3 year old fetching problems

OK panel of experts, Here is a question I got the other day.
My 3 year old lab is not strong on fetching. Seems he does it when he wants. When he does fetch, he returns it to about 20 yards and drops it.
I have heard about forced fecthing but can’t spend the money for a pro. I have attempted getting the dog to hold but it is not working. I do not want to further discourgage him on fetching. What is the quickest and best way for me to advance his training.

Hit the library and do some reading on training. Teach yourself how to force fetch the dog. You take a chance at making it worse but if you dont want to spend the money then I dont see any alternative. I have force fetched my dogs, its realy not that hard. Just make sure you go all the way no half ing it.

Hit the library and do some reading on training. Teach yourself how to force fetch the dog. You take a chance at making it worse but if you dont want to spend the money then I dont see any alternative. I have force fetched my dogs, its realy not that hard. Just make sure you go all the way no half ing it.

Sounds like the dog has not given up his mouth. 1st part of a force fetch is getting the dog to accept that anything in his mouth is not his.

You do that by holding you’re gloved hand in his mouth until there is NO resitance and he is just barely making contact with his teeth.

He also has to willingly take the gloved had as well as let you take it out w/o trying to spit it out. Once he is over this issue the rest of the force fetch starts to fall into place quickly. you will probably need to have him strapped to the post when you go to do this first step.

Good luck!

Sounds like the dog has not given up his mouth. 1st part of a force fetch is getting the dog to accept that anything in his mouth is not his.

You do that by holding you’re gloved hand in his mouth until there is NO resitance and he is just barely making contact with his teeth.

He also has to willingly take the gloved had as well as let you take it out w/o trying to spit it out. Once he is over this issue the rest of the force fetch starts to fall into place quickly. you will probably need to have him strapped to the post when you go to do this first step.

Good luck!

If your not big on the force fetching, put him on a check cord and force the command every time he does not retreive to hand. Let him realize that a command WILL be enforced.

I do think force fetching is the way to go though.

If your not big on the force fetching, put him on a check cord and force the command every time he does not retreive to hand. Let him realize that a command WILL be enforced.

I do think force fetching is the way to go though.

I second stickboys comments,force fetch can be done by a beginner just make sure to fully research it first. One trick I have used on dogs that don’t complete a retrieve is to do lots of simple water retrieves and meet your dog in the water just at the point where the paws touch the bottom. It will be less likely to drop the dummy.If the dog is a little shy crouch down for the retrieve and don’t stare directly at the dog.Absent force fetch you really need to bolster the dogs enthuseasim for the retrieve. Lots of praise, try lots of live bird work,try backing away from the dog as it retrieves turning it into a catch me game. good luck!

I second stickboys comments,force fetch can be done by a beginner just make sure to fully research it first. One trick I have used on dogs that don’t complete a retrieve is to do lots of simple water retrieves and meet your dog in the water just at the point where the paws touch the bottom. It will be less likely to drop the dummy.If the dog is a little shy crouch down for the retrieve and don’t stare directly at the dog.Absent force fetch you really need to bolster the dogs enthuseasim for the retrieve. Lots of praise, try lots of live bird work,try backing away from the dog as it retrieves turning it into a catch me game. good luck!

Thanks guys, I will pass on the information. I was thinking lots of bird work too.

Thanks guys, I will pass on the information. I was thinking lots of bird work too.

I’m a pointer guy but when GSPs had to retrieve in trials I force broke all of mine. I really think the NAVHDA system of doing it on a table works well. I put a bolt / stud through their collar for the “pressure point.” The time one spends doing it sure pays off in making the dog more “supple”. Hit a library and find the NAVHDA book by Bodo Winterheldt and Ed Bailey. Be VERY calm and detached and in 3 weeks it wil be a non-issue.

I’m a pointer guy but when GSPs had to retrieve in trials I force broke all of mine. I really think the NAVHDA system of doing it on a table works well. I put a bolt / stud through their collar for the “pressure point.” The time one spends doing it sure pays off in making the dog more “supple”. Hit a library and find the NAVHDA book by Bodo Winterheldt and Ed Bailey. Be VERY calm and detached and in 3 weeks it wil be a non-issue.