who started with less toy interest which grew the more they immersed themselves in our herding games, however every dog is different.
Testimonials from BTF & Words of Appreciation
Panda, who didn’t improve with trainers, therapy, or medication, now gets her instincts fulfilled daily.
After grace followed our videos, Henry the kelpie now cares about toys and enjoys the most satisfying play ever.
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