cab09 Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 hi I have an 8 month old Lab (dog), his basic training seems to be going quite well as he will sit, stay, recall and walk to heel on the lead. However, I'm not sure if I may have a couple of problems starting to set in so would like to ask the experienced trainers for their advice. Retrieving - to date I have only really practiced retreiving twice a week, limiting it to 3 retrieves a session. The dog will chase and pick up but then isnt really that interested in coming back to me as he would rather play with it, shake it, chew it etc (which worries me). I havent snatched anything off him in the past and have praised him for carrying things as a younger pup. I have mainly been in a corridoor situation but have also tried it out in open fields. He does come back eventually but doesnt like to give the dummy up. I have praised him and tried tickling/ stroking under his chin to help raise his head but again keeps turning his head away. I have used puppy dummys and small paint rollers for the retrieves. However, when at home he also brings his toys in close proximity then starts to growl (playfull growl not threatening) as if to boast and parade around me. If i go to take them from him he again moves his head away. Its as if he knows what he is doing and likes to wind me up and its his game not mine! Im hesitant at showing him whose boss as dont want to get into a tug of war or put him off retrieving for life! Should I be worried, is it his age, should I be more forceful/ reprimand him..............any advice much appreciated Thankyou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 Here's what I would do, rightly or wrongly: Take all toys away all the time - he is treating the dummy like his toys, he is taking ownership of them. On no account chase him to get the dummy back, or grab anything from him. Don't offer him any retrieves in an uncontrollable environment (i.e. open space). Stop retrieves completely for a couple of weeks, do sit, stay and recall in a retrieving lane (corridor, path etc). Recall from the sit/stay maybe one in three, walk away and back into him the other twice. LOTS of praise on the recall. Then introduce a short retrieve, with a dummy, in a controlled environment. Once he picks the dummy, crouch down and recall enthusiastically as you have been doing with no dummy. Don't worry about the delivery and don't take the dummy straight from him, let him hold it around you, jumping on you etc and praise him whilst he is holding it. If he doesn't come in with it, back off or turn away and walk away if necessary, ONLY take the dummy when he has recalled successfully and is close to you. See how you get on, as I say, just what I would try maybe others will have better ideas. IMO by 8 months he should be starting to know right from wrong, a long way from perfect but free from bad habits... and not recalling with a retrieve is a bad habit so it needs sorted now. Good luck :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malc Posted October 11, 2009 Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 Good advice from wdg. I would just add; that I do not "take" the dummy, I encourage the dog to "bring it back" to me first and then only later to "give" me it. This is very important indeed, especially with a possessive dog as the one you describe. If you attempt to "take" the retrieve, a possessive dog will really enjoy that game! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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