Teaching the "hold" for the retrieves - Page 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcW3rV8SoAc

Malachai vom Geistwasser 8mo. 

That time of the year for some indoor training so decided to teach the "hold" for the retrieves. I am very happy with the progress in just a week and a half.


Denise

Very nice!  Nice looking dog too.
Deb

I think the retrieve of the dumbbell can be one of the most difficult things to train. So in the case where one has the dog taking the dumbbell and holding it, I think it is great progress.

However, for my money, I would not use a clicker (that is personal choice and nothing wrong with those who can do it effectively).  Most importantly, I would NOT allow the dog to be dropping it. This may well come back to haunt you sometime. He is learning that it is ok to drop it at your feet. That is not what must be done in the end. So I would, at such a point, be trying to play tug of war with him a bit with it, and then step to the side and hold on to the dumbbell and have him give it up to you, but not while standing directly in front of him. I would keep my hand on the dumbbell too so that he did not drop it, but was getting used to my taking it.

I would also do the beginning phases of this differently, but there are a variety of methods and the important thing is to find one that works and stick with it. However, as a general issue, I like to train for the task, in small steps, for sure, but without creating additional problems that I will have to correct later on. Letting him drop the dumbbell gives him the wrong impression of the task. In my experience, such a problem WILL resurface later and that leads to frustration and confusion for the dog and handler.

Good luck.

Thanks and yes I agree Hodie, my friend told me the same thing just this am. I am going to start going to the side of him and then click. I also use the clicker in the beginning stages of teaching and then go to a verbal marker, timing is very important in the teaching phase and the clicker is a good tool for me. I don't want to use the "out" very often while he is in front of me so going to the side will be better. I just started this a week and a half ago so changing things now for the better should be no problem. Foundation is very important and I don't want to mess things up since he has alot of potential.

I am always open for ideas and showing a video can be a good tool and getting suggestions is also a good thing. Will post another video after we change things a bit.

Denise

 Denise,

If you have access to it, you might also want to take a look at how Bernhard Flinks teaches the retrieve. And I have seen several other methods which work really well. The bottom line is that with all the dogs I have worked with, nothing works for every dog. So one has to be creative and analyze what is going on and try different things. However, once you find something that works, stick with it. Just be careful not to create additional problems in how you are training. 

I think moving to the side is one way. No, you need not use "aus" but you could as long as it is associated with positive and not negative things in the mind of the dog. You might also put a leash on the dog, keep it very short, and while you tell the dog "hold", slip one hand under the chin, then give a command to out, or click and be prepared to catch the dumbbell so the dog is not spitting it out on the floor.

But you have a big part of this done. I have always found it very interesting in how many dogs simply won't want to take the damn thing in the first place. This has been true with so many dogs who even love to carry around fireplace logs, the dumbbell when I am not looking etc. So for these dogs, I try to build drive and eagerness for them to get it, and then gradually, and I mean gradually, turn it more and more towards the real thing. Of course, there are those people too who would use compulsion on this task, but in my experience, it is not something I like to do and I believe it often backfires. Eventually however, even a really positive method and a great dog may end up with a day where the dog says, "forget this, I don't want to do this". That becomes the real challenge then to make the dog want to do it again.

Good luck. Looks like you are making good progress. Just don't do it too often and bore the dog.

Thanks Hodie, Kai has tons of drive so not worried about boring him, I work him for about 10min and we are done. I am back chaining the retrieve piece by piece. He knows "aus" very well so not worried about that and for me I will add that in at the end. I just did a few min of me going to the side of him and he picked up on that very well and also me giving him the verbal marker and taking the wood before it falls to the ground while in front position. I am also adding in the "bring" and he is coming quick and fast to the front position but only a foot away and will gradually make it further and further.

Denise

Denise,

Sounds like you are making great progress. This particular task makes trouble for many people who make so many mistakes that they never can teach this task and therefore, end up failing SchH 1 obedience.
Keep it up and good luck.

He's Lookin Good Denise!!

VERY nice!  I like his solid grip, no chewing.