getting cocker to give to hand

[ips]

I readily accept that as a novice I have done many things wrong and or missed many things in eagerness to move training along and apart from a lack of steadines to the throw (yet to work on) the main problem is that my cocker rarely gives to my hand she drops or rather throws it at my feet. Retrieve is no problem she will do it all day therefore I assume it is her excitement for another throw that causes this..
So .. Any advice as to what training method to use to get her to give to hand greatfully received.

[newf]

Can you encourage her to pick it up again by kicking the dummy just enough to entice her by the movement ? If she does, encourage the action by voice and quickly accept the dummy before the next drop. If she is really keen on retrieving as you say, then resign yourself not to pick up anymore dummies from the ground. She'll continue to do what works for her unless something changes.

[kent]

A lot easier to cure than what I was expecting the issue might be. Hold and release drills and don't pick it up off the ground, give it a little kick (the bird not the dog) and utilise the "hold" .
Hold and Dead or whatever you use with time reward, most dogs see it as a great game once they understand it

[Jenny Talia]

A lot easier to cure than what I was expecting the issue might be. Hold and release drills and don't pick it up off the ground, give it a little kick (the bird not the dog) and utilise the "hold" .
Hold and Dead or whatever you use with time reward, most dogs see it as a great game once they understand it

Saves me typing it all

[ips]

Many thanks everyone

Hold and release drills?

Can you please elaborate.

Ps
Today I tried the following made up method which seems to have helped a bit.
Knelt down and cupped both hands and she soon understood that no throw until she dropped it in my hand I know this is not perfect but its a start I spose.

[David]

Have a look at this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6CpEEBsfvA and the others in the short series.

It's taken a couple of hours to find these again as I couldn't for the life of me remember Kevin's (Powell) surname

[kent]

Many thanks everyone

Hold and release drills?

Can you please elaborate.

Ps
Today I tried the following made up method which seems to have helped a bit.
Knelt down and cupped both hands and she soon understood that no throw until she dropped it in my hand I know this is not perfect but its a start I spose.

Far easier than mixing other things in.
Sit the dog in front of you, give it an object it will like to mouth- tell it "hold" (praise immediately) good boy and a little stroke is good. Now say "Dead " I personally hate that and just say "ta" you could say anything as long as its consistent - take the object and immediately praise again.. Repeat a good few times for a few days till the dog really gets it then use it if the dog looks like its about to drop or does drop.
The only downside is some get really into this and will sit in front of you with all sorts of things to play the hold and release game for a limitless amount of time. The praise and timing is all you need (don't use food obviously as that goes in the mouth) feeding a release will tend towards more spitting, just the words and your praise.

[Miff]

Personally I dont like to teach any gundog to 'drop' a dummy into my hand. It encourages 'dropping' as soon as the dog sees your hand coming down. My method for dealing with delivery is to (as has been said before) teach 'hold' and release command but whilst the dog is holding to massage top of head (the dogs!!) with one hand and have 'tother hand holding chin up. I woudnt do this with a very young pup. With a youngster get on the ground with one knee and welcome pup in allowing front feet off the ground for an enormouse loving cuddle. Allowing the pup to hold the dummy/toy for a short time before gently taking with release command (I use leave but word doesnt matter as long as you use the same word every time). Dont be in a rush to get perfect delivery; this can cause more problems with 'stay away'. As long as pup is rushing back to you, happy to 'share' that is all that is needed until training has progressed and pup is growing up. I agree with kent that praise is essential.

[ips]

Thank you understood.
12 months old and will retrieve all day. Is this too young to be too bothered about a perfect delivery?

[newf]

I maybe wrong but I think many dogs are exposed to hunting by 12 months. And dropping birds would not be acceptable, more especially if still alive. So I do not think you are asking for too much.

By the way, have you exposed her to cold game yet ? If so, does she still drop it upon return.