Lurcher Want Retrieve To Hand

[NickF 50]

Im at the stage with a 5 month bullx pup where I am getting her to retrieve in the hall at home both with a toy and with a toy wrapped in bunny fur. But, in the garden, she will retrieve the toy but not the toy in fur, she would far rather give it a good ragging. I am now also using a fur covered toy on a flirt pole. She hits it well after a good chase but will often play a tug of war before getting it back by me 'reeling it in'. All retrieves to hand are rewarded with treats, I ignore any fails. Any ideas on how to wean her onto retrieving fur to hand in the garden?

 

Many thanks for any advice, great thread :-)

Edited October 12, 2013 by NickF

[beast 1,884]

personally i would forget the flirt pole for a while, and get her to hold onto toys which are already in your hand, you can play at letting her shake the toy whilst you are holding it and get her to make a strong connection between the pleasure of ragging the toy, and your hand. but you need to teach her to stop on command so it doesnt degenerate into an undisciplined tug of war. i have used an exchange of titbit for the toy to teach this "drop" or just grip the toy really close to the dogs lips and grip it hard to ease it out of the dogs mouth. there are different ways. soon she will be ready for you to give her the toy and i bet very quickly she will be putting it into your hand expecting a game with you. but you will have to go into a pretty confined space to start off so she can't just run off with it. hope this makes sense, good luck