what training dummy

[Bryn]

Basic retrieve is now pretty sound in the house, no "training" just playing and rewarding the behaviour I want. I'm now looking to take it out into the garden. What type of dummy do you folks suggest I should start with and how should I progress? I'd like eventually to train him to handle all kinds of game.

[smudge04]

introduce 1 new thing at once, so start by using the same thing you have indoors when you go out...

There are three 'D's' to dog training. Distance, Duration, Distractions. Basically, when you increase one, you must decrease the other. In your case, you are increasing distance and distractions - something to be avoided when possible. Work on one 'D', then the other. If your're going from the yard to the field, shorten the distance, and work back up to it. If you're working on steadiness, and you are increasing duration, shorten the distance and work back up to it.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2805&p=32193#p32165

[Jayfox999]

Heres a link to what i started with.

http://www.hilost.co.uk/puppy-disc-canvas-dummies.html

I found these discs very good.

Then over time gradually increase the weight and size of the dummy, to what the dog is capable of carrying.

[Breezybrook]

Use anything that the pup likes. Keep it light and not too wide so he doesn't have to struggle to get his mouth around it.
The disc's are ok, but occasionally they can lead to a messy pick up if the pup is not too confident. One of my pups wouldnt pick a dummy or ball. so we used a knotted rope, she went on to be a field trial winner.
Basically get the pup confident at retrieving, don't be too swift in changing or introducing new retrieving articles.

[Judy]

I do things differently! I like my pups to retrieve anything and everything from 8 weeks old. That way they quickly build confidence in coping with anything and, by 10 weeks...




... they think they can carry whatever they see lying around. So, basically anything will do! I think if the pup is used to chasing and picking up all sorts of things it won't get selective later.

[Bryn]

looks like ele-rope, raggy bunny, and polar-ted will get abuse for a while yet then

jayfox999, thanks for that link, didn't realise the difference in perceptable colour spectrum between humans and dogs. Looks like blue dummies when I eventually get them

[Judy]

Wullie has a pink one...

[crackerd]

I do things differently! I like my pups to retrieve anything and everything from 8 weeks old. That way they quickly build confidence in coping with anything and, by 10 weeks...




... they think they can carry whatever they see lying around. So, basically anything will do! I think if the pup is used to chasing and picking up all sorts of things it won't get selective later.

Absolutely!



Dunno where Our Snickie came up with his "3D's" but the bigger D is for deficiency in his thinking on retriever training. Don't think it's the UK way but know for "D"-sure 't'ain't the N. American way.



MG

[crackerd]

And by the way, these are the best training dummies out there bar none



as they enable a pup to use its eyes way better - sight over scent - for marking and also promote good mouth habits on the retrieve by their pliability. They're called DT Systems Soft-Mouth trainers if interested.

MG

[trekmoor]

I too like white dummies of the type Crackerd uses and for the same reasons. Just remember that if you intend to compete in tests with your dog the type of dummy used will most likely be green canvas dummies weighing approx. 1 lb.

Wullie