Hi guys,

Ace and I have been training lots and your suggestions on previous threads with using the check cord has worked wonders!!!

One problem I am having (I think its a problem) is Ace is dropping the dummy about 2-3ft prior to coming in as he is expecting a treat. I made the mistake of giving him treats as rewards at an early age so he would give up the object when he arrived to me... but now I think I need to fix this and am unsure how. Are there any suggestions or is this ok at this age?

Thanks,

Conor

Conor,

You do not want to reward the retrieve as the retrieve itself should become the reward. And at this age I wouldn't worry to much about it. When he gets into the hold and force fetch training, this should cure this problem. But if you want to work on it before then there are several things to try. First stop all treats for retrieves! Next, as Ace picks up the dummy, turn and run away from him. Use very light praise for coming to you, but really hold a party with pets and praise if he brings the dummy. Make sure that the praise and party begins only when he gets very near you with the bumper. If he continues to drop the dummy when he sees you moving away, shorten up the retrieve so that as soon as he picks it up and turns you are right there to take it and then heap on the pets and praise. Again drop off the praise when he returns to you without the dummy. As he gets better, you can begin moving further away.

After he has finished his teething, which should be just about to start, you can begin hold training and force fetch and that will cure the problem. But right now he is a puppy, so just use lots of fun and happy play retrieves and don't worry too much about the lack of hold. Also, if you can find a pigeon, you might try him on retrieveing a clipped wing bird. They are generally fairly reluctant to let go of a live bird. Also make sure that you are working on the basic obedience as the pups really soak this up at this age. Leash training, heeling, sits and downs are near mandatory, but other stuff like hand signals (to food bowls), or whistle sits are also good. What you want to do is get the pup to learn how to learn and train.

Tom

Cirrus is doing the same thing right now, and she has never been given treats for retrieves. She had a nice retrieve to hand until she started teething! I am not worrying too much about it right now, and working more on obedience than retrieving since I know her mouth is sore and I don't want to create any connection in her mind between retrieving and pain! The only retrieving we are doing is a couple tosses with a nice light and fluffy paint roller.

Thanks for the responses, yes I think Ace is about to start teething as well.

Obedience is going well and we continue to work on it 2x daily.

By the way how big is Cirrus now? Ace is about 32lbs.

Ok, I just grabbed the scale and the pup! Cirrus is 26.2 lbs. She isn't very tall, but she is built like a brick LOL very solid!

quote:

Originally posted by California Ace's:

One problem I am having (I think its a problem) is Ace is dropping the dummy about 2-3ft prior to coming
Conor

The problem is not Ace dropping the bumper(he's suppose to @ 4 months) it is you not cathing it!

As he comes in move away but when he is within that 2-3 ft lunge back toward him holding the bumper in his mouth with 1 hand as you praise and pet him with the other.
This will make forcing to hold and fetch 2-4 months from now much easier.

JMO
Tim

This message has been edited. Last edited by: timothy carrion,

Does anyone else start teaching hold really young? My personal dogs I normally have holding fairly reliable by the time they are 12-13 weeks. It's not nessisary but it makes the FF process go a little smoother IMHO. My personal dogs have all luckly had a very natural tendence to hold so its just been a matter of reinforcing it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Craig Klein,

quote:

Does anyone else start teaching hold really young? My personal dogs I normally have holding fairly reliable by the time they are 12-13 weeks. It's not nessisary but it makes the FF process go a little smoother IMHO. My personal dogs have all luckly had a very natural tendence to hold so its just been a matter of reinforcing it.

I try to....if I can get the pup to come all the way back to me with the bumper or bird in mouth, I will try to take them by the collar with one hand, and the bird/bumper in the other hand to hold in their mouth while telling them to hold, then after a few seconds give them a give command and lots of praise. If I can keep them focused on me coming back 8 out of 10 times I can do this.

Kathy Miller

Craig & Kathy I don't I let them be puppies for a while. If they come to me holding it I praise pet them and wait till they give it up. I do this so they don't fight me in giving it up later on. I side with Tim in this area.

I let them be puppies because once I get into formal training I will be asking a lot of my dogs and pressure will start.

quote:

Craig & Kathy I don't I let them be puppies for a while. If they come to me holding it I praise pet them and wait till they give it up. I do this so they don't fight me in giving it up later on. I side with Tim in this area.

I don't put any pressure on them....they way I do it, they just think it's part of having fun.

Kathy

Bandit has had a really good natural hold from the day he arrived. We guide him into heel position, and sit him, and he keeps holding. On the rare occasion he has dropped something, I tell him to pick it up again and he does. No fails on that...yet he just turned 5 months - the fun is gonna start now LOL

Cirrus has a brain that is wired differently and there is no way I would expect the above from her, she needs less pressure/expectations at this point. She loves to carry/drag huge objects, but her hold is not reliable like Bandit's is. I give her lots of praise for a hold/delivery to hand, but do not correct for a drop.

Every dog is different for sure!

Kathy I do it the same way your talking about, its all positive reinforcement. I do know I will get a pup someday that won't have that natural tendence to hold and won't force them to do it.. There is no more pressure teaching them hold, then teaching sit. Most people start with simple ob at that age, hold is just part of simple ob with me. My pups get plenty of time to be pups. Its all about knowing your pup some will do it, some won't.

I would not make deliver to hand a priority or at least a negitive experience if not performed. The pup is probably teething and it is quite uncomfortable for pups at that stage. IMO delivery to hand is a inate ability.

Both of my chessies always delivered to hand. If I am not mistaken more then likely all chessies will, its their darn bird and they ain't gonna let anyone have it.

As far as FF, I didn't start doing this until I started running the HT game. Up until then I didn't quite understand the reason behind FF for retrievers.