I keep doing the same old stuff with all of these dogs. Now it’s mainly lots and lots of repetition. One of the things I’ve been doing that I haven’t said much about is getting the dogs to run in front of the 4-wheeler. Boss and Mann were really good about staying in front but the two girls, Sally and Abby, did a lot of stopping and eating grass. When I first started I just rode on to the back and when I got close to them they would run back with me.
Sally pointing a single.
Boss honoring.
Abby on point.
They were getting about half the exercise they needed. And I wanted them to run in front of me. They could be off to the side as long as they stayed in front. The first thing I did was slow the 4-wheeler down. That put them farther in front of me and when they stopped I stopped the 4-wheeler. Sometimes I just called them but occasionally I toned their collar. They came along pretty good after they decided I wasn’t going to go until they did. Then they were like, “Okay, if you’re not going until I do, I guess I will come on”.
Now all of the dogs know that we are going to make two laps around the yard. When we first started, occasionally, one of them, usually Sally or Abby, would try to quit after 1 round. I still occasionally have to stop and wait for Sally or Abby but not always. To get in shape all of the dogs will have to run much farther but we will do that closer to the season opening.
It’s been pretty warm the last few mornings so I have only been throwing 4 or 5 bumpers for Mann and Sally to retrieve. Also, Sally is in heat so I work her after all the other dogs. There can be quite a difference in the temperature from the first dog to the last but the boys might not have their mind on retrieving if I work her first.
Yesterday I worked Abby on the retrieving bench first. She went through everything without me having to touch the e-collar. I put 4 different dowel type bumpers about half way down the bench and waved in that direction and said, “fetch”. Abby slowly went after each one and when she picked one up I clapped my hands, loudly and said, “Alright, good girl” with a lot of enthusiasm. She did all 4 bumpers 3 times.
I set her on the ground and had her fetch a dowel from my hand then laid it on the ground and had her pick it up then we heeled a big circle. She never dropped the dowel. I never once touched the e-collar. This is where I have been wanting to get since we started. I don’t like having to use the toe pinch or the e-collar to get compliance. But it’s necessary when you first start.
Mann honoring.
I heeled her back near the kennel where the 4-wheeler was. I got on the 4-wheeler and released her to run. I had to stop a few times and she doesn’t like to go in front of my house. One time my daughter’s car was in the drive way and that seemed to spook her and she has tried to honor my dog statue that is life sized. But that stone dog bothers her too. Anyway she waits until I circle the house then she gets in front of me again. Before the summer is over she and Sally both will be doing really well.
Boss is another story. At times he’s been ahead of Abby on learning to retrieve. But right now he’s behind. Yesterday several times He would go to the dummy and try to take it then leave it lying on the bench. I started off trying not to use the e-collar just as I had on Abby. Sometimes he would retrieve 3 of the 4 dummies but not all 4.
Abby pointing a chukar.
I had the Garmin Sport Pro set on level 3. And he doesn’t show that it bothers him at all. I started by hitting the button on the transmitter and telling him to fetch. He would go slowly to the dummy and take it. Then when he picked it up I let off the button. If he took it then spit it out I held the button down until he grabbed the dummy. I only said, “fetch” one time. Then he would do a couple with no stimulation.
We went through the 4 dummies 3 times and I set him on the ground. I had him pick a dowel dummy off the ground and heeled him a short distance where he spit it out. I held the button down on the e-collar and he didn’t pay any attention. It was on level 3 so I went to level 4. He picked the bumper up and we heeled for a short distance where he spit it out again. He spit that dummy out 4 or 5 times in just a short distance.
He would heel for a little way then quit walking and spit the dummy out. I was getting frustrated with him but I know better than to let it show. Finally, after several tries he walked 35 feet or so and we declared a victory. I heeled him back to the 4-wheeler and let him run for a while. He didn’t hold a grudge. When I sat on my tree stump he crawled into my lap to be petted.
Boss on point, Allie and Abby honoring.
Well, today I worked him right after Mann. He jumped onto the retrieving bench and I walked up one side and down the other petting him several times. I put the 4 dummies about half way down the bench and waved in that direction and said, “fetch”. He slowly went down the bench and got a dummy and as I clapped my hands and said, “alright, here” it kind of startled him but he brought it to me. Out of 12 bumpers I had to use the e-collar maybe twice. Also, I had turned the collar down to level 2.
After he did the 12 dummies I set him on the ground, dreading the next step. I had put the Wonder lead on him before setting him on the ground. I held the dowel in front of his mouth and said, “fetch”. He took it and held until I said, “give”. I set the dummy on the ground and said, “fetch”. He picked it up. For some reason I went to the end of the Wonder lead in front of him, squatted down and said. “here”. He happily brought it straight to me and held until I said, “give”.
One of the things that is hard to get the dog to understand is that you want them to come straight to you. Lab guys want them to sit in their heeling place but I want them to come straight to me and look me in the eye. I petted him for a bit then had him pick the dummy up from the ground and I walked in front holding the end of the Wonder lead. Again he came straight to me, held until I said, “give”. I hope it’s that easy. The next couple of weeks will tell.
Mann on point.
I worked Abby next. As I heeled her to the retrieving bench I took a check cord down. If I can get them to bring the dummy the length of the check cord then they will be well started on retrieving. Over the next few weeks we will work on lengthening the distance that they carry the dummy.
Abby is a little chunky but that doesn’t keep her from liking the treats. As I walk both sides of the retrieving bench I feed her a few treats. I put the 4 dummies on the bench, petted her for a few seconds then said, “fetch” as I moved my arm toward the dummies. She went right down, slowly, and picked one up. I clapped my hands and said, “alright, here”. She came right to me and held the dummy until I said, “give”. She retrieved all 4 without me touching the e-collar.
I had her do 4 more retrieves and she did fine. I set her on the ground and said, “whoa”. I held a dummy in front of her and said, “fetch”. She took the dummy. I walked to the end of the Wonder lead and said, “here”. She spit out the dummy and happily came to me. I took her back to the starting place, said, “whoa, then fetch”. She took the dummy and I walked to the end of the Wonder lead and said, “hold” then “here”. She brought the dummy to me and spit it into my hand.
Mann is even fancy standing in his pen.
I whoaed her there, held the dummy in front of her and said “fetch”. I went to the starting point, next to the retrieving bench, said, “hold, here”. Just before she got to me I said, “Hold”. She stood in front of me for a few seconds before I said, “give”. She dropped it in my hand. I thought that was a good spot to quit. I heeled her back to the 4-wheeler and let her run for a while.
In all cases when the dog isn’t doing what I want it to do, it’s because I haven’t used the right approach. This isn’t the first time just trying something a little different paid big rewards. If I tried to only do things one way, me nor the dogs would be very happy.