How Much Retrieving

[drid 22]

I can honestly say I do very little retrieving training with my pups . I believe that if a young dog is taught to listen, has a good bond with you and has nothing to fear from you he will retrieve to please you. I never use treats with any age dog I just don't believe in them .... I start a pup to rabbits at around 12 / 14 months old letting the pup watch an experienced dog at work for a few nights . I will pick an easy rabbit for the pup and walk away from anyone I am with so the pup hasn't got to return to another person and a snapping dog . I don't whistle or shout and I keep things calm with the pup. It works for me

sensible! !!!!!!!

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

I like to do a bit of further education with my cur dogs,..

 

Our schooling starts from day one,...especially the retrieving business..

 

My aim is to mentally condition a hunting, coursing, type of jukel to believe that he has no other choice,..than to bring home the bacon...However,..some dogs, (no matter how much effort you put into their training),.are destined,... never to retrieve

Edited December 5, 2015 by Phil Lloyd

[Casso 1,261]

 

 

There's more to the retrieve than just throwing an item, you have to keep your space (roughly 3ft) as a safe and secure place for the pup to access

 

He must have zero fear in that area especially when carrying a prized item,

I like to hand feed a pup from young this does 2 things It builds trust for the pup coming into that space and it overcomes the issue of a prized item needing a secure area ie , I am no threat , he feels no resistance to me

 

Don't disciple until a pup is mature enough to be responsible for his own actions, you start training the retrieve after confronting a pup for mouthing or jumping up or some other action and it's like pissing against the wind, a pup is weighing up the relationship in every interaction

If the trust is built, training anything after that is a breeze

Casso, I follow your posts because they make sense. However, I cannot see how hand feeding, will improve retrieving? I can see how it would make the pup come to you, but that is not retrieving really is it, if you cannot build a bond between youself and your pup without resorting to bribery? My mantra has always been if you can make yourself more attractive to a dog than any other option, your on a winner.

 

I am sure that you have had great results using your methods. By the same token no method is infallible and there are pitfalls with every method. As long as people are aware of the pitfalls and how to counteract each one, preferably before they happen, there is absolutely no reason why any dog cannot be trained to retrieve.

 

TC

I agree making yourself more attractive to a pup will go a long way to having a good relationship,

The way I see the hand feeding is not about recall or retrieve its having a pup comfortable in that area, I don't put down a bowl of food to a pup, every thing is earned, through an interaction with me, walking to heel, sitting, whatever it is,

 

How many times do we see pups getting reactive with food or bones, when we create space to eat we allow instinct to creep in, instinctive behaviour is fear based, feeding in your space just doesn't allow it to happen, I'm not going to create an issue I have to solve later,

And whether it's food or prey, most of all I want trust and a relaxed pup coming into my space,

The first post was more about building trust than the actual act of the retrieve but once a pup is completely comfortable with you serious issue don't arise , I can see how it might confuse ?

Edited December 6, 2015 by Casso