Why FETCH?

[SjSmith]

Most programs that I have looked at and the one that I am using, use the command FETCH when beginning force fetch and later transition to the command BACK. What for? I use my dog's name for marks and will use BACK for blinds and don't forsee using FETCH. Why would you introduce a command that will get phased out later and not be used? Why not just use BACK in the first place? I'm sure there is a good explanation. Can someone enlighten me?

[Lonnie Spann]

The "back" command is intended to convey a message to my dog that he is to leave out on a straight line, running like his @ss is on fire until A) he steps on the bird/bumper and immediately picks it up and brings it to me or, B) he hears the sit whistle and immediatly faces me, planting his rear and waiting for the next command.

Now if he were to reach the bird or bumper and decide to urinate on it instead of immediately picking it up and delivering it to hand, I will command "fetch" which conveys the message pick it up and bring it to me.

Two totally different commands, two totally different results.

Lonnie Spann

[Bridget Bodine]

When I first got into retrievers the woman I worked for told me "fetch" was the f word of retrievers. I think that you don't want any bad juju when you are in the field and the F word can have juju attached to it...

[copterdoc]

We use fetch to help the transition to back.

Eventually, back and fetch have separate and distinct meanings.

Fetch is never "phased out".
It always has a specific meaning to the dog.

[SjSmith]

We use fetch to help the transition to back.

Eventually, back and fetch have separate and distinct meanings.

Fetch is never "phased out".
It always has a specific meaning to the dog.

So you still use it? Can you give an example? Forgive me of my ignorance.

[BlaineT]

So you still use it? Can you give an example? Forgive me of my ignorance.

so you're at a hunt test. dog comes back with first bird of a triple. and drops the bird at your feet. you can't pick it up, you dont wanna say back, or his name cause he's gonna leave out for the next bird...."fetch"- pick up what you just dropped.

[copterdoc]

so you're at a hunt test. dog comes back with first bird of a triple. and drops the bird at your feet. you can't pick it up, you dont wanna say back, or his name cause he's gonna leave out for the next bird...."fetch"- pick up what you just dropped.

Good example.

[Jerry S.]

Good example.

Shouldn't this have been handled previously? Really, dropping a bird at your feet.

[Shawn White]

If you are in TT work and you whistle sit your dog en route,give a back cast along with verbal back ,and for whatever reason the dog get's buggy (panic ,not know what to do ) or just refuses to take the cast.
While repeating the hand signal give a FETCH command to get him moving ,Fetch is kinda like a go to when all else fails in yard work since it was taught so thoro in FF. If FF is done solid the "FETCH" s almost instinctual In my mind's eye.

[SjSmith]

Thanks for the example. I felt that I would get the response of "a command to fall back on". Guess I was correct.