Whether it’s a dog that totally blanks an item as if it’s invisible, picks it up but drops it on its way back to you or doesn’t want to give the dummy back at all & plays ‘keep away’, issues with retrieving and delivery to hand can be frustrating. We take a look at common problems and causes and give you some tips and advice on solving these issues.
It’s not me, it’s you
Firstly, let’s look at the situation from the dog’s point of view. The dog has to want to pick up an item and bring it back to you. Is there anything stopping it from wanting to do that? There are many reasons that may have reinforced your dog’s behaviour, and this is usually something that you have done inadvertently.
If your dog picks up a dummy but doesn’t bring it straight back to you, take a look firstly at your own body language. Do you rush in and crowd the dog as it runs towards you? Are you too quick to snatch the item off them? What tone of voice do you use – do you sound happy and encouraging or annoyed and stressed? What facial expression can your dog see – are you frowning, smiling, squinting? Your dog is a master at reading body language and any sign that you don’t look happy could give them the impression that they’ve done something wrong.
It’s quite common for someone to look cross when they are actually concentrating or finding it hard to see because of the sun. If you’re not sure what your body language is like when you are in a training session, ask a trainer or friend to observe you & give feedback or take a video of yourself so that you can watch it back.
If your dog consistently spits the dummy out at your feet, think about whether that is a behaviour that you have reinforced. Have you rewarded the dog before it has delivered to hand. This can often be in the form of food/treats but could also be praise. Remember to reward the dog when the job is done. If you are rewarding an unfinished delivery, it will quickly become a habit.
Equipment to stop the detours
If your dog is the type that picks up the dummy and then runs past you or does a bit of a ‘detour’ on the way back, then you will need to go back a few steps and relearn the correct process of delivering to hand. Start with very simple, short retrieves which can be done on a lead or long line. The line is there so that you can stop the dog veering off course and practicing the wrong behaviour. Alternatively, have the dog come in towards you from a sit, with a dummy placed on the ground just in front of you. Recall your dog and encourage them to pick up the dummy on the way back to you. As the dummy if so close to you, there is very little chance for the dog to suddenly veer off course after it has picked it up.
If you have room, then a retrieving lane can be helpful in focusing the dog on running out and back on a neat, straight line. You can also then stop the dog running past you. These can be built quickly using plastic mesh fencing and a few electric fence posts.
Keep the training to start with in an area without distractions and one that the dog doesn’t find over stimulating. A garden is ideal if you have space at home. Remember too to make it fun and stress free.
For both reluctant retrievers and those who don’t neatly deliver to hand, the Field & Fireside Reluctant Retriever Dummy ® can be a game changer. Designed to be used over short distances, the dummy is lightweight and has a pocket that a treat or piece of kibble can be placed into. Your dog doesn’t get this reward until they bring the dummy back to you. Once they are reliably delivering to hand they can then be transitioned across to traditional, heavier dummies.
Too much of a good thing
For a dog that has initially shown a desire to retrieve but has then ‘gone off the boil,’ it could be that you have been overdoing the retrieving. It’s tempting to keep practicing a skill over and over however, a dog can easily become bored if you are sending them out for the same marked dummy in the same area. This can make them look to the environment for something more interesting and they can simply ignore the dummy or carry it off and drop it away from you.
Try to make retrieves more interesting by using different dummies and set up exercises differently each time to keep the dog guessing. If you can, vary the ground that you train on. Do also leave them wanting more – don’t do more than a few retrieves in each training session.
In the case where your dog blanks new dummies but picks up old ones, pop the new items in a bag or vest with your old ones. Some dogs simply don’t like new dummies so try to make them smell the same as the ones they are familiar with. We might love clean, new dummies but to some dogs, the smellier the better!
Chase me
Whatever you do, don’t engage in a game of chase. That’s exactly what your dog wants you to do. If you have a dog that has started playing ‘keep away,’ simply turn your back and walk away. It won’t be long before the dog gets bored and drops the dummy or curiosity gets the better of them and they come and see what you’re doing.
When they do, try not to snatch the dummy out of their mouth as you may encourage the dog to be possessive and keep hold of the item. Take it gently or, if you can, have the dog keep hold of the item and walk with you at heel for a short time. This calms the situation down and shows the dog that you will not engage in an exciting game of ‘chase me’ around the field. You will then need to go back a few steps and work on the retrieve in a more controlled and less exciting environment.
Recap
Look at your own body language – ask for feedback from an observer or video yourself.
Reinforce correct behaviour using a lead, long line, retrieving lane or our Reluctant Retriever Dummy ®.
Keep things interesting and don’t overdo it. Less is more.
Don’t be tempted to engage in a game of chase – walk away.
Don’t train if you aren’t in the right mindset and keep things fun for both you and the dog.
You can read more about how your mindset impacts training in our blog ‘Why your mood matters.’
More information about the Reluctant Retriever Dummy ® can be found here and on our Youtube channel.
If you would like further help with retrieving issues, please contact your nearest Field & Fireside Ambassador, who are all trusted trainers with the skills and expertise to be able to help you.
Comentários