I have a 12 week old that is extremely hesitant about bringing me back her retrieve objects (quail dokken and puppy bumper). Most of the time she tries to go around me or go in another direction, if she does come in it's at a slow trot.
She gets one to two sessions of three retrieves a day and has tons of desire to go get the bumper, but little inclination to bring it back. I realize this is natural and am not overly concerned, but want to know if there is anything else I can do to improve her return.
I have tried every trick I know -from running away, to teasing her with another toy, to using narrow 'alleys'. About half the time I have to reel her in with a rope. I try not to take the bumper away from her and let her hold (and chew ) on it for a few seconds before taking it from her. Always, she gets praise and love for returning to me.
THis pup is from very good lines, I know that doesn't guarantee anything, but I would like her to 'get' the fact that coming back can be just as much fun as going out.
We are training on the come in whistle using pieces of hot dog as reward every two to three times she comes in - and she really comes barrelling to me. No hesitation what-so-ever. I have not used the come in whistle during her retrieves yet and am leery of giving her treats for coming back with a bumper.
any suggestions or- or reassurance - would be great.
Juli

my suggestion would be to keep reeling her in, keep giving lots of praise, eventually she will get the idea, and after all 12 weeks is still pretty young, just keep at it

Sounds to me like you are doing all the right things! Any dog worth its salt wants to keep the retrieve item. This is prey drive at its best! Keep on keepin' on, and coming back will become a habit (since you give the little shaver no other choice!).

Later on, when the pup is much older, you can force fetch, which will cement the handler-dog bond, and all those little problems will disappear.

Lisa

Thanks much,
We will keep on with what we are doing now. I just wanted to see if there was any other 'tricks' I didn't know about.
Juli