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Subject: Retrieving

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moosile

Canada

Posts:3

11/20/2010 10:28 PM
Hi Everybody, I am new to the forum here. I have an 11 month shorthair named Moose. His training is coming along quite well but I'm having a few issues with his retrieving. He absolutely loves his ball and loves to bring it back however he will never bring it right back to me. Often he'll circle around and drop it somewhat close by to me but he rarely brings it right back to me. I think at this point he wants a game out of getting it off of him. I never chase so he eventually drops it but never right to me. Other times he'll get distracted by a scent and drop it far away and leave it there. What would be your recommendation? I'd love for him to have a great retrieve! Thanks Geoff

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7862

11/20/2010 11:09 PM
What has always worked for me is I take and chair and a good book and sit down in the yard. I then throw the ball and if my dog brings it back to me then I throw the ball again. If the dog does not bring the ball to me or tries to play games I pick up the book and read, and ignore the dog completely. It rarely takes very long for the dog to realize that to keep the game going they have to bring the ball back to me. I usually get the ball dropped in my lap because I am totally ignoring the dog and the game. If for some reason it takes a while for the dog to bring back the ball I will pick up the chair and book and go inside. The idea is the game only continues if the dog brings the ball back where I want it. Typically I do not say anything to the dog unless he brings it back to me. This has worked like a charm for me every time so far.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

moosile

Canada

Posts:3

11/21/2010 9:30 AM
Thanks for the reply! I did try sitting in a lawn chair in the summer and he did get it some of the time. Other times he would get frustrated and bark or he would just get sidetracked and forget the ball. Any suggestions if I take him to a bigger field?

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7862

11/21/2010 9:46 AM
I would stay in the backyard until he is consistent there before moving to an even more distracting setting like a field. He just needs to learn the barking and playing make the game stop. It is important that you ignore him completely when he does not bring the ball back to you, and that means no talking to him, no smiling or laughing at his antics and no looking at him. If he is taking too long to respond then just pick up the chair and your book and go back in the house, but don't say a word to him. BTW the reason I say read a book is it keeps you from responding to his antics and helps you ignore him completely.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

moosile

Canada

Posts:3

11/23/2010 1:20 PM
Ok that sounds good. I was doing research on a forced retrieve. Is this something I should consult somebody on? I would like to really challenge Moose and give him a bit more to work for.

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4452

11/23/2010 1:55 PM
Moose is doing a great job, he shows lots of cooperation in his desire to bring thing to you - to hand is our idea. It's called training. A trained retrieve is good depending on what you want the final outcome to be. You can teach a formal hold standard and leave it at that. The hold command will give a you a way to correct. We can only correct for a command already known and understood by the dog. When we train commands it gives us much more than a dog who can perform a task. Good luck. Training the retrieve can be a lot of fun. You will find several methods on line. I like Evan Graham and The 10 minute Retriever by John and Amy Dahl.

"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle

Max2

Oneonta NY

MH
Posts:1115

11/23/2010 8:12 PM
Max said to tell you to try a piece of plastic water pipe and sit on a narrow porch . he can walk in but has a tuff time turning around and exiting with out giving you the pipe. The same idea as sitting and reading a book with just a little twist.

Chris

Flash01

SH
Posts:56

12/22/2010 11:06 AM
It all depends on what you are satsified in the field. A 'trained' retrieve will eventually fail when the right circumstance is met, e.g. cold water, brambles, another bird or dog to play with, whatever it might be. But, if that is ok with you, then you are fine. Force fetch training is the only way to ensure that the animal will perform the retrieve regardless of circumstance. I ALWAYS recommend that folks go to a pro for this (unless you plan on training a fair number of dogs, then it might be worth learning to do yourself). It is a very simple concept, but the application can be very challenging and mistakes could cause major problems with your buddy. It has the word force in it for a reason. The trick is to be able to read the dog and apply just the right amount of pressure to achieve success. It can be a little unpleasant at times, especially in the first few days.

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