running circles round me

[dickelliott]

I have a 2 year old spaniel. trained but she just has one problem that I don't know how to cure.

She will retrieve all dummies and game and is really keen on retrieving BUT she will insist on running a circle round me before delivering to my hand. She just loves carrying things around and get really excited when retrieving. It's just a bit annoying as she is "spot on" with everything else.

If anyone has any ideas how to get her to bring stuff straight to me I would really appreciate it

[B725]

Will the dog stop on the whistle if so as the dog is almost infront of you pip the whistle and stop the dog,if you cannot get it to do that you will have to try a narrow lane so the dog cannot get past or try both together.I make my dog sit and hold before I take the retieve from it so now it is normal for him to do it.

[kent]

Very common, the why needs getting to the bottom of first to be honest. Many cures though your better having an old hand looking at it first but you could try;

Standing with a wall at your back

Keeping silent as it comes in

putting out two retrieves with the dog on the drop sending it for one and going and waiting at the other

Dummy either side of a gateway, sending it on the second once its done the first (can throw another one on your side to coax it in)

Lay down on your back

stop snatching the retrieve from the dog on its return

Even hold and release drills in the kennel or house

 

Honestly the cure depends so much on the why, often the dog just don't really understand what else it should be doing, sometimes its a tease, sometimes nervous etc,etc.

[Longy0710]

If this is just a slight circle and you dont trial is it a major issue?? You say the dog delivers to hand and is a good retreiver.... So aslong as you dont trial where delivery is of major importance then this might not be a huge issue.

 

Unless I have read this wrong and the dog is circling a few times before delivering?

[dickelliott]

Thanks for the replies. I think i'll have to find a narrow alley way where she cannot get past me. I have only had her a week so it may be a nervous thing, she is a nervous, cuddly dog. Her handler/owner never had a problem with her so maybe she just needs to settle down a bit more with me. Hopefully that is all it is, I'm sure i'll sort it in the end.

Thanks to those of you who have come up with a few ideas for me.

[kent]

Ah, just got to the important bit now! Who knows what has happened in the past start back at the beginning work forward slowly and look at the recall especially, like were does she end up?. Seriously you don't know if someone has roasted it for retrieving a shoe or something in the past! go back and work forwards and build as strong bond along the way.

[RichardP]

Thanks for the replies. I think i'll have to find a narrow alley way where she cannot get past me. I have only had her a week so it may be a nervous thing, she is a nervous, cuddly dog. Her handler/owner never had a problem with her so maybe she just needs to settle down a bit more with me. Hopefully that is all it is, I'm sure i'll sort it in the end.

Thanks to those of you who have come up with a few ideas for me.

 

When i have encountered this i always stop any retrieving where the dog CAN do this, go back to sending for a retrieve when you have a solid background behind you, so the dog cant circle you.

The chances are it will then start to either stray/circle to the side of you or in front of you, keep things calm, keep calling him in and when he does well take the dummy carefully and lots of praise.....

 

It will come.