Older dogs and teaching take it with dumbbell - Page 1

Any suggestions to get an older dog (6 years) interested in the dumbbell? My girl has no use for it! I know with a puppy if you start young it is easy to get them to take a dumbbell and want to retrieve it etc. But what about the older dog? If I put it on the flirt pole she will chase it, but not pick up the dumbbell, grabs the line instead. I have wrapped the bar with a tensor bandage to make it softer for her, but she still won't put her mouth on it. I hold a treat behind the bar but she just noses the dumbbell out of the way to get the treat, she will touch it with her closed mouth, but no way in heck will she open her mouth so that i can jackpot her for taking it in her mouth. If I throw it and race her to it she will chase and race me to it, but will not try to pick it up before I do. When not working with it I keep it where she can see it and I fuss over it anytime I walk past it and make it a special toy but she couldn't care less about it. I am using a plastic invincebell dumbbell from J&J dog supplies, for sizing it has been made custom for her mouth. Any ideas?

Here is a good treat method of teaching the dumbells...

 

THIS IS A FOOD INCENTIVE RETRIEVE METHOD FOR THE RETRIEVER AND NON-RETRIEVER AS WELL. THIS METHOD IS WELL TRIED ON NOVICES AND ON FAILURES FROM OTHER METHODS. MOST NOVICES RETRIEVE A THROWN DUMBBELL BY THE END OF ONE EVENING AFTER THE DUMBBELL IS INTRODUCED. REAL HARD NOSES WILL TAKE TWO OR THREE EVENINGS. THE MOST STUBBORN MAY TAKE A WEEK. THE MOST SUPER DEFIANT HAS TAKEN 11 EVENINGS (AN EVENING IS 3-5 HOURS).

 

RULES

 

1. QUIT WHEN YOU GET TIRED; DON’T GET UPSET WITH THE DOG

2. ALWAYS REMOVE, REWARD, PRAISE (HEREAFTER CALLED RRP)

3. NO REWARD FOR DROPPED ITEMS

4. NO SKIPPING STEPS; YOU WILL REGRET IT LATER

5. LS = LEARNING SEQUENCE: DO EACH STEP THREE TIMES, HEEL DOG IN A

SMALL CIRCLE, DO STEP 3 TIMES, HEEL IN CIRCLE, DO STEP 3 TIMES, REST

DOG 3-5 MINUTES. (EACH STEP IS DONE A TOTAL OF 9 TIMES)

6. REMEMBER: REST PERIODS ARE JUST THAT. DO NOT PLAY WITH THE DOG.

7. THE DOG MUST DO EACH STEP PROPERLY (CORRECTLY 9 TIMES) BEFORE

ADVANCING TO ANOTHER STEP.

8. IF THE DOG REFUSES TO TAKE THE DUMBELL, IT IS FORCED BY BRUSHING

THE TEETH OR, IF NEEDED, FORCING THE JAWS OPEN, THEN RRP, REPEAT

THE EXERCISE.

9. THREE REFUSALS IN A ROW IS REGRESSION. WHEN YOUR DOG REGRESSES

(HE WILL), REST 10 MINUTES AND BEGIN 2 STEPS BACK.

10. THE DUMBELL IS PRESENTED FROM ABOVE AND THE COMMAND TO RETRIEVE

IS GIVEN AS THE DUMBELL IS EVEN WITH THE DOG’S EYES ( DUMBBELL ENDS

UP TOUCHING MUZZLE, UNDER NOSE) UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED.

 

INTRODUCTION TO THE DOWEL

* IT SHOULD BE THE SIZE OF THE BAR ON THE DUMBBELL

 

THIS HOMEWORK IS TO BE DONE BEFORE YOU START THE DUMBBELL; I DO THIS DURING

THE WEEK BEFORE. THE DOG SHOULD BE IN ADVANCED NOVICE OR PRE-OPEN TRAINING.

 

EQUIPMENT:

• 1 EVEN-TEMPERED TRAINER

• 1 HUNGRY DOG – FASTED 12 HOURS

• 1 DOWEL – LONG ENOUGH TO EXTEND JUST SLIGHTLY EITHER SIDE OF MUZZLE

• 1 BIG BOWL OF GOODIES. CUT INTO ¼” CUBES

• 1 CHAIR

• 1 UNINTERUPTED BLOCK OF TIME – 15 MINUTES TO 2 HOURS

 

 THE TAKE

 STEP1:DOG AT HEEL/SIT; NO LEASH; GOODIE IN RIGHT HAND, DOWEL IN LEFT HAND

• PRESENT DOWEL FROM ABOVE DOG’S EYE LEVEL. COMMAND TAKE AS DOWEL

PASSES EYE LEVEL.

• IF NECESSARY, FORCE THE DOWEL INTO MOUTH (BY BRUSHING TEETH OR OPEN JAWS)

• IMMEDIATELY RRP-LS

 STEP 2: DOG, GOODIES, ETC. SAME AS STEP 1

• PRESENT DOWEL, COMMAND TAKE

• HOLD ONTO END OF DOWEL, OR HOLD MOUTH GENTLY SHUT, WAIT 5 SECONDS, RRP –LS.

 THE HOLD

 STEP 1: CHAIR WITH GOODIES IN FRONT OF HANDLER AND DOG, AT ARM’S LENGTH, DOG

IN HEEL/SIT

• PRESENT DOWEL, COMMAND TAKE

• WITH HAND UNDER CHIN (IF NECESSARY) TO PREVENT DROP, COMMAND HOLD

• REACH TO CHAIR, GRAB GOODIE, RRP – LS

•  

ANY TIME THE DOWEL IS DROPPED, PUT THE GOODIE BACK, PRESENT THE DOWEL AGAIN, AND BE QUICK ABOUT THE GOODIE!!

 

STEP 2: CHAIR WITH GOODIES ABOUT 1 STEP IN FRONT OF HANDLER & DOG; DOG IN

HEEL/SIT.

• PRESENT DOWEL, COMMAND TAKE

• (IF NEEDED) COMMMAND HOLD, COMMAND STAY, STEP TO CHAIR, RETURN WITH GOODIE, RRP – LS.

 STEP 3: CHAIR WITH GOODIES ABOUT 3 STEP AWAY; DOG IN HEEL/SIT

• PRESENT DOWEL; COMMAND TAKE

• COMMAND STAY, STEP TO CHAIR, MOVE IT 1 STEP FURTHER AWAY, RETURN WITH GOODIE, RRP – LS.

 THE CARRY

 STEP 1: CHAIR ABOUT 20-30 FEET AWAY ( OR 2 CHAIRS 30 FT. APART SAVES STEPS – USE

ONLY 1 GOODIE BOWL AND CARRY IT BACK AND FORTH)

• PRESENT DOWEL, COMMAND TAKE

• COMMAND STAY, WALK TO CHAIR, PICK UP GOODIE, TURN TO FACE DOG, COMMAND COME. RRP –LS.

 YOU ARE WORKING ONLY ON THE HOLD – CARRY. DO NOT CORRECT THE DOG FOR OTHER IMPERFECTIONS AT THIS TIME. ENCOURAGE THE DOG WITH EXTRA COMMANDS AND PRAISE.

 STEP 2: GOODIES IN POCKET. IF YOU HAVE EQUOPMENT, JUMP TRAINING RING; HIGH

JUMP AT 8”, BAR JUMP AT 8”, 2 BOARDS BACK TO BACK; JUMPS CENTERED ON

3 OF THE 4 SIDES OF RING.

* HEEL 5-10 PACES; WHILE MOVING COMMAND TAKE

* AFTER 3-8 PACES, HALT, RRP. IF DOG ENCOUNTERS JUMP, USE JUMP COMMAND, 

IF DOG DROPS DOWEL, PICK IT UP, HALT, RE-PRESENT DOWEL, RRP –LS

 

IF DOG DROPS DOWEL, PICK IT UP, HALT, RE-PRESENT DOWEL, RRP –LS.

 

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PLEASE NOTICE THE LACK OF NEGATIVE TRAINING. A CORRECTION IS HAVING TO DO IT OVER AGAIN WITH HELP TO PREVENT ERROR SO THE DOG CAN BE REWARDED FOR “HIS/HER” SUCCESS. THIS WILL PREVAIL THROUGHOUT THIS TRAINING METHOD. THE DOG WORKS FOR THE REWARD, BUT LOVES THE TRAINING BECAUSE HE IS NOT PUNISHED AND HE ALWAYS SUCCEEDS.

 

YOU ARE NOW READY TO START WITH THE DUMBBELL

 

YOU ARE NOW READY TO EMBARK ON THIS NEW TRAINING PROGRAM. SET YOUR MIND FOR THE POSITIVE APPROACH! YOUR DOG HAS EXPERIENCED THE RETRIEVE COMMAND, THE HOLD COMMAND., AND THE LEARNING SEQUENCE. FAST THE DOG FOR 12 HOURS, AND (IF POSSIBLE) ALLOW THE DOG ABOUT AN HOUR TO MEDITATE IN SILENCE AND SOLITUDE BEFORE THE BEGINNING THE SESSION. HE SHOULD CONSIDER HOW NICE IT IS TO BE WITH YOU, TO TRAIN WITH YOU, TO BE PRAISED BY YOU, AND ALSO THAT HE’S HUNGRY. GET YOUR DUMBBELLS AND GET GOING!!!!!

 

DUMBBELLS RETRIEVE TRAINING

 

TAKE: PRESENT DUMBBELL, COMAND TAKE

• DOG TAKES DUMBBELL IN MOUTH, TRAINER HOLD, RRP, LS

• DOG TAKES DUMBBELL, DOG HOLDS, RRP, LS

 

REACH: PRESENT DUMBBELLS, COMMAND TAKE

• DOG REACHES 1” IN FRONT OF NOSE, TRAINER HOLDS, RRP, LS

• DOG REACHES 1”, DOG HOLDS, RRP, LS

• DOG REACHES TO COLLAR HEIGHT, TRAINER HOLDS, RRP, LS

• DOG REACHES TO COLLAR HEIGHT, DOG HOLDS, RRP, LS

• DOG REACHES TO ELBOW HEIGHT, TRAINER HOLDS, RRP, LS

• DOG REACHES TO ELBOW HEIGHT, DOG HOLDS, RRP, LS

• DOG REACHES TO FLOOR (DO NOT TAKE HANDS OFF), TRAINER HOLDS, RRP, LS

• DOG REACHES TO FLOOR, DOG HOLDS, RRP, LS

 

HOLD: GOODIES 6 FEET FROM TRAINER; DOG MAY SIT OR STAND; PRESENT DUMBBELL,

COMMAND TAKE.

• DOG REACHES 1”, DOG HOLDS, RRP, LS

• DOG REACHES COLLAR HEIGHT, DOG HOLDS, RRP, LS

• DOG REACHES ELBOW HEIGHT, DOG HOLDS, RRP, LS

• DOG REACHES TO FLOOR, DOG HOLDS, RRP, LS

• TRAINER HOLDS ONE END OF DUMBBELL ON FLOOR, DOG HOLDS, RRP, LS

• TRAINER PLACES DUMBBELL ON FLOOR, DOG HOLDS, RRP, LS

 

PLACE RETRIEVE: GOODIES BEHIND TRAINER, DOG STANDS…

• TRAINER PLACES DUMBBELL ON FLOOR AND THEN COMMANDS; DOG HOLDS,

RRP, LS

• TRAINER TAKES 1 STEP, PLACES DUMBELL ON FLOOR, TAKE, DOG HOLDS, RRP, LS

• TRAINER TAKES 1 STEP, PLACES DUMBBELL, TAKE, TAKES 2 STEPS BACKWARDS

DOG CARRIES, RRP, LS

• TRAINER TAKES 1 STEP, PLACES DUMBBELL, 1 STEP BACK TO DOG, TAKE, DOG CARRIES, RRP, LS

 

• TRAINER TAKES 2 STEPS, PLACES DUMBBELL, 2 STEP BACK TO DOG, TAKE, DOG CARRIES, RRP, LS

• TRAINER TAKES 3 STEPS, PLACES DUMBBELL, 3 STEPS BACK TO DOG, TAKE, DOG CARRIES, RRP, LS

 

 

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IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE DOG BE PERFORMING SUCCESSFULLY ON ALL OF THE STEPS UP TO THIS POINT BEFORE YOU CONTINUE. REMEMBER – DON’T SKIP ANY OF THE STEPS, DO THE ENITIRE LEARNING SEQUENCE “LS” PROPERLY BEFORE PROGRESSING TO THE NEXT STEP. IF THE DOG REGRESSES, DROP BACK 2 STEPS. BE PATIENT!!

 

RETRIEVE: GOODIES BEHIND TRAINER, DOG STANDS, COMMAND TAKE WHILE

DUMBBELL IS MOVING.

• TRAINER SLIDES DUMBBELL OUT 3 FEET ON FLOOR, DOG CARRIES, RRP, LS

• TRAINER SLIDES DUMBBELL OUT 6 FEET ON FLOOR, DOG CARRIES, RRP, LS

• TRAINER SLIDES DUMBBELL OUT 9 FEET ON FLOOR, DOG CARRIES, RRP, LS

• TRAINER TOSSES DUMBBELL OUT 3 FEET ON FLOOR, DOG CARRIES, RRP, LS

• TRAINER TOSSES DUMBBELL OUT 6 FEET ON FLOOR, DOG CARRIES, RRP, LS

• TRAINER TOSSES DUMBBELL OUT 9 FEET ON FLOOR, DOG CARRIES, RRP, LS

 

THE REAL THING: GOODIES BEHIND TRAINER, DOG SITS….

• RESTRAIN DOG BY HOLDING COLLAR, COMMAND STAY, TOSS DUMBBELL, 9 FEET

(INCREASE BY 1 FOOT EACH TIME) COMMAND TAKE, DOG RETRIEVES, RRP, LS

• COMMAND STAY, TOSS DUMBBELL 9 FEET (INCREASE 1 FOOT EACH TIME), COMMAND TAKE, DOG RETRIEVES, RRP, LS

 

THE “AFTER: RULES:

ALWAYS OFFER THE DOG HIS/HER REGULAR DIET AFTER TRAINING SESSIONS. FOR THE HARD CORE, SKIP A DAY AFTER 3 TRAINING SESSIONS. KEEP IN MIND THAT NEGATIVE CORRECTIONS ARE NOT TO BE USED UNTIL THE DOG KNOWS WHAT HE/SHE IS TO DO AND REFUSES (UNTIL HE/SHE HAS PERFORMED THE COMMAND RELIABLY FOR OVER A WEEK).

 

FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER THE DOG LEARNS RETRIEVING, HE/SHE MAY RETRIEVE AT THE ODDEST TIMES (STEALING THE DUMBBELL FROM ANY PLACE YOU LAY IT). REMEMBER TO REINFORCE YOUR TRAINING WHEN THIS HAPPENS BY REMOVING AND PRAISING. DO NOT STIFLE THE DOG’S ENTHUSIASM FOR RETRIEVING, IF HE/SHE BREAKS A STAY TO RETRIEVE, SAY AND DO NOTHING, BUT PREVENT THE ERROR NEXT TIME BY RESTRAINING THE DOG AND EMPHASIZING THE STAY COMMAND.

 

REMEMBER THAT CROOKED SITS AND POOR FINISHES SHOULD BE WORKED ON AS SEPARATE EXERCISES; DON’T RUIN A BRISK , HAPPY RETRIEVE BY GRABBING YOUR DOG AND INSISTING ON A PERFECT SIT.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow, thank you so much! This sounds awesome! I will start working on it this way and let you know how it goes.

Glad I could help. This is the method I used when I worked my sheltie in AKC OB. It worked very well.

Jyl,
 You really took time to help a friend and show the way-Thank You.

My dog is 4 years old I have never trained it. She is very disobedient. Is it too late to train her?

What`s the dogs general playing like, does she play tug? it looks like she is lucking this a little or it has been supressed at an earlier stage. For a retrieve you need drive to the dumbbell!
I do not involve food in training the retrieve I use only their prey drive and in particular the "tugging".
Here an extraction of my retrieve training.

 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_uAx8H2arc

  All the best
Ulf