Retrieving

Jennifer

Jennifer

I thought I’d cracked it but apparently not. Hunter grasped the concept of retrieving awhile ago but keeping his attention on the job in hand was difficult. I tried different things balls, toys, kongs etc. He’d do a few good retrieves then get distracted by a stick, smell, rabbit muck. :facepalm:We worked out he had a thing for latex:wasntme:. All my other dogs preferred soft dog toys rather than rubber. Hunter has plenty of those. My cousin got him a couple of latex toys for his birthday and he was running for those with much more gusto. He was particularly partial to the Bakewell tart. I found some latex squeaky balls on Amazon. For the best part of two weeks he’s been retrieving them like a pro. Throw one Hunter ran for it, dropped at my feet on way back as I threw second ball with lots of encouragement and cheering. He was so excited by the new balls I had to hide them in a different room when we came in or he’d be obsessed trying to get them. They did have quite a strong smell at first. All was going well until this week when he‘s gradually got less interested. Back to doing a few then finding something more interesting to do. Any suggestions on how to hold his interest. I could keep buying new toys when he gets bored but I don’t think that’s really the answer.:shake:
 
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Selina27

Selina27

Location
Herefordshire, UK
I'm hardly qualified to give advice on the strength of my experience with Cassie. I thought at one time she didn't want to retrieve at all, but she does, very much, it was just a question of finding what she liked and how.
I mean, how much does it matter to you for Hunter? Do you just want to occupy him on walks?
Cass would never fetch a ball (unless another dog does) on walks, overtime I learnt that setting her up formally as "work" is what floats her boat. She won't retrieve rubber or plastic, for her rabbit skin or cloth dummies are best. I have to find the balance of formality and fun! Less is also more for her, it keeps her enthusiasm if I give her a break from it. Train the dog in front of you and all that!
Not sure this is very helpful!
Hopefully more experienced folk will be along soon!
 
Atemas

Atemas

UK Tour Guide
Location
North Cambridgeshire
Selina27 said:
Less is also more for her, it keeps her enthusiasm if I give her a break from it.
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This is probably the key.

When I think back, I didn’t think for a long time that Red would retrieve - she just wasn’t interested. I am sure she was older than Hunter when she developed her passion for tennis balls 🎾.

I did work on bringing something back to me and placing in my hand as this didn’t come naturally to her. We played Find the Fish in the house. She quickly learnt to find the fabric fish and place it in my hand for a small treat. She still loves this game but I tend to only do it during the winter months when we are indoors more.
 
Jennifer

Jennifer

@Selina27 and @Atemas thank you both very much. I think your right less is more is the way to go. I just want Hunter to retrieve for fun so I guess it doesn’t really matter how long it takes as long as he’s enjoying it. What Hunter really loves is racing round with something he thinks he’s found, occasionally butt tucking and shooting through peoples legs, basically having fun. It can be a bit scary when he’s heading straight for you at full speed.:shock: Maybe incorporating just a few retrieves will make retrieving fun too.:idea:
 
Jennifer

Jennifer

@kateincornwall yes I do that too Kate. All toys I try retrieving with are kept where Hunter can’t get them or see them. He still gets really excited when I get the latex balls out it’s keeping his attention outside I have difficulty with. I was thinking of trying just a few retrieves then balls away to keep the excitement. That might work except for the times when first throw of the ball and he just watches it go, land and walks off in the other direction. :facepalm: Maybe on those occasions I should immediately put the balls away, at least for a bit, then try again:idea:
 
MellowYellow

MellowYellow

Jennifer said:
@kateincornwall yes I do that too Kate. All toys I try retrieving with are kept where Hunter can’t get them or see them. He still gets really excited when I get the latex balls out it’s keeping his attention outside I have difficulty with. I was thinking of trying just a few retrieves then balls away to keep the excitement. That might work except for the times when first throw of the ball and he just watches it go, land and walks off in the other direction. :facepalm: Maybe on those occasions I should immediately put the balls away, at least for a bit, then try again:idea:
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Definitely just do a couple of retrieves, and stop when he is still keen. Then put the dummy (or ball or whatever) away and treat it like a treasured possession - kateincornwall is right, this will make it much more special.

Another thing at the moment is that you don't care about him 'running in' or being overly enthusiastic, so you can go a bit crazy with your retrieving games, running away with the ball, making funny noises, whirling the toy around before throwing it... Anything that gets him really interested!
 
Jennifer

Jennifer

@MellowYellow Ive been giving this ago and so far so good. Hunter still gets very excited when the latex balls come out but if he doesn’t run for them the first time I throw they go in my pocket until he’s desperate for them. We do three retrieves and then he gets both balls to play with as reward then repeat. He has his own little game with them. He likes to pounce on them both which shoots them off in different directions and he gets all excited which to get first, whether to leave one unattended or take it with him. It’s funny to watch. Hunter definitely prefers audience participation. If he’s running for a ball he thinks everyone should be. He’s always loved a good game of chase so once he’s gone for the ball I run in the opposite direction with the other ball. He chases me, drops the ball when he gets to me so I’ll throw the other. I’m also doing as you suggest and making exciting noises. Luckily there are fields between us and our neighbours but I’m pretty sure the whole lane now knows when Hunter and I are playing fetch. :rofl:
 
Jennifer

Jennifer

I’m pleased to report over the last week we have some progress with Hunter’s retrieving or more correctly I think I’ve worked out how Hunter prefers to retrieve. Like Cassie @Selina27 Hunter seems to prefer a more formal retrieve than running in after a ball. I’m still using the latex balls because he still loves them but rather than just throwing them for Hunter to fetch Hunter waits in a sit stay while I walk off, hide the ball, return to him then send him for the ball. I used to do this awhile ago while I was teaching him stay (although I use sit wait) but put the toy down not too far away. Stupidly it didn’t occur to me to do retrieving like this. To be honest I’m actually impressed how long he stays waiting. I can go a good distance even out of sight behind something and he doesn’t move until I get back and release him with “fetch it”. It’s funny as I’m getting back to him you can see him getting more and more eager to go. It’s a bit like he’s naturally steady and skipped the running in bit. At least I don’t have to train him not to run in. As a reward when he gets back with the yellow ball (his favourite) I throw the blue latex ball for him so he has both. He will then play with them and maybe do a few running in retrieves. I’m hoping by mixing it up he won’t get bored. I was thinking that with hindsight I perhaps should’ve known or at least thought of it sooner. His prey drive or certainly his chasing drive isn’t very high unless your a human or dog playing with him. For example out of the four labradors I’ve had he’s the only one that trots off after the rabbits at the bottom of the garden or the squirrel like he thinks they’ve come to play and looks surprised when they run. It’s a bit like watching Pepe Le Pew if anyone remembers that cartoon. The other three would’ve set off full speed and not to go and play. Definitely a case of train the dog in front of you @Selina27.
 
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