Reluctant to return with retrieve

[Degalle79]

Hi Folks,

I have a GSP pup, approaching 5 months old. At the minute I am mainly just trying to instil basic manners through play i.e. no pressure.

She is very keen to carry (anything) which is great. However, if she has anything in her mouth she will not return and instead does everything to avoid me. She is reasonably good (for a puppy) at recall without anything in her mouth.

I limit her retrieves to one dummy per week in a narrow lane where she has to return in order to undoubtedly try to get past me, which I don’t let happen. Her desire to avoid me with a retrieve is very strong, she is as cute as a fox.

I have tried my best not to let her get the habit! but she has got it!

What I want to ask is other than the training lane, is there any other tips to try and get her to return to me when retrieving?

Would anyone ever use a training line for this type of problem? I am reluctant to interfere too much as I don’t want to create any stress into the equation and cause her to start gripping the retrieve tightly for obvious reasons.

Any advice greatly welcomed.

PS. Although I try to limit her retrieving she is mustard for lifting stuff when out exercising, such as the remains of a bloody seagull that some buzzard had stripped clean save for the wings and spine, she definitely did not want to come back with that!

[newf]

By the sounds of things her biggest reward is you attempting to take what she has ...the game you want to play is the furthest thing from her mind. If she is keeping an eye on you as she plays with her prize then she is experiencing a lot of reinforcement by your eye contact and body language. It would help to ignore what she has and even walk away and then make yourself more interesting by swinging another dummy or bouncing a ball. If she follows, and is carrying her prize, don't attempt to take it from her or you'll be back to problem one again. Having her at least follow you or want to be near you is a first step to delivery to hand. Maybe, she may drop her prize and you can calmly pick it up and toss it for her again or you can throw one of the new toys you already have for just coming close to you. Keep the game close to you...within 10 feet until you have the behaviour of eventual delivery to hand. No use throwing 30 yards if a dog doesn't realize the point of coming back. As with all behaviours, initially they can be very rough in outline but gradually with patient tweaking here and there you will have reached you goal faster than attempting to have it perfect from the beginning.

And about the training line. If you go that route, use it as a guide and leave the dog with its toy for awhile and give lots of praise. Eventually, take the toy gently and toss again.

[Cambusvale]

Get her in a confined space, I like a lobby in my house. Block any other exit (shut the door if any) and only way out is past you. Play the game of retrieve their to start with (use anything she likes or plays with a toy or socks or hankies to name a few. Throw it out and let her run in, no fuss and leave her with the reward. You on the other hand get low or squat/sit at the exit. She must eventually come to you they all do if they have bonded just praise her and keep it low key in voice tone (if you want to start return face away and look interested in something else she will get the message), do not tell it come or anything let it chose when, again do not take it from her, let her walk to you, play in front of you and when she offers it take it and give it back right away command to take is optional. I would do it once a day. The most important piece of this early training is sharing. When she comes right back to give start using drop/give command. You can start raising yourself as well just sit up and then kneel down. I like to confine and then expand slowly, when she comes to you direct and only then can you start expanding the area or now standing. I go to my garden but I sit down again and let her play around you before starting the retrieve- I only do it once maybe twice as session when she looks confident, if she fails in this environment I go back to lobby. If I go to open space the next stage and she fails I go back to garden.

Now, take everything the pup wants to bring back and share even your underwear or rustled laundry basket or rotten carcass. Play this game and get your other household members clued up in this game as well. Do not snatch or chase or get angry. Use same command for to drop or give and everyone must be solid in this as a lot of issues can develop from small problems that become big issues. Retrievers are born with it and it us humans that ruin it by a misplaced deed or forcing the pace. Take your time and let the pup enjoy it naturally developing its ability at all stages of progression. Hope you well.

[Springfield Pointers]

I limit her retrieves to one dummy per week in a narrow lane.

I have tried my best not to let her get the habit! but she has got it!

"habit"? "One dummy per week"? Eek. Poor animal, it must be going nuts.

Let it get used to to carrying stuff. I throw socks - all the time! The dogs love bringing me stuff. And the more stuff they bring me, the more the love me.

Don't be shy to get the dog excited. Get it to focus on you and understand that you are the fulcrum of the fun.

It's not bringing you the dummy back because it knows it'll have to wait till next week to get it back!

It's not prison. It's supposed to be fun.

[Cambusvale]

Heres a GSP pup at 9 or 10 weeks starting introduced to garden/run for the game after being in lobby. As you can see she is still holding off a bit and after this session I went back to lobby again and stayed in their for a week before going to try the outside run. She returns to her name and knows what come means its a bit of few steps forward and a step back. Hope it gives you some idea of how I go about it.

https://youtu.be/c9PRg226ViU