Canines First - Teachine The Retrieve
TIPS FOR TEACHING THE RETRIEVE
- Be patient.
- Bring only one retrieving toy into the environment.
- If you have more than one dog that is interested in retrieving, competition between them can help to build drive, but some dogs are too shy to compete so you have to decide whether or not the particular dog you’re teaching to retrieve would do well alone or with its pack members. If you’re just playing with one dog, begin in an environment with little to no distractions. A hallway can be a good place to start.
- Using your voice to shape the behavior, praise her when she picks up the toy, stop talking if she puts it down.
- When she has the toy in her mouth, encourage her to come to you but don’t be harsh.
- If she comes to you, praise her and stroke her slowly. DON'T TAKE THE TOY FROM HER.
- Repeat the above steps until she’s bringing the toy to you and offering it to you by releasing her grip and placing the toy on the ground.
- To encourage her to lay it at your feet, plant yourself in a chair and don’t get up. While she has the toy, if you lunge for her, lean forward, follow her, chase her, etc., that behavior will become the game. Remember, what she wants is praise and attention. So, don’t reward her by paying attention to her through a game of chase when she has an item.
- When you throw the item for her to retrieve, don’t throw it very far. Ten to 20 feet is plenty in the beginning.
- Last but not least, it is very difficult to teach a dog to retrieve if it has no desire. If she’s not showing interest in retrieving, it’s not worth the fight.
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