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Drake the Yellow Lab Refuses Dummies in Light Cover: Training Tips Needed

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#21 ·
JusticeDog said:
It may be the cover. I had one that I trained until he was 11 months old in parks and cemetaries. His nose was too strong. Keep him on cut grass or very short cover to teach him to use those eyes.... FF will also take care of this.

I pm'd you that phone number.
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I'm sorry. You train in cemetaries?:confused:
 
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#22 ·
1st retriever said:
I'm sorry. You train in cemetaries?:confused:
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Not over the top of gravestones.... the clear area. The grass is always kept nice. When you live in the city, you make do with what you have. Besides, I figure a lot of those people really liked dogs, or owned them when they were living. :D
 
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#23 ·
JusticeDog said:
Not over the top of gravestones.... the clear area. The grass is always kept nice. When you live in the city, you make do with what you have. Besides, I figure a lot of those people really liked dogs, or owned them when they were living. :D
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I train at a mental hospital. (Abandoned, but still...) Ghost Hunters believes it's haunted. Seriously.
 
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#25 ·
Fowl Play WA said:
I train at a mental hospital. (Abandoned, but still...) Ghost Hunters believes it's haunted. Seriously.
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Ok. You guys are creeping me out!:p The hospital I was born in is now a mental hospital. Might explain some things!:lol: More power to you guys and you have to do what you have to do but those are two places I couldn't handle. We used to clean a rural cemetary in my 4-h club and still to this day I cannot stand being in one! I know, wuss!:rolleyes:
 
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#26 ·
This hospital used to be a self sufficient farm. Those that were "capable" grew gardens, ran a dairy farm, raised beef and chickens, etc. Some of the cutting edge (pardon the pun) brain surgeries were first performed there. Then it was shut down and abandoned. Parts of the buildings are used for our job corp now, and the barns are all still standing. It's a walking/recreation area now, but I'm too chicken to walk the trail alone (usually daddy goes with me). The old hospital is exactly as it was left, operating tools still on the table, beds in the rooms, etc.

They have several fields that were used for cattle grazing and harvesting that are now pefect upland cover. Dad and I run the dogs in them several times a week. Can't shoot, and would never be able to hunt, but the elk sure like them.

I had to walk into one of the barns to get a wandering dog once. Scared the crap out of me. I stay far away from the hospital, but still, the whole area gives me the heeby jeebies.
 
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#27 ·
Well I damn sure wouldn't be caught there by myself! My dad would be just as scared as me!:)
 
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#28 ·
1st retriever said:
Well I damn sure wouldn't be caught there by myself! My dad would be just as scared as me!:)
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It's the best option I have right now. Lots of distractions for focus training, lots of people dogs when we walk the trail, horses, elk, coyotes, etc. When I just want to exercise them, they can run in huge fields and I don't have to go anywhere near the buildings. Plus on hot days there is creek that runs through it and the dogs can take a dip. Wait, we dont' need hot days, they'll go when there is snow on the ground.
 
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#29 ·
1st retriever said:
Well I damn sure wouldn't be caught there by myself! My dad would be just as scared as me!:)
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Oh pooh.... you only have to worry if they bring back a femur.... or a skull.... or something. :D
 
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#31 ·
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#32 ·
1st retriever said:
Alright smart a$$!:p
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Hey, when I went to run the "Derby Nationals" (Triple DQ) on teh spillway with Honor, my pro told me not to be surprised if he came back with a jaw bone.... seems they dump bodies out there from New Orleans every now and then... :D
 
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#33 ·
Well that's just nasty!!!:) At least he didn't expect the head to come back with the dog!
 
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Discussion starter · #34 ·
I have not formally force fetched Drake. I have had him on a force fetch table numerous times and every time I tell him fetch or hold he does just fine. I have not had to do a toe pinch or year pinch to get him to fetch. I have even set a dummy on the opposite side of the table and told him "Drake"- he goes and picks the dummy up and then I tell him fetch as soon as it is in his mouth.

As I look back at all of the posts on this thread, I feel I have denied him too many retrieves. I need to build his desire back up and I can do that with several ducks and goose wing clips that I have saved from hunting season.

Next season will be his first. I can't wait!!
 
#35 ·
Tom,

You probably won't have a problem from not having force-fetched the dog until the time arises when you have to have him retrieve under difficult circumstances. Such as bringing back a criple that flaps and fights. Such as digging a bird out of a difficult fall. Then you will probably see the benefits of having force-fetch under your belt.

Your dog sounds very birdy and very willing, but it has all been under ideal circumstances up to this point. Force-fetch prevents your dog from having a "bad hair day" out in the field. It creates a situation where he'd retrieve the bird no matter what instead of evaluating the situation in regards to his comfort factor and deciding not to retrieve.
 
#36 ·
Force fetch is a completely different topic that you will have to decide on.

I think the point Miriam made was excellent and is being missed. Yes, you probably did deny him too many retrieves, denying a few is not bad IF you have an extremely high or vocal dog. You need to get your dog excited. But, when you take him out to the preserve to train, let him run around and air and smell for 10 minutes or so. Then I would do a little bit of OB to get him in a training mode, heel, sit, recall, etc. Then get into your marks and retrieving. Get a routine and stick with it but if he has been cooped up all day and now you're taking him somewhere exciting, let him run off a little energy and just be a dog before expecting him to work.

Just my opinion.

Kourtney
 
Discussion starter · #37 ·
Kourtney,

Thanks for the tip!! I will definitely give that a try this weekend. Spent about 20 minutes with Drake when I got home in a retention area across the street from my home and there was a lil spot with cover that I tossed a few bumpers in and he retrieved them all. I let him break on a few to get the desire up. Slowly making progress!! Looking forward to the weekend to do some more training.
 
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Tom Forman
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