Training Question - retrieve - Page 1

hi !

you already went one step too far if you want to do it like that.
the dog does not give you the dumbell because it is prey for him.


first of all the dog has to learn how to hold it. (without prey drive on the dumbell! just for obedience)
let the dog sit in front of you (on a lead of course) and place either treats or a ball or whatever he likes on the ground besides you so that the dog cannot reach it.

put the dumbell in his mouth, if he lets it fall: try again. if he holds it for just a second you take it, say "okay" or "fine" or whatever your dog understands and he can go and take the ball, the treats etc and you can play with him.
you have to do a few units and the dog will soon understand: if I hold this thing, I'll get my ball!!


maybe you can google and you'll find the further steps....

bye

eve

My suggestion is to play the two hoses game. Get two pieces of hose about 10 inches long 9auto heater hose lasts longer than a garden hose). Stand in the middle of the field and throw one hose to one side. When he gets it, show the other hose and wiggle it to get his interest. he will come running back to you to get it most likely with the first hose in his mouth.  Just keep the second hose 'alive' until he drops the first one,and then immediately throw the second hose in the opposite direction.  Pick up the first hose and entice him back.  it take a little , bit but they learn to immediately run back to you looking for the other hose, and will drop the first hose  to get the second one.  This is a great exercise, as it keeps you at the center. You can also teach the out command here, and easily transfer it to the dumbbell retrieve.  .  This is from the book Schutzhund, Obedience Training in Drive. 

Hi,

I have done the sit in front take the dumbell hold, aus and reward. He plays the 2 hose game beautifully, he even retrieves the ball over the jumps and presents.. he knows the exercise...it is just with the dumbell., which is what I can't understand...

If pain was the motivator for your forced retrieve, you did it incorrectly and should not do it again.

Can you give some further information please?  When you say "he is not keen to bring it back" what exactly does he do with it?  Does he run away with it, bring it back but very slowly or something else?  Do you build any drive for the dumbell before you throw it?   How is his recall from the down out of motion?  Is it very fast, does he come in straight?

Hi Sueinc,

He brings it back to within about 2 metersand quite quickly, then stands and stares at me, as if to say come and try take it! If I move towards him he moves away. I thought it could be possessiveness, but he does not do it with the ball. I do not build drive as he is quite driven for it already.
He comes in from the down very quickly and straight and even if he has been rewarded with the ball during ob if I say bring he does. It is just the dumbell.
I tried using the ball to bring him in as shown by Robbie de Jong but then he drops the dumbell as soon as he sees the ball. Which is not really what I want either...

Phil, pain is never the motivation for a forced retrieve, I just said he does not like pain and I don't even at this point need a pinch in the ob. Up to now he has been a very easy dog to work with which is why I am very reluctant to even have to think of going down that route!

i am in 100% agreeance with phil.

Interested to know what entails a "forced retrieve".  Could Phil and Yoshy please give details.  Thank you.

I am no expert but I am training my dog for SchH 1 at the mo and seem to be doing some things which might help you - I don't know but you could try.

My dog was taught to hold the dumbell without mouthing to begin with.

| now use the ball as his reward for bringing the dumbell back. He will bring it back to me but a bit slowly so we are working on getting him to speed up. I send him for the dumbell and then when he is on his way back I use the clicker (could be OK or yes I guess) and throw his ball behind me. He is allowed to drop the dumbell but only when I click. Sometimes he gets a click when he is on his way back if he is coming in really fast - other times only when he presents it properly. The ball always has to go behind me so that he doesn't slow down in anticipation of me throwing it to him. It's taking time but there is definite progress.

As I say - not trying to profess to be an expert but my trainer recommended this and it does seem to be paying off.