Luke
Tur Bo walking with a bumper
Lucky
It’s the middle of May and I put on a jacket to work dogs. My kind of weather. I heeled Tur Bo to the retrieving bench with the e-collar around his neck. I think his pulled muscle is getting better. I haven’t noticed him carrying his leg for the last 3 days. I’m going to wait another 2 weeks before I let him run.
He jumped onto the bench and we walked back and forth with me petting him every few feet. I opened his mouth and placed a bumper behind his canine teeth. I said, “hold” and led him down the bench. When he got to the other end I petted him for a few seconds and said, “give”. He dropped the bumper into my hand. I petted him then we went back to the other end. I placed another bumper in his mouth and walked to the other end of the bench. Tur Bo walked with me holding the bumper. I said, “give” and he dropped it into my hand. I petted him and we returned to the other end. I placed another bumper in his mouth and said, “hold”. I walked to the other end with him coming with me. When he got to the end I turned and went back to the other end. He turned around on the bench and came with me without dropping the bumper. I put another bumper in his mouth and we went down the bench then back. He held the bumper all the way. I spent some time petting him before putting him on the ground.
I set him on the ground and said, “whoa”. I opened his mouth and placed a bumper behind his canines. I said, “hold”. I walked down the side of the bench with Tur Bo beside me. He spit the bumper out. I pinched his lip against a tooth and replaced the bumper. We walked down the bench and when we got to the end we turned around and started back. He spit the bumper out. I pinched his lip against a tooth and replaced the bumper. We walked to the start of the bench and turned walking to the end where we turned and came back to the start. He held the bumper all the way. I spent considerable time petting and telling him what a good boy he is. I worked on heel and whoa on the way back to the kennel.
When I pinch his lip against a tooth I don’t make him yelp. I only make it uncomfortable for him. When the dogs do something right I do a lot of petting. I believe the petting is the most important part. When they do something wrong there must be a consequence for them to learn but it doesn’t have to be really painful. They also need to be recognized when they do something right, so I do a lot of petting.
I put the e-collar on Luke’s neck and heeled him to the bench. He jumped on at my “up”. I walked him back and forth petting him every few feet. I put 4 bumpers at the other end of the retrieving bench. I sent him to retrieve with a “fetch”. He retrieved each one. I’m requiring him to do all parts of the retrieve, correctly. He would rather turn loose of the bumper before getting to me and have me catch it. His way of force breaking me to retrieve. So, I make him hold the bumper for a few seconds before taking it from him.
I set him on the ground and said, “whoa”. He wants to do everything at top speed so I held his collar and threw the bumper. He tried to go but I held him. Finally, I said fetch and he dashed out, picked up the bumper and released it before he got back to me but the bumper came by. I told him “fetch”, holding the button on the e-collar down on level 3 and when he picked it up I said “hold”. When he picked the bumper up I released the button and he held it until I said”give”. I held his collar and threw the bumper. I said “fetch” and he picked it up. He started toward me and I said “hold” just before he got to me. He stood in front of me holding the bumper. I petted him for a few seconds before saying “give”. He is always ready to get rid of the bumper. He dropped it into my hand. I threw the bumper about 10 times making him hold the bumper before giving it to me. He did it right because I wouldn’t accept it any other way and he knew how to do it right. I let him run before returning to the kennel.
I put the e-collar on Lucky and heeled him to the retrieving bench. I said “up” when he jumped on the bench. At 11 years old he still jumps on the bench and loves the attention he gets. He even likes to retrieve on the bench. I put the 4 bumpers at the other end after I spent some time petting him. I sent him to retrieve with a “fetch” and as he came back I stepped a few feet away from the bench and he held the bumpers until I stepped back and said “give”. He did a good job on all 4 bumpers.
I set him on the ground and said “whoa”. I threw the bumper and he retrieved it. I didn’t try to make him stay until I sent him. I didn’t always take the bumper as soon as he came back. Sometimes, I petted him for a while before I said “give”. I threw the bumper about 10 times and he did a good job each time. I let him run for a while before returning to the kennel.
I heeled Dolly to the retrieving bench with the e-collar around her neck. She jumped on at my “up”. I know the dogs think they have me trained because Dolly sits at several different places on the bench so I will pet her and tell her what a good girl she is. She sits at the start, middle and end going down and back. I put the 4 bumpers on the other end. She brought each one to me when I said “fetch”. She holds them real well.
I set her on the ground and said, “whoa”. I held her collar and threw the bumper. She wanted to go but I held her. I said, “fetch” and released her. She grabbed the bumper and came back. She sat in front of me holding the bumper waiting to be petted. I spent several seconds petting and telling her what a good girl she is before saying, “give”. She dropped it in my hand. I threw the bumper about 10 times and she did a good jog each time. I let her run before going back to the kennel.
Blaze was last this morning. She’s usually second or near the first but this morning she was last. That may teach patience but mostly it makes her hyper. I heeled her to the bench and she jumped on it. I said “up” just as she got ready to jump. I walked up and down petting her. I placed the 4 bumpers at the other end and sent her to retrieve with a “fetch”. Blaze can hardly get her mouth open wide enough to take the first bumper each morning. After the first bumper she’s okay. I think this is her way of saying, “you can make me do this but you can’t make me like it”. She retrieved all 4 and held them just fine.
I set her on the ground and told “whoa”. I held her collar and threw the bumper. I said “fetch” and released her collar. She ran to the bumper and could hardly get her mouth open wide enough to pick it up. Finally, it fit in her mouth and she brought it back. I petted her for a long time then said “give”. She dropped it in my hand. After the first time she had no trouble picking the bumper up. I only threw the bumper 5 or 6 times for her. She needs several sessions where she is successful every time. I think this will give her more confidence. I let her run for a while before going back to the kennel.
This is fun for me and the dogs. I let them run for a little while after the work on retrieving so they don’t get real soft. It also keeps me in a little better shape. What I do may not work for everyone and it definitely wouldn’t work for a pro. I’m too slow but it works for me. And the dogs and I enjoy it.
Dolly holding bumper
Blaze holding bumper
Luke