Force Fetch training

[Guest Kyle]

Hey guys,

I've got a golden that is 4 y/o. He has a good desire to retrieve birds, but I can only get a few bumper retrieves from him before he gets bored and quits. He also has had a problem of dropping birds and bumpers at my feet. This last year his obedience has gotten a little soft due to my lack of discipline, and I've decided it's time to fix everything. This weekend I went to a senior and master hunt training at the North Dakota Retriever Club in Glyndon, MN. It opened my eyes to what a bird dog can be; even though I don't plan to enter any of these competitions.

I started with the forced hold today using my hand. That went great. I waited a few hours and did it again and got the same results, so I tried a few training tools(bumper, piece of wood,plastic bottle). He started off good, but then gradually decided to spit the tools out of his mouth.

Now some guys on utube seem to go right to the ear pinch and some dont. I tried using the ear pinch after he started spitting the tools out, and it seemed to just shut him down more.

I'm looking for some direction and help from anyone that has experience with this. thanks

[jentz]

How long has the dog been trained to retrive?and how was it doing 2 years ago?Do you sleep and keep him in a kennel?House?yard?

[Guest Kyle]

He was retrieving ducks in the field at just over 1 year(he is 4 now). However, I started throwing bumpers for him at 10 weeks.

He still continues to retrieve, but I just want to clean it up. I was told the force fetch would do that, as well as extend training time.

He sleeps on a dog bed next to me...

[Todd Caswell]

Kyle,

I was there this weekend running 2 dogs in master, if you think watching a Master test is a eye opener go watch a AM. or Open FT stake, that will really blow your mind.. If your going to go back and redo some training I suggest you go way way back to the beginning and start fresh following a proven trainig program, that involves pressure, then the dog will understand ear pinch pressure and how to deal with it, if they understand pressure and how to deal with it you can push them through it, don't let them quiet. If they don't understand pressure and you try to push them through it you can have a mess on there hands, also if they don't understand pressure and you give because they clam up they win and you may be creating a even bigger problem.. And not to bash your breed of choice but goldens tend to over react and be lazy at times, they will play every trick in the book they know, if it can get them out of work they don't want to do..

Give me a call if you need help

[Guest Kyle]

Hey Todd,

I think he understands pressure. He has been on the e-collar since he was a pup. I use it to reinforce obedience at distance, and he definitely knows when to push the limits and when not to. That is the extent of his pressure experience though. When he was younger I took great care not to over use the collar...Even if it meant that training was less productive. I didn't want to be the cause of the problems.

I have the 3 Fowl Dogs DVD's, but found them to lack in direction in certain areas.

You are right about goldens, they sometimes work harder at not working if they don't want to. Lol

[Todd Caswell]

Quote:

I have the 3 Fowl Dogs DVD's, but found them to lack in direction in certain areas.

Which areas are lacking direction??

[Guest Kyle]

I just watched the 1st video again, and it seems more clear than it did last time I watched it. Probably because I have done more research on training exercises as of late.

Is that guy for real with that 3 foot switch though? These arn't horses we're training here...

I need to continue with the forced hold for a few more days. My dog is confusing me on what he does and doesn't know. For example, on the retrieve if I tell him to heel when he gets about 3yds from me he will heel, sit, and hold the dummy(like a cigarette in his mouth)at my side until I take it from him. However, when on the bench, he will hold it for 5 seconds, then 15, then back to 5, then maybe not at all on the next attempt. Right now, I'm not using any pressure, and I really am not sure if I should be or not.

[Todd Caswell]

3 foot switch?? Are you refering to the healing stick?

It's really hard to understand without seeing what your working on, with out seeing it all I can say is follow the program, it works if you don't try to reinvent the wheel and do your own thing.

From what I can tell from your posts is your dog doesn't understand what is being asked of him, I would teach a reliable hold, then go to the ear pinch, finishing with collar fetch. Not the best time of the year to be doing this during hunting season.

[Guest Kyle]

I realize what I'm doing isn't "by the book". I'm still trying to figure out exactly where my dog is at. For now, I think I will just continue with the hold, and let him do his thing for this season and move forward this winter.

[Guest Kyle]

Yes, I was referring to the heeling stick. I was being sarcastic about it being a switch.