Hi,
I'm new to Chazhound and I can't wait to look around! I have hit a few snags with training at the moment, and I was wondering if anyone could offer any advice or links etc to help me out.
I am having a few issues teaching my dog to retrieve. This isn't a retrieve for obedience (although I am sure the principle is the same?), it is more so that we can have another fun game to play and also a reward for training.
I went out and bought some flat plastics rings - a bit like a frisbee but a hollow in the middle. The only reason I chose this over a ball is because they are easier for her to handle as she is a small dog. At this moment we are having all sorts of problems.
I haven't been able to get consistent results, she may retrieve it for me, but she is just as likely to run off and chew it. She thinks that is very fun. I have refrained from encouraging her to run away. I just ignore her and when she finally does come back to me (sans ring) I switch to another exercise and put away the toy, so I don't reward her. I have tried to just play simple exercises where I place the ring on the ground and ask her to get it for me - again inconsist results.
I would love some tips, I am finding this very hard. I tend to be pretty systematic with training, I try not to introduce too much new stuff, but just enough to keep it exciting. She is also not liking our current trick 'roll over'. She will do it with the lure, but I have had a hard time extinguishing the lure. Time to forget this one for now - move on do you think? Try again later? I just don't seem to be getting anywhere.
Cheers, Catsi
I'm new to Chazhound and I can't wait to look around! I have hit a few snags with training at the moment, and I was wondering if anyone could offer any advice or links etc to help me out.
I am having a few issues teaching my dog to retrieve. This isn't a retrieve for obedience (although I am sure the principle is the same?), it is more so that we can have another fun game to play and also a reward for training.
I went out and bought some flat plastics rings - a bit like a frisbee but a hollow in the middle. The only reason I chose this over a ball is because they are easier for her to handle as she is a small dog. At this moment we are having all sorts of problems.
I haven't been able to get consistent results, she may retrieve it for me, but she is just as likely to run off and chew it. She thinks that is very fun. I have refrained from encouraging her to run away. I just ignore her and when she finally does come back to me (sans ring) I switch to another exercise and put away the toy, so I don't reward her. I have tried to just play simple exercises where I place the ring on the ground and ask her to get it for me - again inconsist results.
I would love some tips, I am finding this very hard. I tend to be pretty systematic with training, I try not to introduce too much new stuff, but just enough to keep it exciting. She is also not liking our current trick 'roll over'. She will do it with the lure, but I have had a hard time extinguishing the lure. Time to forget this one for now - move on do you think? Try again later? I just don't seem to be getting anywhere.
Cheers, Catsi