It’s coming back

In a previous post We were talking about the female lab that would not retrieve. Here is a update. On the second day I switched to using frozen birds. this got her excitement level up. A short 20 minute session and she was doing triples! On day three I switched to dummies and again there was no interest at all. Day 4 along with some field work, I tried a tip that Renedy gave me. I had her watch another dog retrieve a ball. One time is all it took, from that point on she could not wait for me to throw the ball. I was in a wooded area and throwing it in moderate cover. She was persisant enough to hunt until she found the ball. On one toss it took her about twenty minutes to find it but she would not give up. She is bringing it back right away also.
There are lots of good tips from the members on this forum. If you have a sticking point in your training just give a holler. the next level of training I am going to ask about, is delivery to hand.

If she has come around and will grab the bird in her mouth but will not deliver to hand it sounds like a case of parading the prey. It’s always fun to give a pup a pigeon and let them run around with it. Notice how they will run around in front all their buddies and you with the bird, you can almost hear the “nah nah nah nah nahhhhh”. Sounds like you have a puppy at heart there.

What you have to do is show the lab that what is in her mouth is not hers. Actually, her mouth is not hers either – it’s time to head back to the table work. I would think about starting all the way back at making her hold you’re hand in her mouth until she accepts it with no shying away, spitting it out, or clamping down.

If she has come around and will grab the bird in her mouth but will not deliver to hand it sounds like a case of parading the prey. It’s always fun to give a pup a pigeon and let them run around with it. Notice how they will run around in front all their buddies and you with the bird, you can almost hear the “nah nah nah nah nahhhhh”. Sounds like you have a puppy at heart there.

What you have to do is show the lab that what is in her mouth is not hers. Actually, her mouth is not hers either – it’s time to head back to the table work. I would think about starting all the way back at making her hold you’re hand in her mouth until she accepts it with no shying away, spitting it out, or clamping down.

Renedy, first off thanks for the tip about her watching other dogs. It has been about 20 years since I have trained dogs, I may have forgot a thing or two.

Renedy, first off thanks for the tip about her watching other dogs. It has been about 20 years since I have trained dogs, I may have forgot a thing or two.

You can get her back on the table, or an easier way to start is the check cord. Make short throws (never farther then the check cord) and when she gets the bird/ball/dummy make the come command. If she starts to “parade” the bird, immediately draw her in, and praise her as if she did it on her own. Continue this until she comes on the command and gets to heel.

After a few times, she will realize the parade is not fun. You can take her off the cord at this point, but if she parades one time, get her back on the cord immediately and work her until she responds. The dog will realize that she can do her own thing, until she messes up, and then the cord (control) has to be given back to you.

That worked better for me, and since I hate the table with a passion, seemed like a better idea.

Good luck and keep us informed on her training.

Brent

You can get her back on the table, or an easier way to start is the check cord. Make short throws (never farther then the check cord) and when she gets the bird/ball/dummy make the come command. If she starts to “parade” the bird, immediately draw her in, and praise her as if she did it on her own. Continue this until she comes on the command and gets to heel.

After a few times, she will realize the parade is not fun. You can take her off the cord at this point, but if she parades one time, get her back on the cord immediately and work her until she responds. The dog will realize that she can do her own thing, until she messes up, and then the cord (control) has to be given back to you.

That worked better for me, and since I hate the table with a passion, seemed like a better idea.

Good luck and keep us informed on her training.

Brent

Thanks for the tip farmboy1. It helps not only me but other members get the fastest results in their training.
Tessy is back home with her owner who just wanted her to play fetch again.

Thanks for the tip farmboy1. It helps not only me but other members get the fastest results in their training.
Tessy is back home with her owner who just wanted her to play fetch again.