6 Month Old Pup Retrieving Training (Advice Required Please)

[Blueboybilly 164]

Hi all,

 

I am currently going though the process of getting my 6 month old pup to retrieve to hand effectively which (in the main) is going fairly well following the trial and error of various methods of training.

 

I have found that the most effective method that I have used so far is to give my pup a small treat when he brings the dummy back to me. This however has come with a small problem - the pup is anticipating the treat and dropping the dummy short of me and coming to collect his reward. I will sometimes walk backwards to encourage him to keep hold of it which sometimes works but not all of the time.

 

I'm sure that this is a normal problem in retrievial training and I'm sure that there are plenty of ways to tidy this up so hopefully there are plenty of people reading this who can offer up some good advice.

 

Any advice is good advice for me as I understand that all dogs respond differently to each type of training and I'm therefore more than willing to try everying until I get an improvement.

 

Thanks

 

BBB

[MickyB 327]

This happened to me, but the pup should not get the treat until the object is delivered to hand, that's what the pup needs to learn, it must drop it in your hand to receive a reward. So when it drops it on the floor just ignore it or gentle encouragement to pick it up and bring it, It will take patients mate but should come good,, funny thing is when we started hunting and she caught a rabbit she wouldn't let go of it until she new i had a firm grasp, she'd bring it to hand and i had to tell her to leave, good luck im sure it will work out.

 

Micky

[sandymere 8,263]

Try tug training to teach it to hold rather than treats, I use a ball on a rope.

http://furrariaussies.com/training/tug-training-foundation/

[nottzhunter08 898]

Just watch purdeys progress DVD, put some string on your dummy so when he drops it you can tug it about to get him interested again ?

[Francie 6,368]

Il second that's nottz, here to go mate, https://youtu.be/t46VIUb_Au8

[Francie 6,368]

https://youtu.be/rim6LLGE2qo

[J Darcy 5,871]

Hi all,

 

I am currently going though the process of getting my 6 month old pup to retrieve to hand effectively which (in the main) is going fairly well following the trial and error of various methods of training.

 

I have found that the most effective method that I have used so far is to give my pup a small treat when he brings the dummy back to me. This however has come with a small problem - the pup is anticipating the treat and dropping the dummy short of me and coming to collect his reward. I will sometimes walk backwards to encourage him to keep hold of it which sometimes works but not all of the time.

 

I'm sure that this is a normal problem in retrievial training and I'm sure that there are plenty of ways to tidy this up so hopefully there are plenty of people reading this who can offer up some good advice.

 

Any advice is good advice for me as I understand that all dogs respond differently to each type of training and I'm therefore more than willing to try everying until I get an improvement.

 

Thanks

 

BBB

I forget how many times I've said it, but food and retrieves should never be said in the same breath......

[Blueboybilly 164]

Try tug training to teach it to hold rather than treats, I use a ball on a rope.

http://furrariaussies.com/training/tug-training-foundation/

Wont tug training teach him to be hard mouthed? I want him to retrieve live to hand an undamaged rabbit

[Casso 1,261]

The retrieve for me involves a couple of elements

One is that the animal will actively engage in the out run and return with item ,

The next is that the pup will enter into your space with item , can be the biggest cause of anxiety for owners , this part of the retrieve depends on the owner/ pup relationship and why so many pups fall short , pup which have been disciplined for mouthing or jumping up or have a element of fear in the relationship or have had item snatched off them

 

Don't try getting the Full retrieve from the outset , if the pup is coming into your space with the item great , don't grab it , let him walk with item in his mouth along side for a while , distract and take item

If the pup is not coming into your space with item , get the pup used to that area been a positive , I have n probs with using titbits to develop this , crouch down at feeding times and hand feed , the shape and posture of you during this exercise this can transplant to any training environment

Another enticer is a second item on your person so when the first is brought it produces a second , don't grab the first , hold the second up on your person stimulate the pup with it and get the mutt making contact with you with the first , thats huge actively making contact with the item without fear is where you want to be at with the pup

 

Dont grab item , have the pup comfortable in your space at other times , just walking along side with item is positive , don't panic and try not confronting the pup for behaviour elswhere , every encounter with pup in the home or otherwise inform him how positive or negetive behaviour will be in the field

[buster gonads 862]

I,v put this on here before but i,ll do it again, encourage the dog to hold, get the dog to sit in front of you, put a skin in its mouth saying the word hold all the time while praiseing/strokeing the dog, if it drops it, put it back in its mouth and start again, little and often does it, once that is masterd get the dog to walk with you holding and praiseing, then get it to hold something else, i used to use an egg, before you know it the dog will come to you and hold untill you take the object of it, works for me anyway, good luck with it.

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

Helpful advice there Casso...

Edited August 19, 2015 by Phil Lloyd