re: Dog training help - teaching a retriever to hold after retrieve

Will never use a shock collar. If you can't get close enough to your dog that you need a shock collar, you probably don't need a dog. Just go get the mfer yourself, and let your wife have a crumb snatcher for the house. Spending time with your dog, training or not is necessary for him/her to bond/trust you. Soon as this occurs is when they will do anything for you without the use of shock re-enforcement. He or she (pet) will know what no means, and the louder you say no, the more the dog will no its unacceptable. That's why most retrievers that live inside the house make better gun dogs. I don't have a robot for a dog, but of the 122 something ducks we killed this year, he brought in over 80, and it was all swimming water. Sometimes dragging 3/4 decoys with him with 3lb weights on each decoy. And he's about as papered as the toilet paper I use to wipe my arse. Electronics are a viable tool in training dogs, I will agree. But in the wrong hands are more harmful than helpful.

quote:

---

Sounds like you need to teach "force fetch". It is in the Water Dog book.

---

This...

Different ways to teach a force fetch... Technique used when pinching the dogs ear whenever he drops the bumper... Some don't like negative reinforcement techniques, but it works..

Yeah I did. Just let me know.

@hunt66 - sure man. I'm no pro but I've messed up and been around long enough to know generally how it goes. If you have problems, try to get in touch with Da Hammer. He's got a ton of experience in the dog game and has the dogs to show for it.

LINK

this guy does a great job buy the dvd

I'll have a guy with 25+ years of GWP ownership helping me along the way.

you have to "teach" hold first before applying pressure. I also teach "fetch" first and make it a game. Pressure of any kind without prior knowledge of how to react correctly is badgering/abuse and will manifest undesired behavior and a poor attitude for learning.Besides teaching the dog you are also nurturing his desire and drive so keep it fun. I use a e-collar and rarely need it. If I do use it, its for a lack of focus and not for making a mistake and the dog quickly adjusts and does what it has been taught to do.
Most amateurs miss this and many pros do as well. You can ruin the dog with bad training, or you can have a duck getting, field trial winning machine. It's all in the application.

quote:

---

Message
Posted by BourgsTheWord
I will 100% force fetch my GWP

---

I thought this too. I took my Boykin to trainer that will only force fetch dogs that need it and with owners permission - not integral part of his program.

He said my dog didn't need it. I pick him up Saturday and will do first hunt Sunday.

I work with high end hunting labs, training and breeding. A few observations the shock collar is probably one of the best tools available to professional trainers. In the hands of an amateurs it is the worst tool available.

It is important that if you plan on using a shock collar you get training from a professional. I was introduced to a collar by a professional who let me handle 12 of his dogs in training. He held the transmitter and was right behind me. After I ran the last dog he asked me how many dogs were shocked. I answered "none" because I saw no evidence of any unusual behavior. His response was "actually three were shocked". Big lesson learned

As someone mentioned join a retriever club and let them help. There are several stages in a dogs training where it is very hard for an amateur to complete a task by reading a book or watching a DVD. FF is one of those task, pay a pro to do it for you.