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| Retrieval; How to teach? | |
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| Topic Started: May 28 2008, 12:51 AM (168 Views) | |
| Red Rascal | May 28 2008, 12:51 AM Post #1 |
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We have no Monday dog classes for two weeks and my pup is getting bored and
:devil: . The weather is not helping as not meeting other dogs in the park to have a run about and play with. We ended our last class on the introduction of the Dumbell and 'trying' to get the dogs to retrieve it, instead of the usual retrieve, their favourite toy. Didn't get far as they were not really impressed. :rolleyes: :lol: So have decided to try and teach Rascal this over the next two weeks to keep him a bit occupied. He does do some clicker training, so would really appreciate if anyone could give me the 'Steps For Dummies' for the retrieve of a Dumbell, as just don't know where to start. Sorry for the rambling post, just noticed the title explains it all in four words! :doh: :wacko: :lol: |
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| Linda & Fred | May 29 2008, 03:06 PM Post #2 |
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Start at the end! Teach him to take it from your hands and have it in his mouth for a second, then click longer and longer 'holds'. Then you can teach him to hold it until you ask for it and to only give it back to your hands. When he's got that reliably, put it on the floor close to you and reward for sniffing, nosing, mouthing etc if you need to, and shape him to pick it up by the middle only and hand it to you - sorry, mouth it to you. Once you've got that you can start throwing it a bit away from you so he has to go out and get it and bring it back. Then increase the distance. If he already retrieves toys then it shouldn't take long. |
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| Red Rascal | May 29 2008, 03:51 PM Post #3 |
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:thanks: for the advice Eco Worrier, I did try to start from the beginning, and he did a second or maybe two max, and I clicked and treated each time. But he got bored in two minutes and just lay down and looked at it, then me and then touched it with his nose, but found it too boring to stand up. :rolleyes: I know you are meant to end the sessions on a high and keep them short (never do more than 5-10 minutes), but didn't know what to do when he lay down! I did start then throwing it down the kitchen for him to return and he seemed to enjoy this, the large thud of the dumbell on the wooden floor and returned it eagerly dropping it with a louder thud about 1-2 feet away from me. :D It was funny but not quite what I was trying to teach him. Will try again with him just holding it for even a second and just for less than a minute to stop him getting bored. If you have anymore advice, please do pass it on, think I am going to need all the help I can get! |
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| RJL | Jul 23 2008, 07:32 PM Post #4 |
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I taught Logan by first finding the one thing that he really, really wanted to get hold of most in all the world. As it happened, it was a pan scrub! I just threw it around a bit saying inane things like 'Yeah! Look what I've got! It's mine!mine!mine! Wow - look at my amamzing pan scrub!" Obvioulsy, nobody else was watching :) Then.........I 'accidently' dropped it and Logan, convinced the pan scrub was the most valuable piece of green sponge on the planet, pouned and grabbed it. As this took place in a long, narrow room with his crate at one end, I was able to intercept as he tried to take it back to his lair; remove it from his jaws and pop in a bit of liver in return. In no time at all, he was happy to pick up anything I pointed to in an excited way and then exchange it for a treat. With Dill, who will grab anything, I taught it was 'hold' and then 'leave'. When he got something in his mouth, I said 'hold - good hold!' and then I positioned myself in front of him and cupped my hands, so he was giving me the article and again, exchanging it for a treat. Gradually, I increased the distance and he learned that he only got the reward if he held it close to my hands. However, his motivation to do this went up and down! I've just started again from scratch (almost) using a book called Competitive Obedience for Winners by Brian McGovern. I'm not doing step 1, as I don't believe in forcing a dog to hold an article (just a personal opinion) However, I'm doing all the rest as it focusses on initially praising the dog for focussing on the article. |
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5:21 AM Nov 25
