|
|
|
|
NOTE: Both of our GSP trainers were used for this question so that
we could get multiple ideas on the topic. It doesn't mean one
should out weigh the other, they are just here for your information.
Trainers, here's my problem:. I have a 2yr female GSP that we found at a GSP rescue. I intend on hunting her (mainly quail) here in So Cal. She is very birdy, and loves the hunt classes we've been to so I am very hopeful for the upcoming season. Now here's where I need help. She won't retrieve. I have no idea how to get her on it. I've thrown every thing I can pick up across the back yard and her best preformance yet was to walk over and take a sniff. I'm stumped and open to try anything. Thanks in advance for all your help. - George
George,
if you have another dog which is a good retreiever around,,,,try a game of
fetch with the non-retriever there whatching,,,competition will often drive
a dog to bring out a buried retrieving instinct,,failing that,,try using a
frozen quail,,,failing there,,,,you in all likelyhood will simply have to
force break the dog to retirieve,,,
Dear George, Not retrieving like any problem is tough to fix. But remember this if you can't fix a Bird Dogs problem with birds chances are it can't be fixed. It is my experience that retrieve is something a dog either does or does not do and if he does not do it you have very few choices on how to encourage him to become a retriever. Here are some things to try. 1) Try competition and see if watching another dog retrieve will make you're's want to. At first I would stake your dog out and just let her watch another dog making retrieve. Lavishly praise the dog making the retrieve. You need to be the one doing the praising by the way. The after two or three 15 to 20 minute sessions with your dog watching let her go and ignore her as you keep having the other dog retrieve. It is important that totally ignore her while you do this. Only pay any attention to her if she makes a retrieve. If she begins to show interest you may need to throw two birds so if she decides to retrieve she will not have to fight to get the bird. I have never seen this work but I have heard it has. Note: Competition works best with a dog who starts to retrieve but stops on the way back. Adding another dog often makes the reluctant one get with the program. 2) If she will retrieve anything at all, a ball, a sock, a dummy anything make a big game out it with what ever she will retrieve and gradually add feathers to it until you can change over to birds. But understand that rarely works. 3) Tie a long string on a bird and tease your dog with it. Once she is all excited then throw it and let her chase it. Just as she gets to it pull it away and do not let her catch it as you pull it back to you. You may find you will have to use a live clipped wing bird to get her interested at first. Do this several times and as her desire builds let her start catching it and when she and the bird get to you at the same time praise her as if she had retrieved. Then hopefully she will begin to pick the bird up and begin bringing it to you. You might add a little competition as a last resort. It’s a long shot but I have seen it work occasionally. 4) The only way to really fix the problem is to force brake her to retrieve. That is a training best left to a professional and it is not cheap.
So perhaps you need to make a decision about retrieve. Is it that
important? If you really want her to retrieve and insist on doing to
yourself My advice is to go out and buy the book "The Best Way to Train
Your Gun Dog the Delmar Smith Method, By Bill Tarrant" In there are
instructions on how to do it right. It can be found at the Arrowhead
Kennels Library online at www.arrowheadkennels.com or many local book
stores also carry it.
Sincerely For more information on force fetching, try: What is the "Forced Retrieve"? - BIll Corcoran
|
| Help | Contact Us | Advertising | About Us | Home |
|
Copyright (C) 1997-2008 Christie Bliss. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer |