Tips to stop chewing the dumbbell - Page 2

When you are ready to teach the retrieve use a dumbbell not a ball. Have someone, who knows what they're doing, teach the dog the forced retrieve. Some do it on their own dogs, but there is a lot of conflict and stress involved. This is, IMO, the only way to do it if you want a sure thing. Also, this isn't an overnight thing so be patient.

I wouldn't start with the forced retrieve myself.  I like teaching the "hold" with PVC seperate from everything.  Then I can introduce the dumbell. 

I don't "out" the dumbell from in front so there is no conflict there.

I can put a little pulling pressure on the dumbell so they have to hold it tighter in their mouths

I do use the Motivational retrieve for teaching and I never reward until the dumbell is held calmly in the mouth of course while varying the times.

If I have to use force later I can, everything is clear, the dog has fun, and much less stress. 

Ob's foundation is in motivation, bitework is in motivation, why not the retrieve??  When I had to use force, it was clear very quickly that holding the dumbell meant holding it no matter what and bringing it back no matter what. It was quick, clear, and my dog still loves the retrieves.

Chewing can sometimes be related to stress and anticipation of outing the dumbbell.  When the dog brings the dumbell back to me and I want him to out, I step to the basic position and out from the side.  Outing from the front and standing over the dog is a very dominant position, hence the stress.  I only out the dog maybe once out of every 15 or so Brrrings.  I either play tug with the dumbell or give them the free command to run with the dumbbell.  Often I'll platz them and out from the platz while in free mode. For speed the dog must enjoy what they are doing.  Nothing kills drive like compulsion, constant repetition and routine.  Keep it fun and keep him guessing.  If your dog likes to play fetch and bring items back to you the hard part is done.

Good Luck,

Kyle

It matters not whether you have a high or low drive dog, dumbell chewing/mouithing call it what you will is just the result of poor training.  End of.

Teach the dog what you want, in incremental steps and you will never have a dog that chews the dumbell.

For what it is worth, here is what I am doing with my 13 month old male, and what I did with my 4 year old female.

From time that they are puppies, with Jager I brought him home at 6 months so that is a bit different, but we started right away.

First I started by just finding the natural drive to retrieve things with my dogs, throwing a ball, or a kong, and letting them chase the toy, there wasn't any obedience here, but I wanted them to get the idea of going after things that I throw.

Once I am ready to start teaching the retrieve for obedience, I put the dog on a long line (20-30 foot line) and make them sit next to me while I throw a tug, I make them stay calm from the very beginning, and if they move I say no, and start over.  If I have to say no, I put the dog in a down, pick up the toy and start again.  I used to throw a kong, but it was bouncing all over the place and it ended up being further away than I wanted it to be, so I make the dog sit, and throw the tug out a small distance at first, once the dog is settled I can throw the toy with the dog being calm, I tell the dog bring very excited voice "bring" the dog already wants to go get the toy, so now they fire off like a rocket.  I follow with the line to ensure it never goes tight, and once the dog picks up the tug, I tell them "bring" and start "reeling" them in.

I DO NOT ask for a hold, or for a straight front, because I am only teaching the dog to retrieve and come back to me.

I started this with Sasha when she was a pup out of accident really, I thought it was fun to make her wait for the ball to stop rolling and then go get it when I told her so.  I never realized how much this "imprinting" would relate to our success in the dumbbells for Schutzhund.

I DO NOT believe and have had MANY arguments with dear friends over the fact that you MUST have forced retrieves. 

I believe that if you imprint the dog, that this is the way to do things, you will create that habit of always bringing the dumbbell back.

I can also say that at my club which has 15 members, four or five of which have competed nationally, and two who were selected for the FCI team - one as an alternate- that none of my club members have trained "forced" retrieves in the sense of intense pressure on the dog. 

So people call reeling the dog in on a long line as force, I guess I technically am making the dog come back to me, but there is absolutely no conflict there.

I have not finished my male at all on the retrieves, he is only starting the retrieve with the toy, but he is super fast and coming back to me more directly every time we do this.

My female is finished, ShcH3 and in most of our trials we have scored in the high VG to V in our dumbbells.  At our first Regional Championship I threw the dumbbell so far to the left that everyone thought I was crazy for not asking for a re-throw, but I was too nervous to do anything but say "hop" and my girl went out and over, picked up the dumbbell, looked directly at  me line of sight, went back to the hurdle, jumped and came to the front position.

There was NEVER any FORCE per se other than using a long line to reel her back into me.

Sorry this got a little off of the topic for "Chewing" but for the actual dumbbells

As for the chewing, I used a wooden dowel when I was teaching the "hold" that was a bit of pressure in the sense that it was not fun for Sasha if she dropped the dowel, she got popped under the chin, but when she held it she got really yummy chicken cubes.  I did this for about 1-2 solid minutes about 9 times a day over a three to four day period, and she un