Retrieving
- Thread starter Jennifer
- Start date
- Location
- Cornwall , UK
Oh bless him , he is so handsome xx
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
What a cutie 
Now he’s a big black Labrador retrieving and everything
that seems to drag on 
not sure how Hunter is doing with that but we are slowly getting there, Hugo is much improved on walks, showing very little interest in sticks!It’s funny you should mention sticks @Kelsey. I was only thinking a few days ago Hunter hasn’t bothered purposely looking for sticks for quite awhile. Then for some reason yesterday he went rooting in the hedges and came back with what could only be described as a branch which he then settled down to chew. 
- Location
- The Hague, The Netherlands
He is just so handsome and happy looking.
What a nice looking boy he is
I might be overthinking this. It wouldn’t be the first time. I’m wondering if I need to train a different word for drop when Hunter is retrieving. He’s been doing really well but over the last week or so he’s decided he doesn’t really want to drop the yellow ball and doesn’t want to retrieve anything else. He knows the word drop and has done since being a small puppy but drop has always meant he’s got something he shouldn’t have. He’s always been pretty good at dropping something he shouldn’t have and always gets a treat but of course he doesn’t get the dropped thing back. He won’t drop the yellow ball even if I hold a treat under his nose. He will reluctantly let me take it out of his mouth but to me that feels like a punishment not continuing the fun if you get what I mean. I’m wondering if I should train a new would that means drop and you’ll get it back. Any suggestions greatly appreciated 
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
I use "thank you" when I want Cass to give me something, be it a dummy or something I would rather she didn't have.
I was taught to put one hand under her chin and hold the object with the other and when she relinquishes it, she gets rewarded ,but I can't remember the steps taken to get there.
Hand touch was a great thing to teach, she loves it to this day, and it really helped with putting things in my hand. You can really make it fun!!
Perhaps he just finds holding his yellow ball the most rewarding thing!
I was taught to put one hand under her chin and hold the object with the other and when she relinquishes it, she gets rewarded ,but I can't remember the steps taken to get there.
Hand touch was a great thing to teach, she loves it to this day, and it really helped with putting things in my hand. You can really make it fun!!
Perhaps he just finds holding his yellow ball the most rewarding thing!
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Gun dog retrieving | Retrieving for All Occasions
Gun dog retrieving for spaniels and retrievers. Explanations of field trial exercises as well as commands and hand signals used at field trials.
www.retrievingforalloccasions.com
You might find the above link usefl @Jennifer , I remember Fiona uploading some of their videos a while back. (I think it was Fiona anyway).
You might have to search a bit to find what is relevant to you !
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
To me 'drop' means let go and let it fall to the ground. I wanted my dogs to put the dummy or whatever into my hand unless of course it was something foul when I would say leave. We were taught to say 'dead'. I don't think taking the yellow ball or having dropped something and not getting it back, is punishment. The reward is your pleasure, a treat or another ball thrown as the reward. I was thinking have another yellow ball and swap it with the one in his mouth but then you have the same problem, still has a yellow ball in his mouth 
Continuing the fun is another retrieve.
Continuing the fun is another retrieve.@Selina27 @Jelinga thank you both for the tips much appreciated. @Jelinga I tried another yellow ball this morning it’s exactly the same but he still kept hold of the original one over the new one. Occasionally he got confused and ran for the new one. He’d drop that when he got back but then wouldn’t go for it again wanted his original one. I’ll persevere and try training a drop into my hand 
I’ll persevere and try training a drop into my hand It’s getting weird now. Hunter is obsessed with the yellow ball to the point that I confiscated it and I’m thinking of binning it which is a shame because he loves it but ….. He won’t retrieve anything else if we have the yellow ball out too but if the yellow ball isn’t out he’ll only do a few retrieves then gives up. He races to retrieve it but then I have to make him drop it and it takes ages. Today I took it out to play with. When we’d finished I chucked the ball in through the patio window so we could walk round the garden and he could have a wee which is what I always do and he wouldn’t come away from the window just sat waiting for his ball It’s like a cat nip toy to a cat he’s that obsessed with it. Should I bin it and persevere with a different ball ? I’m stumped but I know his behaviour with this ball is not good
It’s like a cat nip toy to a cat he’s that obsessed with it. Should I bin it and persevere with a different ball ? I’m stumped but I know his behaviour with this ball is not good
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
Difficult! I think I would take the ball away, not necessarily bin it, perhaps bring it out well into the future, he does seem obsessed with it which you don't want. Have you thought of a gun dog dummy, you can get little 'snipe' ones or regular ones, it will be a completely new shape for him and may incite an interest away from the ball shape.It’s getting weird now. Hunter is obsessed with the yellow ball to the point that I confiscated it and I’m thinking of binning it which is a shame because he loves it but ….. He won’t retrieve anything else if we have the yellow ball out too but if the yellow ball isn’t out he’ll only do a few retrieves then gives up. He races to retrieve it but then I have to make him drop it and it takes ages. Today I took it out to play with. When we’d finished I chucked the ball in through the patio window so we could walk round the garden and he could have a wee which is what I always do and he wouldn’t come away from the window just sat waiting for his ball
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
As well as @Jelinga s good advice, can you use the beloved yellow ball as his reward for doing a few good retrieves?
Have you thought about having a word or something that lets him know that the game is over?
I guess it all depends what you are hoping to achieve with his retrieving.
Maybe he thought this was all part of the game ?
Have you thought about having a word or something that lets him know that the game is over?
I guess it all depends what you are hoping to achieve with his retrieving.
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
What colour are the other balls?
Is there something about the texture of that yellow ball that he likes? Tuppy has a green ball that she loves. I think it’s a Kong, but it’s a bit squidgy, although solid, and she enjoys carrying it around and mouthing it. She will play fetch games with it, alternating with another ball, but eventually refuses to drop the green one, not even for a piece of cheese! I now just leave her with it as, unlike her other toys, nothing persuade her to drop it and it‘s indestructable.
That’s not solving your problem, though!
@Selina27 I’ve tried that but he still will not drop the yellow ball unless I get hold of it in his mouth. He will do his best to avoid me getting hold of it, dodging me, turning his head, yesterday he even growled. I don’t give up though and once I’m hold he reluctantly lets go. @Jacqui-S @Granca the other ball is blue, they both have the same pattern and texture. I’ve tried another exact same yellow ball but that does not hold the same power. I remember when I first opened the packaging of the original yellow and blue balls they had a very strong rubbery smell. Hunter was mega excited by it and I had to keep them in the porch or he’d drive himself (and me) nuts trying to get them. Maybe it was just the yellow one that had the smell and while I can’t smell it anymore he can. The second pack of balls I got for down the lane at my cousin‘s house didn’t have a strong smell that’s where I’ve got the other yellow ball from. It really is a mystery but so far, a bit like Tuppy and her green ball, there is nothing, no treat or toy that can persuade him to give up this yellow ball Interestingly he picks the original blue ball over the new yellow one so maybe there is a smell.
Interestingly he picks the original blue ball over the new yellow one so maybe there is a smell.
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