Wrong answer........
Following info quoted from an old post by Mr. Randy
"Remember when the young puppy use to bring the bumper or paint roller back? Ever notice how they held it??? Usually right in the middle correct? When does the cigar hold start?? When the dog figures out he can do it and get away with it. Most people don't fix it because it's cute, the problem is somewhere down the line it's not so cute anymore. WHY?
1) Bad holds or lazy holds lead to mouthy chompy deliveries. Do we fix them or do we reach down slap them under the jaw and say "HOLD" I'd say most people cuff under the jaw and the dog stops chomping, but guess what they'll do it again. Sound close?? It's not fixed just a band-aid.
2) Next thing that usually occurs you move into doubles. Problem is the dog is still chomping on the bumper, your trying to correct a hold yet in turn takes away from the dogs memory. Ever see this?? Dog runs out looks stupid because it can't remember a double, but back on line the dog just got cuffed and yelled at.
3) Everyone’s favorite: Rolling birds in it's mouth, now your really pissed because your progressing towards competing and the dog has chompy deliveries. Judges don't like to see that to much, do they??
4) Freezing on birds would be my next guess, WHY? Chompy, alligator deliveries. When a dog grabs or alligators a delivery people yell "GIVE" get mad because of the delivery and give the bird back to the dog and try it again. The dog just got rewarded for a bad delivery and figures out every time he chomps a bird he'll get it back.
5) Where does it start and stop??? THE YARD
Getting rid of the cigar hold in THE YARD:
1) It all starts in the yard, hand throw a bumper, when the dog returns to a heel grab the check cord and slap the bumper out of the dogs mouth if he is holding it like a cigar or mouthing it. Ear pinch the dog to the bumper and command fetch. Now you have a choice (A) walk the dog in the yard and watch when they start having a lose hold on the bumper hit the bumper with your knee, again ear pinch to the bumper. (B) hand throw another bumper to get another correction for a sloppy hold. Don't let him dive for the fallen bumper until you have his ear. (AND THEY SHOULD BE DIVING)
2) Once the dog knows the drill and the dog has been thru electric fetch no fetch, replace the ear pinch with a continuous burn until he has the bumper in his mouth. You should notice a real big change in how he now holds the bumpers.
3) When YOU feel the dog is ready transfer the corrections over to a field atmosphere. Once the dog knows the drill in the field you can yell fetch and they usually stop and readjust the hold if not correct.
4) Remember to try and train the dog to the best of your ability and correct minor problems because usually they lead to the bigger ones. Some people don't care we do..... Randy"
Hope that helps you up in Alaska
