Dumbell Help Needed

[GRLC]

I am having trouble teaching my staffordshire bull terrier Dumbell retrieval . He waits , fetches and holds the dumbell lovely with minimal play , grabs it correctly absolutely loves the dumbell to bits but upon presentation sits in front of me and then drops it . Now i think this may have evolved from puppy retrieval play (before i was even remotely interested in trialing ) but has now reared its ugly head . Does anyone have any ideas or methods to get him to not drop it . I have tried re enforcing the whole "hold it " stage which he has no problem with if he is already sitting or standing and the dumbell is placed in his mouth. I have also tried sitting a little distance in front of him calling but he still continues to drop it . Any advice would be greatly appreciated .

[Bisart Dobes]

Take it out of a normal training situation and teach him that specific position as a calm good dog position.

I teach it in the lounge room - I sit to start with and teach the hold prior to teaching anything else with the dumbell. Using food reward I just get them to sit in between my legs so we are both totally relaxed and then get them to hold the bell. Start in learning phase again - so reward every improvement for a week - I can usually increase the hold position to about 2 minutes within 2 weeks (not that you need that but it helps when they are jumping etc). I normally break it down to training goals - eg:

Day 1 - hold 10 secs 4 reps

Day 2 - hold 20 secs 4 reps

Day 3 - hold 30 secs 4 reps

etc etc

Then go back to 10 secs when you stand up with dog in same position then increase.

Always ensure that this position is calm, relaxed and safe for your dog and they will never drop it. I find they only drop it when they are unsure or uncomfortable - take that away. Once you have the dog holding the bell for 1 min with you in stand position then try at the end of the retrieve (no distraction) - ensure you put the command you have been using (I use hold - low calm voice) in just prior to the dog sitting in front of you at the end of retrieve. You find it will click pretty quickly.

Good luck.

[bedazzledx2]

I shaped the retrieve by back chaining. Throwing (and cueing it) was the last thing in the chain. As he already has experience with holding and fetching you can miss lots of steps and go to dumbbell on the ground - he picks it up...you click treat. You can find all the steps here http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers/retrieve.html

I am having trouble teaching my staffordshire bull terrier Dumbell retrieval . He waits , fetches and holds the dumbell lovely with minimal play , grabs it correctly absolutely loves the dumbell to bits but upon presentation sits in front of me and then drops it . Now i think this may have evolved from puppy retrieval play (before i was even remotely interested in trialing ) but has now reared its ugly head . Does anyone have any ideas or methods to get him to not drop it . I have tried re enforcing the whole "hold it " stage which he has no problem with if he is already sitting or standing and the dumbell is placed in his mouth. I have also tried sitting a little distance in front of him calling but he still continues to drop it . Any advice would be greatly appreciated .

[caffy]

I shaped the retrieve by back chaining. Throwing (and cueing it) was the last thing in the chain. As he already has experience with holding and fetching you can miss lots of steps and go to dumbbell on the ground - he picks it up...you click treat. You can find all the steps here http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers/retrieve.html

I use this method with my dogs...love it :D

It's one of the first things I start with a baby dog.

[ness]

I am just going through it again with the metal article. I like fact that once you have done it once then whatever else you might want them to retrieve is worked through pretty quickly :D .

[RubyStar]

I used Shirley Chong's method to teach Millie, too. I went from a dog who wouldn't even go near a dumbell, to a dog who almost has it Like the OP, I just need to lengthen the hold time now, but it's slowly getting there! Highly recommend this method because if a dog like Millie can get it, any dog can!

[GRLC]

thanks for your suggestions guys , I was thinking that it may be a case of taking it back to basics , have looked at the Shirley chong method , ill give this a try it seems to be a tried and trusted method by DOLers . its not a case that he doesn't enjoy dumbbell it's a case of finding the right way to teach it .it's like a big puzzle !

[shoemonster]

I used to heel them around carrying the dumbell too, Doing auto sits and stands, which helped with them holding onto it on the retrieve

[GRLC]

I used to heel them around carrying the dumbell too, Doing auto sits and stands, which helped with them holding onto it on the retrieve

I have tried doing this too which works, i can get him to sit stand heel never dropping the dumbbell, but as soon as he is in front of me reaching distance to dumbbell, he drops it

[shoemonster]

Can you take the dumbell from him from the side?

I know I had to work for a while on getting them to hold on while my hands came down, so used to give and take the dumbell over and over, and in between have my hands held out on either side of the dumbell but not touching it, maybe start having him stand, give the dumbell, sit him without moving forward and then get him to give, then add a step in once he's got that, then gradually increase the distance

Also when he is heeling with it and he sits, you move in front of him and get him to give it

[GRLC]

Can you take the dumbell from him from the side?

I know I had to work for a while on getting them to hold on while my hands came down, so used to give and take the dumbell over and over, and in between have my hands held out on either side of the dumbell but not touching it, maybe start having him stand, give the dumbell, sit him without moving forward and then get him to give, then add a step in once he's got that, then gradually increase the distance

Also when he is heeling with it and he sits, you move in front of him and get him to give it

I can take it from the side from him when hes on lead and not part of a full retrieval .But as soon as i do a full retrieval and hes coming in to present he drops it . I think your right though , i think it may be best to do lots of on lead heel work holding the dumbbell sitting and then moving in front of him for him to give i suppose if i maintain this i can then progress to a puppy recall type exercise and eventually have him running towards me sit and present

Thanks

[shoemonster]

Yep, Id do that, and then Id progress to walking out and placing the dumbell out gradually, rather than throwing, to keep that excitement level down a little

Staffords are funny buggers they get excited so easily, bet he always looks proud when he spits it out too!

[GRLC]

Yep, Id do that, and then Id progress to walking out and placing the dumbell out gradually, rather than throwing, to keep that excitement level down a little

Staffords are funny buggers they get excited so easily, bet he always looks proud when he spits it out too!

He sure does theres nothing like a stafford grin to make you smile !!!! hes such an enthusiastic worker with everything he just loves to work !, Thank you for help . I'll let you know how it all goes !

[Tiggy]

Yay for more Staffords in the obedience ring .

[GRLC]

Yay for more Staffords in the obedience ring .

I agree