Retrieve as a reward.

[burntheships]

That’s definitely something else to consider. I’ll tone it down a bit with the praise as well. Thinking about it I probably am a bit over enthusiastic with it.

[newf]

The dog is not interested in praise. It only wants to get back the thing you have taken off her. After all, she is a dog, the game is to rush out and grab the thing and keep it, not share it with you or any other dog. Natural behavior that you would hope to see in a dog especially a working one. The job then is to convince the dog that the game has rules: deliver it into me and I will throw it again. So you can bribe it, reward it or restrict it. The first two, can work if the retrieve item is of low value. However, when you move back to a high value retrieve you may have to go with the last.

[Judy]

The dog is not interested in praise.

Can't say I agree with that comment! In fact I think some scientist with nothing better to do with his time has just proved that praise from humans releases a dog's endorphins.

[munstyman]

The dog is not interested in praise.

Can't say I agree with that comment! In fact I think some scientist with nothing better to do with his time has just proved that praise from humans releases a dog's endorphins.

In general terms I would strongly disagree with that newf, If it didn't work I would not be able to train my dogs. In terms of this specific dog I would say its the type/way praise is being given that is not working as it could. Some dogs dislike contact praise and treat it like an invasion of space rather than reward. The posters post further up indicated this when I read it

Sorry, I linked a previous step, there’s multiple steps to complete.

That’s exactly what she does though. Another problem I have is that she doesent seem to like praise when she comes in, she either tries to teeth me a bit or pulls her head back and wants to be on her way again.

This in itself can cause hand shyness, and when I see it I would always recommend palm touch to get through it in a retrieving scenario. The hand is then seen as a target and the dog comes to it on their terms rather than have the hand `invade their space' to take something from them.

[newf]

The dog is not interested in praise.

Can't say I agree with that comment! In fact I think some scientist with nothing better to do with his time has just proved that praise from humans releases a dog's endorphins.

Of course a dog enjoys praise but in the situation that is described the dog is not looking for it. She is playing keep away with what she considers hers. Praise, in this case is not trumping what she is doing. If the dog happens to deliver, then praise, but it still may not be enough to eliminate the dog wanting to go back and play her game of running around with it.

[burntheships]

Tonight I just sat in the front room and rolled
A tennis ball out for her to retrieve and when she delivered it nicely in my hand she got a little bit of hotdog. She soon clicked on to the game we were playing, I did about 15 repetitions of this then switched the tennis ball for one of her more valuable toys, same again she delivered it nicely every time.

I then got the rabbit dummy and threw this out for her and after a bit of initial play with it she started to bring it back nicely, dropping it into my hand, a little bit of praise ‘good girl’ and a little bit of hot dog.

Does anyone see anything wrong with this method? Was going to repeat it throughout the week before moving out into the garden and see how she gets on out there, starting back with the tennis ball and working up to the rabbit skin dummy. Then once she’s cracked it in the garden take them out onto our walks. Then slowly wean her off the treats.

[Judy]

Sounds good to me.

[Judy]

The dog is not interested in praise.

Can't say I agree with that comment! In fact I think some scientist with nothing better to do with his time has just proved that praise from humans releases a dog's endorphins.

Of course a dog enjoys praise but in the situation that is described the dog is not looking for it. She is playing keep away with what she considers hers. Praise, in this case is not trumping what she is doing. If the dog happens to deliver, then praise, but it still may not be enough to eliminate the dog wanting to go back and play her game of running around with it.

But if you praise when the dog is rushing about then you are praising the rushing about not the delivery... With an experienced dog which knew what was expected it wouldn't be getting praise here!

[Naj]

Tonight I just sat in the front room and rolled
A tennis ball out for her to retrieve and when she delivered it nicely in my hand she got a little bit of hotdog. She soon clicked on to the game we were playing, I did about 15 repetitions of this then switched the tennis ball for one of her more valuable toys, same again she delivered it nicely every time.

I then got the rabbit dummy and threw this out for her and after a bit of initial play with it she started to bring it back nicely, dropping it into my hand, a little bit of praise ‘good girl’ and a little bit of hot dog.

Does anyone see anything wrong with this method? Was going to repeat it throughout the week before moving out into the garden and see how she gets on out there, starting back with the tennis ball and working up to the rabbit skin dummy. Then once she’s cracked it in the garden take them out onto our walks. Then slowly wean her off the treats.

It’s a tried and tested method and it’s working so what’s not to like. But I’d give the treat immediately upon delivery rather than praise first. And I wouldn’t be weaning her off treats, otherwise you’re changing the rules of the game by removing the reward for delivering to hand.

Naj

[burntheships]

I give her the treat and praise immedietly but simultaneously, if I’m honest I don’t think she could care less about the ‘good girl’, I think it’s just a marker for her doing the right thing instead of a click on a clicker.

I was hoping that when she got the hang of delivering to hand everytime I could make the treats more sporadic at least instead of every single time. I guess it’s something I can try once she’s reached that stage and if it doesent work just revert to the original game.