ESS WONT RETRIEVE

[sandabandit]

I have a 8 month old ESS pup who is not interested in retrieving he won't play with a tennis ball he won't pick it up he is just not interested. I have even held him on the lead and let my other dogs retrieve while he watches trying to wind him up but he still has no interest HELP

[James]

Where abouts are you?

[sandabandit]

Lancashire just by Ormskirk

[James]

Go book a lesson with Adrian slater he will put you right, it's not difficult but it not done properly can make things worse.

[Stihl 090]

Is this is the same dog thats been out beating this season that was posted on FB?

[newf]

You would think that there must be something that the dog would chase like a toy, live bird, or even a bone to bring out what is suppose to be instinctive ? A dog with no prey drive to chase seems unlikely even among pets. Perhaps, the dog associates a punishment with the chase that has been missed because aversives are not always obvious or deliberate. I would think, we have all one time or another inadvertently exposed a dog to an a aversive when we were attempting to encourage. Contrary to that actually happening though is your experience with other dogs.

[sandabandit]

Thanks James I will give Adrian a call

[sandabandit]

No this dog hasn't been out beating this season he's to young

[sandabandit]

Newf I haven't tried toys or live birds, he won't retrieve any dead game fur or feather

[Gignesthai]

If you cant get to a trainer, i would try him with another dog, let him follow one. I would only use one dog, and one that is not likely to turn on him should he get it so pick wisely, and if he shows any interest at all, just aim the ball where he stands a better chance. The first time i had to get a non retriever to retrieve I had two dogs in this position and had both on lead, throwing the ball carefully to just arouse the interest in the one most likely to get it and watching the least likely, it took less than half an hour with careful throwing for the least likely to pick the ball up and drop it, then pick it up and take it to one side. I left it till another session, and then did the same again, going to where she took the ball and letting her keep it for a little while. Building on that has led to a dog that will retrieve anything without fail!