Retreiving training

[MACRORIE 1]

How you doing lads, I'm looking for advice on getting my Lurcher bitch to retrive, she's 18month now and when she was a pup (3-12months) her retreiving was good but now she's just lost it all together, when we'r trying to practice she just chases her dummy and then takes it to her bed or walks away with it! Any advice on how to maybe start from the beginning of retreiving training would be great! Cheers in advance Darren

[Born Hunter 17,775]

How you doing lads, I'm looking for advice on getting my Lurcher bitch to retrive, she's 18month now and when she was a pup (3-12months) her retreiving was good but now she's just lost it all together, when we'r trying to practice she just chases her dummy and then takes it to her bed or walks away with it! Any advice on how to maybe start from the beginning of retreiving training would be great! Cheers in advance Darren

 

Do you have a retreive command that she understands what it means? 'fetch it' or whatever. I find the best thing is to let the pup have a bit of a mad one and then get something they REALLY want, food if that works or a favourite toy or whatever, let them see what you have got get them excited about it then try your retreive, if they understand what you are saying they should at least make an effort. Small steps, if the retreive doesnt go to plan then break it down into smaller steps. Throw the dummy close and as they pick it up immediately take it with the release command ('dead' or whatever) and reward like a nutter! This makes the dog realise you want them to give you the dummy, then next time when they pick it up and you dont immediately take it from them they should give it to you to get their reward. Also try crouching down for the retreive as standing can be quite confrontational for a dog, let alone a pup, and so may make them reluctant to retreive right to hand. One last thing on the reward, what i have found great is to have a bit of a fight/tug of war with a rope toy. I know hardcore gundog trainers will be having a pink fit at that suggestion but if your release command is solid then its a good way of training, no fighting over the dummy just a good tug on the rope as a reward.

 

Thats my limited experience anyway, and one last thing, lurchers sicken of retreiving easily, couple retreives then do something else.

[rickyspringer 15]

Erm it sounds like you have caused a few problem with the retrieving, The first thing I would be working on, is the recall. If that was 100% the dog will be returning to you, not its bed or running away!

 

Secondly you may of bored the dog with retrieves, Less is honestly more in alot of cases. If you feel you done too much retrieving when the dog was younger really lay off it for a good few weeks or months.

 

I would then steadily introduce a dummy maybe with a rabbit skin, don't throw this dummy at first over a sustained period I would tease the dog with it in an enclosed area, the dummy is yours and the dog must have the thirst to want it, lots of playing and fussing when the dog wants it and shows huge interest.

 

Following that you will soon know when the dog is ready to move on to a play retrieve, remeber to stay in the enclosed area where you have been playing and then out of the blue throw the dummy in a close proximity, as soon as the dog picks it up & i'm sure it will if the whole process is followed correctly lots of fuss & call the dog in. DON'T RUSH TO TAKE DUMMY, just lots of fuss again & then after a few moments, take the dummy with lots of fuss again.

 

If the dog performs that first retrieve leave it at that for another day, then gradually you will be build up to the real retrieve.

 

Hope I have made sense to you pal,all of this has came from experience. I know how irritating it is, when its not going right and the dog has no interest. GOOD LUCK

[PolarIce 0]

Erm it sounds like you have caused a few problem with the retrieving, The first thing I would be working on, is the recall. If that was 100% the dog will be returning to you, not its bed or running away!

 

Secondly you may of bored the dog with retrieves, Less is honestly more in alot of cases. If you feel you done too much retrieving when the dog was younger really lay off it for a good few weeks or months.

 

I would then steadily introduce a dummy maybe with a rabbit skin, don't throw this dummy at first over a sustained period I would tease the dog with it in an enclosed area, the dummy is yours and the dog must have the thirst to want it, lots of playing and fussing when the dog wants it and shows huge interest.

 

Following that you will soon know when the dog is ready to move on to a play retrieve, remeber to stay in the enclosed area where you have been playing and then out of the blue throw the dummy in a close proximity, as soon as the dog picks it up & i'm sure it will if the whole process is followed correctly lots of fuss & call the dog in. DON'T RUSH TO TAKE DUMMY, just lots of fuss again & then after a few moments, take the dummy with lots of fuss again.

 

If the dog performs that first retrieve leave it at that for another day, then gradually you will be build up to the real retrieve.

 

Hope I have made sense to you pal,all of this has came from experience. I know how irritating it is, when its not going right and the dog has no interest. GOOD LUCK

 

Excellent post, use the same myself