Gundog Training Forum

My young Labrador (16 months) has started to yawn when another dog is sent for a retrieve and he has to sit steady. I have always been very careful not to over do the retrieving, and I have done lots of sitting and doing nothing with him (I wonder whether this has built pressure?).

Yawning would suggest stress and pressure? But how to over come it I’m not sure... don’t want it to become a life long habit.

Any suggestions would be greafully received

Yes yawning generally means stress. I'd probably make him sit and honour even more. Sounds like he's expecting to be sent.

Hard to say without seeing the dog. I agree the yawn could be a sign of stress but I note in your post you don't "over do" retrieving already and you do lots of patient sitting with him. Before you panic and do anything drastic I would just try and jolly him up a bit. Give him a treat or two and a bit of happy praise for sitting and doing nothing and especially when another dog is on a retrieve. Let him know just sitting is really good stuff and you are happy when he does it. I think this might help with the stress and pressure he may be feeling. Whatever the issue I can't see it would hurt and it might be the solution.

As others have said. It’s obviously got to a stage where you’ve noticed it and so is not incidental. Is it a slightly vocal yawn as well? That’s quite common and a really clear sign of the dog’s Emotional state. Might be a bit telling that you say it happens when the dog ‘has to’ sit steady. That suggests that the dog isn’t comfortable with being steady, cos as we all know, steadiness is a state of mind. I’d add distance from other retrieving dogs to where Your dog is more relaxed and can take rewards. Look At That technique can be found on u tube and should be good for this type of issue. Just keep rewarding so he builds good associations around other dogs retrieving and if he yawns immediately turn and heel him away a few yards and start again. Then work closer by degrees. Just staying put and subjecting him to loads more retrieving will likely exacerbate the problem.

Naj