retreiving to hand

[Catcher 1 639]

Most pup will drop short or lie down just before you.Some will run behind you and drop it.Or come towards you then run away.The dogs playing.You have to teach the dog to retrieve to hand and sometimes it takes a lot of your time.

[fellpack 7]

you need to build up the confidence of the dog he's stopping short due to uncertainty of what to do drop the dummy a couple of yards and make a fuss of him you may need to attach the long lead. dogs dont like giving away a prize unless he gets something better. the case of doing it with rabbits and not dummies or vise verus is due to the experiance and instict both will happen but make a fuss

[Water Badger 26]

i did try at one point the whole reward thing but being a lurcher he became compleatley pre-ocupied with the fact there may be a free meal v frustrating

[Catcher 1 639]

i did try at one point the whole reward thing but being a lurcher he became compleatley pre-ocupied with the fact there may be a free meal v frustrating

 

 

Do you self a favor go back to fishing

[Water Badger 26]

by saying v frustrating I ment i found the food a hinderance rather than a help so you are recomending i get rid of the dog and go fishing

[tsteve9999 456]

Keep at it mate. I'm a novice to all this too and had the same problems you describe. 3 months ago my dog would run in circles round me before bringing and dropping the dummy at my feet, never to hand. He's slowly but surely got a little better each week until now he retrieves straight back to me every time and to hand about 50% of the time. If it's any help I've found that if you crouch as the dog coms to you it seems encourage the dog closer, and also don't praise as he approaches, wait till you have the ball or dummy in your hand, then give him loads of praise.

Tom

[kev2010 8]

Keep at it mate. I'm a novice to all this too and had the same problems you describe. 3 months ago my dog would run in circles round me before bringing and dropping the dummy at my feet, never to hand. He's slowly but surely got a little better each week until now he retrieves straight back to me every time and to hand about 50% of the time. If it's any help I've found that if you crouch as the dog coms to you it seems encourage the dog closer, and also don't praise as he approaches, wait till you have the ball or dummy in your hand, then give him loads of praise.

Tom

What you have to remember is that while the dog is young this is just a game so runnig round in circles or dropping short is his way of getting you to chase him.you need to give him something that he values more than what you want him to give you.Whatever reward you use,yes only give when hes done what you want him to do.Again as i said before,a little often & if its not working out give it a rest for a few days.Keep it relaxed & fun.

As lurchers are not bred fo retrieving its a game they can soon get bored of.I have also found that a well exercised dog is easyer to train than a dog that is full of energy.As i said before you will find that when hes catching rabbits you will probably be back to him running round with it & not bringing it back.Once hes used to this new sensation of warm rabbit that hes had to work to catch he should in time bring them straight back.If you lucky & its a game he enjoys it wont take long.If he doesnt it could take months/years or never.One of mine is nearly 5 & hes probably only ever retreived about a dozen rabbits.He just sits with it & waits for me to fetch it.My other dog is about 2 & half & retrieves well,but will still on ocasion run round with them.

I think its also worth remembering that in a wild pack not even the pack leader would take a kill from a lower ranking pack member,so you must not take from him but he must give to you.Kev