Tips to stop chewing the dumbbell - Page 1

Hello.

We are just starting the "bring" command and we are working with a ball, not a dumbbell at this time.  My bitch loves to adjust the ball in her mouth and chew. 

What tips do you have to stop this?  I wasn't having a great time out there with her today and didn't quite know how to deal with the issue.

Thanks in advance.

Change her pedigree.

Sorry, couldn't resist.  ;)

Chewing the dumbell is usually something one cannot get rid of completely except sometimes with force, and not always then. Its something I have been living with with some of my high-drive-nutso working lines for years... some not, but some... definitely just have to eat the points.

SS

Do more exercises outside of retrieves.    I like the Flinks method of building drive.   Build the drive and do your short circles with the dog  carrying the ball.  Make sure you are going at a good enough speed to where the dog isn't concentrating on regripping.  Aftera few circles call the dog in and rotate between just calming the dog down with slow strokes,  playing tug with the ball, and outing.  The cool thing about tug is that he has to grip it as hard as he can or it is out. 

When you are doing the retrieve with your dog, it is funny what will calm the dog down and make them grip.  Sometimes a finger on top of the muzzle and sometimes under the chin.  One old trick is to treat that dumbell the same as you do your ball.  If the only thing the dog knows, is that he retrieves the dumbell and has to immediately give it to you, then he is going to get chewy.  Some people use the reward for the retrieve and out of the dumbell and they immediately give them food, a tug, or a ball.  Every dog is different and requires a different touch.  One thing that works well is to play with the dumbell like it is a tug.   Dogs are easily conditioned and if everytime you reach for the dumbell with two hands, he understands that you are going to play tug, then he is going to grip like no tomorrow. Then if you only use one hand to out, he will pick that up in no time. 

If I asked you to go to McDonalds every day and you brought it back only for me to take it from you, how are you going to react?  I guess that is why some still believe in a forced retrieve.  They have to grip it or the pain will come crashing down!

Anyways, I'm rambling and I don't even know what I just wrote.  Good luck!

Get a ball that is not as chewy for starters. The ball you are probably using is a hollow tennis ball (fuzzy and weak ball, has probably had a chance to destroy several of them in the past, not good), or a hollow rubber ball on a string. If she can chew it and work it back and forth in her mouth, it has too much give. Too much give encourages chewing. Compare to chewing gum vs hard candy. Chewing gum you chew on even if you do not really intend to. So get a ball that is stronger and harder, has less give and try different sizes and weights too. 
You can play with two balls so that her attention is on the ball in your hand, not so much on the one in her mouth.
When she brings it back place your hand under her chin to calm the mouth. Reward a still mouth with a kind word, out the ball and throw it again for reward.
Do not play with the ball when she gets tired. As her concentration goes, and as she gets more tired she will be more prone to chew.
You can put a longer rope on the ball so that you have a connection to the ball after you have thrown it. Keep some pressure on it, light pressure, so that she feels that she would loose the ball if she would readjust it in her mouth. 
Other than that keep it light til you start with the actual retrieve with the dumbell. That is part of work, not so much play.

Teach "Hold" seperate from "Bring".  Use a piece of 1" PVC pipe.  I like the "Hold" command taught with nylon choker and the actual retrieve done with drive.  It comes together well.  Remember, the retrieves are worth a lot of points, so it is worth spending the time to make it correct. 

i TOO HAVE CHEWY DOGS AND I SWITCHED TO THE     PVC   1" PIPE    AND PUT IT AWAY AFTER WORK...

THERE IS A BALL AT WALMART WITH A LIGHT IN IT......PERFECT SIZE AND THEY CANT CHEW IT...ITS IN A CARDBOARD HANG WITH A NEW OVER IT...AND IT LIGHTS      8.99     USE AT NIGTH  AND THEY CANT CHEW IT UP.....

Thanks for the tips.  I will get started on this problem asap.

I have a friend who has an unevenly weighted dumbbell.  She says that the dog has to grip it tightly ot the weight imbalance will cause the dog to drop it.  Supposedly, the dog will learn to associate that with always holding the (any) dumbbell very tightly.  I have not tried this but it may be something I will consider because I never NEVER want to train a retrieve with force again. 

Lorri

Lorri   Me either   I watched it done in my club for two years , and I said no way ,    hosea....I think there are too many other ways......an uneven dumbbell might work   .....but a hard pipe and hard   ball with suggestions above to hold and use those as a transfer to the dumbell  will lhelp     ...

some always try the gumming and its a habit you have to address when they are small,,,I made the mistake in providing a whole pen full of  tennis balls from puppiehood and i made the wrong mistake......if they start gumming  they  will continue it....just like the circling .....when they start the circling , best catch it from the beginning and get it out......they start that at as early as 6 months old.....one of mine did it Saturday and the trainer looking at him ,,said   ok   here is what I do  and he uses the garden hose  ...cant see that but he is a good trainer and I would have to see him do it to tell you how he stops the little habit.....

Next week or two  I will learn what you do and let you know...im sure the professionals here already know...but   I am never too old to learn a new trick.....