Lurcher Training Problem

[Robinho86_ 0]

My bitch is 6 months old now, I want to use her only on rabbits, day an night, but mainly on the lamp. So I'm at the stage of retrieve training. I chuck her the dummy of the rabbit in the garden an no problems, she returns it straight to my hand, give her a treat an its all good. But when I take her out into a field I'll chuck the dummy for her, an she'll run off with it and not come back for anything from 1-5 minutes!

 

Same as when I train her on the lamping dummy with reflective strips on, in the garden she's fine, as soon as I chuck it for her in the field, she's gone!

 

Any advice on how I get her to bring the dummies straight back, without having to wait 5 minutes until she's ready? Cheers

[R.A.W 1,987]

Is she having a run around before you do the training ???................................ keep the sessions short don't over do it . It'll get boring for you and the dog.

 

Progression is the key if the garden is great then try and find an area a bit bigger not just moving on to a big field.

[richie1984 191]

Mines the opposite she comes back but won't retreive she's 6 month also collie x greyhound plenty of time tho pal,best of look with her

[R.A.W 1,987]

What's the recall like without the dummy ???

[Robinho86_ 0]

Ye she has about a 5 minute run off the lead as I walk through the woods to get to the field, I tell her get on she runs off for a little mooch, I call her back in an she comes. So the recall is good. Then as soon as we get in the field, I throw the dummy, she goes an gets it an runs off like a lunatic!

 

Can't understand it, needs sorting though as when she goes lamping she'll be clearing the field on the first run, anymore advice would be great, cheers

[skycat 6,173]

There is a big difference between retrieving in a garden where the pup's mind set is different to when she is in a big open space out on an exciting walk. What you need to do is to get the pup to retrieve to you because she really, really wants to bring that item back to you for more fun, and she must see the item as YOURS not HERS to play with. This is where tug play and training come in so useful, for the dog brings the item back to you whilst it is still in prey drive, rather than knowing it has to give up its toy and submit to you. The dog that has been conditioned to see you as the most exciting place to be, and the place where it can enjoy itself in prey drive is the one that will retrieve to you anywhere... not just in the garden.

 

Of course young pups (and 6 months is very young for any sort of retrieve training in wide open spaces) will want to play silly buggers from time to time. The trick is to let them be pups, and to know when to enforce commands, and when to lay off and let the pup be a pup.

 

It often helps to have two retrieve items, so that if the pup wants to run around with the first one in its mouth, you can wave the second one about in your hand and call the pup in a very excited voice: Look what I've got here for you! Very often they'll come back in and drop the first item to grab the second, which you must throw straight away as a reward for coming back.

 

If you send me your email address by pm I'll send you the articles on tug play and training I wrote a few years ago.

[Maximus Ferret 2,063]

Do your outside retrieving on a track, like a canal or riverbank or a farm track. Throw the dummy down the track and as soon as she picks it up you feck off running in the opposite direction, calling or whistling. Keep going until she's almost caught you before you intercept her and give her the rubs and praises before you take the dummy, while she's still holding it. That's what I'd do anyway.

[Robinho86_ 0]

Ok cheers guys

 

I'm not sure how to send a PM? I only joined the site this morning, and can't seem to click on your profile

[walshie 2,804]

Ok cheers guys

 

I'm not sure how to send a PM? I only joined the site this morning, and can't seem to click on your profile

 

You won't be able to send pms till after your first 5 approved posts.

[Robinho86_ 0]

Ok sound, 1 more post after this and them I'm sorted

[charlie boy 85]

_{I used to throw sticks for my lad he bring them back I never insisted but never pushed him tbh he retrieves live to hand every time the only dog ive had that does it , the dogs I really stressed about and planned it out in my head go over same routine over and over It never worked, keep relaxed make it fun she will come right}

[THELURCHERANDLONGDOG 91]

I honestly think retrieve training is overrated , if you behave like the alpha in your pack your dogs will want to present everything to you , I have never done any training on retrieve work and my dogs will not chase tennis balls or sticks etc but they all retrieve game to hand. Cast your mind into that of a dog and think about it for a while and then all the pieces will fall into place for you hopefully.

[J Darcy 5,871]

NEVER mix retrieving and food.....