Hello all, just after a word (or 2) of advice on a problem I've been having. Sorry if this has been discussed many times before, I did a search but do you know how many posts have 'retrieve' in them?!!
Finn is an (almost) 10 month cocker, and I am a complete noob to gundog training, or to dog owning (my parents had dogs when I was growing up, but it's not the same as having your own!) I got myself a whistle and taught him to come to it, to stop (at a great distance now), to sit (to hand signal too - that at a distance too) and lay down (to hand signal - I thought I'd give it a try!). He is getting quite steady (practicing at the moment).
The problem I'm having is that he loves to chase a ball and dummy. I say chase, as he rarely brings it back to me! He will go and get it from anywhere, but then do a lap of honour with it, and usually drops it. I went back to basics in the house (running before walking?), and threw another toy, which he promptly went off, brought it back to me with such enthusiasm he was sitting on my knee! This went well 4/5 times, so I got the dummy out and he went mental - very excited. Threw the dummy, sent him to get it and he did the same thing - running about with it, just out of arms length so I couldn't get it, or him.
He seems to be picky with what he will give me - any ideas?
Thanks in advance.
Picky Retriever
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holmes-long
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- Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne
Picky Retriever
Sarah
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mustogirl
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Re: Picky Retriever
hi & welcome!
First of all. He's a cocker, so welcome to the madhouse (form one owner to another
)
Secondly, its quite hard to describe by typing this down, but when she drops the dummy, dont pick it up, take a few steps backwards and say 'fetch it, fetch it' and only praise her when she brings it in to you.
perhaps you could take a few steps backwards and if her favourite toy she brings into you in the hallway, progress into the backyard (where the smell/hunting temptation is slightly less) and work on making that 100% for a week and then progress onto the field.
Thing is, as soon as you move into the field, the smells and the temptation of an open field full of grass and lovely other things (for a dog) is huge!
Work on her favourite toy, and then progress from there. It doesnt matter what you use, its the theory and the practice that will make her into a 100% retrieve for other items later on.
The other thing, is if this is your first gundog, its probably a very wise option to find yourself a gundog trainer. He/she will be able to answer and questions you have and will put you in the right direction, and you will probably want to join a gundog club in yoru area. Full of likeminded gundog owners who have all been in the same position as you, and have been there and got the t-shirt!
If you let us know where you're based we can make suggestions based on this too?
Good luck and dont give up!
First of all. He's a cocker, so welcome to the madhouse (form one owner to another
)Secondly, its quite hard to describe by typing this down, but when she drops the dummy, dont pick it up, take a few steps backwards and say 'fetch it, fetch it' and only praise her when she brings it in to you.
perhaps you could take a few steps backwards and if her favourite toy she brings into you in the hallway, progress into the backyard (where the smell/hunting temptation is slightly less) and work on making that 100% for a week and then progress onto the field.
Thing is, as soon as you move into the field, the smells and the temptation of an open field full of grass and lovely other things (for a dog) is huge!
Work on her favourite toy, and then progress from there. It doesnt matter what you use, its the theory and the practice that will make her into a 100% retrieve for other items later on.
The other thing, is if this is your first gundog, its probably a very wise option to find yourself a gundog trainer. He/she will be able to answer and questions you have and will put you in the right direction, and you will probably want to join a gundog club in yoru area. Full of likeminded gundog owners who have all been in the same position as you, and have been there and got the t-shirt!
If you let us know where you're based we can make suggestions based on this too?
Good luck and dont give up!
Too many Springers, and Roxie the black cocker.
"You dont own Cockers, you wear them!"
- Another cocker owner.
"There is no Elevator to success. You have to take the Stairs"
- Unknown
"You dont own Cockers, you wear them!"
- Another cocker owner.
"There is no Elevator to success. You have to take the Stairs"
- Unknown
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holmes-long
- Member
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 10:25 am
- Dogs: Finn
- Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne
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arwesa
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Re: Picky Retriever
whats it recall like?
when it does come back do you reward the return or try and take the 'prize' first?
what does it do if you throw the dummy then when its picked turn and walk away from the dog...will it come to heel with the dummy?
when it does come back do you reward the return or try and take the 'prize' first?
what does it do if you throw the dummy then when its picked turn and walk away from the dog...will it come to heel with the dummy?
http://www.facebook.com/arwesa
As a handler, its impossible to make your dog perform better than it is, but very easy to make it perform far worse.
As a handler, its impossible to make your dog perform better than it is, but very easy to make it perform far worse.