Back to Square One/Retrieving

• 10-25-2009 12:45 AM

  BlackLabbie Joined on 01-28-2008 South of Boston Posts 3,045 Points 250

  Back to Square One/Retrieving Reply Contact Has anyone gone back to square one when training their dog? Lately I've allowed Apollo get sloppy...sloppy sits, sloppy downs, sloppy stands, very sloppy heels...and I'm thinking of retraining him using new commands. We do clicker train and I'm going to intergrate a whistle for recalls and far away sits as well as hand signals (which he used to know until I stopped using them, although I think he might still know a few). Should be fun and interesting and it will give me something new to do with him. I'm also looking for new words to use... "Sit" is now...? "Down" is now...? "Get It" (retrieve) is now...? "Stand" is now "Up" "Walk" (heel) is now "Heel" "Drop It" is now "Out" "Come" (recall) is now "Here" "On Your Bed" (goes to crate) is now "Kennel Up" **Also, if anyone has any tips on getting him to put a canvas bumper in his mouth I'd love to here them! He will run to the bumper, maybe pick it up, immediately drop it, and run back to me. He will only retrieve a tennis ball. I'd like him to learn to retrieve almost anything I throw (bumpers, dummies, Kong Wubbas, etc). Putting peanutbutter/food on the bumper doesn't work- he'll just lick it off.** -Stephanie blacklabbie.weebly.com Apollo- black Labrador Retriever Molson- buff American Cocker Spaniel Patty- black American Cocker Spaniel

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• 10-25-2009 9:34 AM

  In reply to BlackLabbie

  JackieG Joined on 04-15-2008 Central Texas Posts 5,918 Points 710

  Re: Back to Square One/Retrieving Reply Contact When my dogs get slow/sloppy on sits, downs, etc.  I do the classic method of only rewarding sits, etc that come in a narrow time window.  Then I work on position.  Too slow gets no reward. Wrong position, no reward.  Play some tug with the object and toss it straight up in the air. Praise like mad when he picks it up and comes back to you for more tug.  Gradually increase the distance you toss the object, always praising like crazy when he is coming toward you (even if that is only a few steps away) with it in his mouth. Play a little tug each time he brings it before you ask him to release the object. You can fade out the tug game in time, once he has gotten excited about going for the object.  Get the behavior of having it in his mouth and delivering to you first before you start throwing it any distance.  A static object like a bumper isn't as exciting as a tennis ball which bounces and rolls. Make the object exciting for him up close before you expect him to go any distance for it.  Play only a few minutes each session with the object.  Tease him with it and don't let him have it at the end of each session. Leave him wanting more. :)

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• 10-25-2009 9:54 AM

  In reply to JackieG

  BlackLabbie Joined on 01-28-2008 South of Boston Posts 3,045 Points 250	Re: Back to Square One/Retrieving Reply Contact Jackie- Thank you for the retrieving advice, I was hoping you'd post! ...I've totally let Apollo become the biggest slacker, lol, . -Stephanie blacklabbie.weebly.com Apollo- black Labrador Retriever Molson- buff American Cocker Spaniel Patty- black American Cocker Spaniel
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• 10-25-2009 11:05 AM

  In reply to BlackLabbie

  JackieG Joined on 04-15-2008 Central Texas Posts 5,918 Points 710	Re: Back to Square One/Retrieving Reply Contact Steph, I forgot to say that I like to have the dog on lead and once I have built some desire thru tug and teasing, I toss the object and then hold the dog for a few seconds before releasing.  While I'm holding the dog back I'm all excited and doing my best to ramp the dog's excitement level up.
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• 11-02-2009 7:58 PM

  In reply to JackieG

  kpwlee Joined on 06-17-2006 North Carolina Posts 6,428 Points 535

  Re: Back to Square One/Retrieving Reply Contact JackieG: While I'm holding the dog back I'm all excited and doing my best to ramp the dog's excitement level up. LOL if it's Bugsy you ain't holding him back for long ha ha ha just to second/add to what Jackie said for Bugsy retrieving is only exciting if he is held back and released after the object lands. Then he is beserk for the object. Keep in mind B isn't ball obsessed or other like Apollo so it is a slightly different process. He really never was interested in inanimate objects until we did more formal retrieving. Hope you and Apollo are having fun with it!

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• 11-02-2009 8:05 PM

  In reply to kpwlee

  BlackLabbie Joined on 01-28-2008 South of Boston Posts 3,045 Points 250

  Re: Back to Square One/Retrieving Reply Contact kpwlee: Hope you and Apollo are having fun with it! We are! He's actually been doing pretty good with a small canvas bumper, which is weird because about a year ago he wouldn't even look at it (same one). We only do a few short retrieves because if you do too many too long he loses intrest. A friend of my Dads is going phesant hunting and he's going to give me the tail feathers and he said to zip tie them to the bumper once he's used to retrieving it. Should be interesting w/ the feathers and scent! -Stephanie blacklabbie.weebly.com Apollo- black Labrador Retriever Molson- buff American Cocker Spaniel Patty- black American Cocker Spaniel

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• 11-02-2009 8:17 PM

  In reply to BlackLabbie

  kpwlee Joined on 06-17-2006 North Carolina Posts 6,428 Points 535	Re: Back to Square One/Retrieving Reply Contact  That should be awesome!  B really got into it when I bought a Dokken Duck and injected scent into it   He really, really wants the duck - well he did when we could be active I wonder why he loses interest? I wonder if he'll keep at it more with the feathers?  Of course I am used to Mr Obsessed so I am probably clueless
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• 11-02-2009 8:25 PM

  In reply to kpwlee

  BlackLabbie Joined on 01-28-2008 South of Boston Posts 3,045 Points 250

  Re: Back to Square One/Retrieving Reply Contact kpwlee: I wonder why he loses interest? I wonder if he'll keep at it more with the feathers?  Of course I am used to Mr Obsessed so I am probably clueless I have no idea. We went to Bass Pro a few days ago (DH's fav store) and talked to a guy who hunts w/ his 3 Labs and he didn't get it either. We explained how Apollo is so intense (lots of shaking, teeth chattering, barking/whining, excessive drooling/foaming) fetching a tennis ball, but w/ anything else, including other types of balls (like the blue rubber ones) he could care less and usually won't even trot after them, nevermind run but- if it's tennis ball he's bolts into a fully extended sprint.    -Stephanie blacklabbie.weebly.com Apollo- black Labrador Retriever Molson- buff American Cocker Spaniel Patty- black American Cocker Spaniel

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• 11-02-2009 9:11 PM

  In reply to BlackLabbie

  kpwlee Joined on 06-17-2006 North Carolina Posts 6,428 Points 535	Re: Back to Square One/Retrieving Reply Contact May be he would go for one of these? http://www.dog.com/item/air-kong-squeaker-stick/311433/ sorry can't make a link in this browser until I got that dokken duck B wouldn't retrieve anything out of water. He would just look at me like I was fool for throwing a good toy in water
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• 11-02-2009 9:56 PM

  In reply to BlackLabbie

  Liesje Joined on 03-02-2007 Posts 9,906 Points 655	Re: Back to Square One/Retrieving Reply Contact As for the words, I use.. "Sit" = sitz (zehtz) "Down" = platz (plahts) "Get It" (retrieve) = bring "Stand" = steh (shteh) "Walk" = fuss (foos) "Drop It" = aus (ous) "Come" = hier (here) "On Your Bed" (goes to crate) = load http://vankelderdogs.dutchbingo.net http://www.schhmi.com
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• 11-12-2009 1:49 PM

  In reply to BlackLabbie

  DougB Joined on 06-01-2009 Posts 59 Points 25

  Re: Back to Square One/Retrieving Reply Contact Some of the hunting retriever web sites deal with force training a dog to retrieve.  Apparently it works, but I couldn't bring myself to use force with Piper.  She retrieves in a very exuberant  manner that I like.  She hold the target up high and prances with it to show me what she has.  I used lots of reward(verbal) and some bacon bits while training. It shouldn't be too hard with a lab.  Retrieving something is their reward. Smile, for we walked together for a little while. Bear-Lab, rescue, RIP Rags-ESS, a good dog, RIP

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