dschranz@violet.waterloo.edu (David W. Schranz) (06/20/91)
I have two one-year old labs that I have been gundog training for approx. 8 months. These are my first dogs I have tried to train for hunting. I am having problems teaching them to "fetch up" ie. they drop the dumming just before they get to me or they drop it to shake as they get out of the water. I have tried scolding them just as they drop it but I doesn't seem to be sinking in. Are there any tricks of the trade I should know about? thanks in advance. David W. Schranz (dschranz@violet.waterloo.edu) University of Waterloo
thr1@ra.MsState.Edu (Tom Ritter) (06/21/91)
In a previous article someone talked about having trouble with their lab dropping dummies. I had much the same kind of trouble when I taught my lab to retreive... Solution: My suggestion is to start off with short retrieves and stand RIGHT ON the bank. That way the pup gets back to you before having a chance to stop, shake, drop the dummy etc... That stopping at the edge is a bad habit. It gives the pup time to screw up... I work close to the edge and gradually move back a few feet... AND DON'T LET HIM SHAKE! It took me quite awhile to correct that mistake of mine... It makes teaching to shake on command alot easier as well... Tom Ritter thr1@ra.msstate.edu PS Now that she's trained I just need to hunt her more often... :-(
eburns@ADS.COM (Edward Burns) (06/21/91)
In article <1991Jun20.043646.27739@doug.cae.wisc.edu> dschranz@violet.waterloo.edu (David W. Schranz) writes: >I am having problems >teaching them to "fetch up" ie. they drop the dumming >just before they get to me or they drop it to shake >as they get out of the water. My wife and I had this problem with our Chesapeake for a while too. I'm sure there are many opinions on how to cure it, but here's what worked for us. On land, just place the dummy in the dog's mouth and hold it there for a few seconds while repeating the command "HOLD". We didn't make it stern, just a slow, clear command. They might struggle, so you'll probably have to hold the dummy there at first. After just a few seconds, command "RELEASE", and take the dummy. Let them know they just did a good thing with lots of encouragement or a treat, if that's what you use. When they start to catch on, lengthen the time they are to hold it for you. In water, position yourself right in front of the dog when its coming out and start repeating "HOLD". As soon as it comes on land, and before it has a chance to drop the dummy, reach down and hold it in until the dog is sitting. Command "RELEASE" and take the dummy away. Again, lengthen the time between sitting and taking the dummy as soon as they start to do it right. They'll soon learn that shaking isn't the first thing they should do when they come out of the water. Have you tried real birds yet? They might no be so quick to drop a pigeon or duck if you can get them. In fact, with real birds, our dog understands "HOLD" *real* well. It's the "RELEASE" we have trouble with :-). Good luck. Ed
jholand%peruvian@hellgate.utah.edu (John Holand) (06/22/91)
In article <1991Jun20.043646.27739@doug.cae.wisc.edu> dschranz@violet.waterloo.edu (David W. Schranz) writes: >I have two one-year old labs that I have been gundog training >for approx. 8 months. These are my first dogs I have >tried to train for hunting. I am having problems >teaching them to "fetch up" ie. they drop the dumming >just before they get to me or they drop it to shake >as they get out of the water. I have tried scolding >them just as they drop it but I doesn't seem to be >sinking in. Are there any tricks of the trade I >should know about? >thanks in advance. >David W. Schranz (dschranz@violet.waterloo.edu) >University of Waterloo I had this problem for a few weeks but I was able to stop it, here is what I did. As soon as the dog drops the dummy take him back to where he dropped it, open the dog's mouth and put the dummy back in, then gently squeeze the dog mouth as to show the dog to hold the dummy. Then yell "HOLD", (but not in an angry voice just insistant) When the dog drops it don't make him pick it up, else they can get it the habit of dropping it and then picking it up on command. Pick it up yourself and place it in the pups mouth. The idea is that you are only correcting the pup, and this is how they learn they made a mistake. By now your pup should know and obey "stay", so use it. Have him stay where he is at. Take a few steps back and have him come, as he approches you and nears the spot where he would drop the dummy, (or you see him start to drop the dummy) yell "HOLD" again. In a few days the pup will definetely understand "HOLD". Once the pup has learned "HOLD" start using it earlier. ie: if the pup would drop the dummy 5 feet from you, yell "HOLD" when the pup is 7 feet from you, then 10 feet, then 15, then 20 pretty soon you will not have to remind the pup at all. With 2 45 minute sessions daily you should be done in one week, two weeks tops. It is also advantageous to teach a whistle command to go along with "HOLD" , this enables you to correct the dog while coming out of the water and drops the dummy before shaking off, or in any case where distance is a problem. Later, John R. Holand