Seeking Retrieval Advice

[Tapua]

Hi Everyone

I have a young (20 week old) male Lab we bred called Dimples.Dimlpes. like many Labs is a good retriever, when do I start cuing bumbell retrieval specifically. I havent started cueing him to specifically retrieving a bumbell yet partly because he only just finishing teething - and secondly, not having trained Labs before ( Ive trained GSD'S,Kelpies,Border Collies) I am not sure when to start a Lab on retrieval. Whilst I plan to get his show title I am really keen to take Dimples through CDX obedience. I just trialed his mum at the Lab Nationals for 2 qualifying passes in CCD. I have trained numerous dogs to CD and 1 to CDX under the old trailing rule and 1 boy to CD under the new this is the first pup I wish to focus on to take thru CDX. I train with motivational,some clicker and food training. I train on my own becasue the nearest obedience club is 100km away.

I trialed Dimples mum at the Lab National at th beginning of May, her results at the Lab National were lame 86 & 78 for CCD but I only started pulling the drill together about the time I put the entries in, we train on our own so the figure of 8 was 2 milk crates or a tree and she had only secure sit/stay the Wednesday before the trial, she had a litter in January and she came into season the week after the Nationals so I am damn impressed with her and pretty stunned she qualified at all.

Anyway on with her son Dimples - I want to focus on some training with him too and hopefully bring them both out near the end of the year in obedience Mum to complete CD and him to maybe commence CCD. Any tips with the baby boy would be appreciated.

[twoblackdogs]

Hi

I would try and train your dog to retrieve anything as early as possible and maker it fun so the puppy enjoys it and comes back for more.

You can never start too early training for a higher level of competition.

I have taken 2 Labs to CDX Titles and would certainly change the way I trained them with the next Puppy.

Just make sure you break all the exercises down into little steps before putting them all together for the end result.

I also do Retrieving with my Bitch and was introduced to the sport by somebody who told me the desired end result, but failed to explain the breakdown of exercises to achieve the end result. Hence I am still battling in Novice to gain a Title.

Good Luck

Regards

Lynette

[Tapua]

Thanks for replying Lynette

OK I guess this is the part I would like spelt out. I know the term is 'back-chaining' but specifically does that mean aiming to start just with the pup just holding the dumbell? I saw a Utude video clicker training just getting the dog to pay attention to the dumbell then lick, then mouth then hold then when he gripped the dumbell he was cured with the word 'hold', click and lots of food and praise.

He will chase and retrieve anything I throw but as to sitting infront of me and giving it to me joke joyce!!!

By 'Retrieving' I presume you meant the sport of Retrieving? I am interested in that too what does that involve?

Edited May 25, 2010 by Tapua

[beagie]

Thanks for replying Lynette

OK I guess this is the part I would like spelt out. I know the term is 'back-chaining' but specifically does that mean aiming to start just with the pup just holding the dumbell? I saw a Utude video clicker training just getting the dog to pay attention to the dumbell then lick, then mouth then hold then when he gripped the dumbell he was cured with the word 'hold', click and lots of food and praise.

He will chase and retrieve anything I throw but as to sitting infront of me and giving it to me joke joyce!!!

By 'Retrieving' I presume you meant the sport of Retrieving? I am interested in that too what does that involve?

retrieving in the field is very different to obedience retrieving, most experts say never to cross train, I am inclinded to agree, however

it is up to the individual. Retrieving dogs need to run straight work on a whistle have a pretty good heel as ten points out of fifty go towards

heeling. They learn to memorise where the birds or dummies are dropped etc. need to stop immediatley on whistle and go in different

directions with a different sound of the whistle, good retrieving dogs are a dream to watch. What you described on learning the dumbell

sounds like the way I train, a dog that just chases even a pup will not usualy have a reliable retrieve, very careful training in the first

place will pay off further down the track. My advice is go with what you have seen on the U Tube, as you always want your dog to pick

up in the middle also, if you go into UD this is very important. Also if you do do retrieving a good clean pick up of the bird is important

Retrieving is great I luved it unfortunatley my dog I was intending to use for it has health problems, and my new pup not a retrieving

breed. My big boy however can pick up anything around the house and present it to me so the pain staking work in the first place

was well worth it Beagie

[Tapua]

Thanks for replying Lynette

OK I guess this is the part I would like spelt out. I know the term is 'back-chaining' but specifically does that mean aiming to start just with the pup just holding the dumbell? I saw a Utude video clicker training just getting the dog to pay attention to the dumbell then lick, then mouth then hold then when he gripped the dumbell he was cured with the word 'hold', click and lots of food and praise.

He will chase and retrieve anything I throw but as to sitting infront of me and giving it to me joke joyce!!!

By 'Retrieving' I presume you meant the sport of Retrieving? I am interested in that too what does that involve?

retrieving in the field is very different to obedience retrieving, most experts say never to cross train, I am inclinded to agree, however

it is up to the individual. Retrieving dogs need to run straight work on a whistle have a pretty good heel as ten points out of fifty go towards

heeling. They learn to memorise where the birds or dummies are dropped etc. need to stop immediatley on whistle and go in different

directions with a different sound of the whistle, good retrieving dogs are a dream to watch. What you described on learning the dumbell

sounds like the way I train, a dog that just chases even a pup will not usualy have a reliable retrieve, very careful training in the first

place will pay off further down the track. My advice is go with what you have seen on the U Tube, as you always want your dog to pick

up in the middle also, if you go into UD this is very important. Also if you do do retrieving a good clean pick up of the bird is important

Retrieving is great I luved it unfortunatley my dog I was intending to use for it has health problems, and my new pup not a retrieving

breed. My big boy however can pick up anything around the house and present it to me so the pain staking work in the first place

was well worth it Beagie

Thanks Beagie

Yes it is sensible to stick to one or the other - I'll focus on the bumbell and obedience - I know that area it doesnt cause me much anxiety so hopefully I doesnt transfer tension to Dimples. I'll check out more stuff on UTube so I can see what they are cuing. Thanks again.

[twoblackdogs]

I gained my CDX title prior to commencing Retrieving Trials and found it to be an advantage Re: Heeling between the control and firing points.

The way you have described to start a pup holding an object is pretty muich how I would do it as well.

I was told to sit at the Kitchen table with a cup of the puppies favourite treats and repeat the exercise over and over for 5 to 10 mins each night until perfected, then move onto the next step.

They eventually start to pick up what you want and will start reaching for the dumbbell.

Good Luck.......if your interested in learning more about Retrieving check out the Australian Working Retriever Central Website Bulletin Board.

[RubyStar]

I'm about to start trialling my Lab in Open and also starting her in Retrieving. I have found that learning the obedience dumbell retrieve and the heelwork is giving me a slight headstart on the retrieving side, but we'll soon see what bad habits have crept in from obedience when I transition it properly to retrieving She's my first dog trained in anything so I can only learn by doing, and mistakes will be made along the way but hopefully I will learn from them for the next dog I want to do obedience/retrieving with

[The Spotted Devil]

Thanks for replying Lynette

OK I guess this is the part I would like spelt out. I know the term is 'back-chaining' but specifically does that mean aiming to start just with the pup just holding the dumbell? I saw a Utude video clicker training just getting the dog to pay attention to the dumbell then lick, then mouth then hold then when he gripped the dumbell he was cured with the word 'hold', click and lots of food and praise.

He will chase and retrieve anything I throw but as to sitting infront of me and giving it to me joke joyce!!!

By 'Retrieving' I presume you meant the sport of Retrieving? I am interested in that too what does that involve?

Retrieving is AWESOME

In terms of a dumbbell retrieve - yep you just want to click ANY interest in it. I shaped it using the model of the Shirly Chong method although I just started with a wooden UD article rather than the dumbbell - a Dalmatian that couldn't care less about fetching anything now does the most enthusiastic dumbbell retrieve I could wish for. You need to train the presentation to "front" separately - just position initially, then add the cue. It took us several months but it was worth it!

[rubyroo]

I have to agree Retrieving is 'Awesome', :D (obedience will definately help, wish we had done a little more in the early years) dont brush it off until you get the chance to go to a trial and and get a taste for it yourself, this is closest thing to doing what these dogs were bred for, let them (and you) enjoy it!!!

[Tapua]

Thanks everyone I really appreciate the input. I will set up the baby boy tomorrow with yummy treats and the bumbell. He is a goose with the concentration span of a gnat sometimes but he is really keen to please so I am hopefull. I will look up the Shirley Chong method tonight and study it first.

I confess to being 'traumatised' by one of my Kelpies with a dumbell. Years ago (10-12 years) we were trialing in CDX and she started to refuse the dumbell in the ring. She never refussed out of the ring just in th ering it because a game with her - I am possitive she knew I couldnt do anything to correct her and she would shift the goal post with a differnt 'mistake' each trial. She would drop the dumbell over th jump - retrieve the dumbell to the judge, the last srtaw was when she retrieved the dumbell to the novice judge int he other ring :D With 2 passes in CDX and pretty well prepared for UD I had to abandon the CDX ring. Loved the old bag but jeezus I could have choked her at that time :D

I will definately have a look at Retrieval later down the track..... after CDX

Edited May 26, 2010 by Tapua

[beagie]

Thanks everyone I really appreciate the input. I will set up the baby boy tomorrow with yummy treats and the bumbell. He is a goose with the concentration span of a gnat sometimes but he is really keen to please so I am hopefull. I will look up the Shirley Chong method tonight and study it first.

I confess to being 'traumatised' by one of my Kelpies with a dumbell. Years ago (10-12 years) we were trialing in CDX and she started to refuse the dumbell in the ring. She never refussed out of the ring just in th ering it because a game with her - I am possitive she knew I couldnt do anything to correct her and she would shift the goal post with a differnt 'mistake' each trial. She would drop the dumbell over th jump - retrieve the dumbell to the judge, the last srtaw was when she retrieved the dumbell to the novice judge int he other ring With 2 passes in CDX and pretty well prepared for UD I had to abandon the CDX ring. Loved the old bag but jeezus I could have choked her at that time

I will definately have a look at Retrieval later down the track..... after CDX

LOL LOL oh boy does that bring back memories, firstly let me say dogs that usualy throw it like that are stressing, it may not look like it at the time, the reason I had to

pull my boy out of UD he hates to do wrong and stressed so much down would go his health.

Enough of that, off I go to retrieving, this will be fun my dog is bred for it, yea he might be but I am not, little did I know he was gun shy, we were in a

very boggy field hardly anywhere dry to sit, the gun went off so did my boy with me in toe dragging me through the mud, he was also anti swimming

retrieving requires good swimming, I have never seen a dog so terrified in all my life, I was in the Lake with him in heavy gum boots, I go bogged and had

to ask my grandson to pull me out. The boy ran up and down the bank his eyes turned red, however his prey drive over road everything else and in he went

straight after the target even though there were ducks swimming there as well, we overcame the swimming and the gun shy bit, the best dog anyone ever

owned don't know so much about the owner. A little tip if your dog climbs when swimming put something in their mouth and they will swim properly but then

you probably knew that Beagie

[RubyStar]

beagie, do you still compete in retrieving?