I started hold 2 1/2 weeks ago with Willow (age 9 months). But I have about decided she just doesn't get it, or does not want to get it.

I am using Evan Graham's Smartchfetch method, mixed with ideas from the "10-Minute Retreiver" and time spent watching FF sessions on my male Chessie done by a professional trainer.

If I had to describe Willow, I would say she is very smart, but soft. We are using a paint roller, keeping sessions daily and short. She will only hold when she is being praised and petted. Once you stop, even momentarily, she drops the bumper. I've been giving her a stern "no" and a thump on the chin before putting the bumper back in her mouth. Other than that, she will paw at me, yawn, look away from me, etc.

On a search of RTF, I found some posts of others who seemed to have a similar dog and a similar situation. A few posts mentioned success by being way over the top with praise and very little correction (no "no" or chin thump). I have tried that for a few days, but no different results.

What can I do now?!!??? It seems like she should be making more progress than this.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Valerie

my dog took a while to get the hold concept down also. Did some of the same things, pawing and spitting the bumper out etc. Just keep after it. I used smatfetch also.

I found praise when the bumper is first placed in the mouth the most effective time and watch for signs of the dog starting to spit the roller, give a stern no and if needed chin bump at the first signs. this should help.

I am just a beginner so some more experienced people will be more help.

Russell

I teach hold first also. But what I do is different, but taken my suggestion carefully since the program you are using is proven. Also, try to post your question on RTN. Evan Graham will post on that site questions about his program. Now what I do

I put a glove on one hand. Put my hand in his mouth and hold his bottom jaw. He will give you a hard time but i don't take my hand out until he stops fighting and I say drop. I do this and then I start to feel pressure from the dog then I say drop he releases. After awhile the dog learns to hold and when he does not fuss my hand will come out. I hope you understand. But this is just my way.

This is a little trick that my mentor taught me and it works, don't know why it works but it does. When the dog spits the bumper say no and give the dog a good thump in the chest and put the bumper back in quickly repeating hold and give them another thump. The thump on the chest also works great on a dog when they are holding to loosely, they will tighten up there grip when they get thumped. Its not a mirical(sp?) cure but it does help. It seems to get the dogs attention with out getting to intimidating.

With a 9 month old I would use a small white plastic bumper.
With the dog sitting at heel and my right hand holding their collar I would place the bumper in the dog's mouth with my left hand and hold the dog's mouth closed around the bumper giving the command "hold". The dog will initially want to resist but you need to keep the dog sitting and holding the bumper in the dogs mouth. As the dog settles down praise them but continue with the hold command. Then give your release command remove the bumper, let the dog relax for a minute and repeat.
After a few rounds you will need less and less pressure around their nose and chin. When they first start holding I remove my left hand but keep it close. Watch the dog's lower lip when it starts to sag or quiver they are getting ready to drop. Once I start this process I never want the bumper to fall.
I suspend all retrieving for a few days or until you get the dog to the point of sitting holding the bumper, walking at heel with the bumper, and able to remote sit holding and then coming to heel.

It works for me.

Tim

Valerie, I just got thru the hold training on my first CBR pup and also had a little bit of the same issues as you. I used a trick that I read about in Butch Goodwins book where you cover your dogs eyes with your hand. It helped to lengthen the hold out for me and we were able to move on to holding while doing OB within a few days.
Good luck, Ron

Hi Valerie, I found a book written by a guy called Charlie Morgan very helpful . He writes a section specifically dealing with the "softer" dog. I found it useful when dealing with my young dog , who pawed me, rolled over on his back etc.

Thanks for all of your ideas. I definitely needed help thinking outside of the box.

I started with Craig's suggestion of the chest thump, and so far it is working. We did two sessions on Thursday. The first session she was dropping the bumper like normal and pawing, but the dropping stopped after a few chest thumps. I could even step back away from her and she would hold.

The second session she didn't drop at all, but was still pawing. I stepped back away from her, and while she was pawing, she fell off the FF table (which is the deck of my children's wooden play fort and only about 16 inches high), but she held onto the bumper during and after the fall! Yesterday, there were no drops and no pawing. Hopefully we are progressing again.

Today our session/s will be in the snow - about 2 inches on the ground and quite early for southeast Nebraska.

Mary, I will have to search for that book!

Thanks!

Valerie`

The book is called 'Charles Morgan on Retrievers'. It's quite an old book. I got it second hand on Ailbris Books - www.alibris.com.

Yippee!

We've been doing walking hold for two days, and she is doing great.

Craig, perhaps the best improvement from using the chest thump is her eye contact with me. That has been lacking in all of our training so far, and now I have it!

Valerie

Good to hear its working out for you.