[M Hassman]

Do any of you that use the Hillman puppy method with the early reinforced fetch go through traditional FF once formal training begins in the Lardy or Smartworks programs?

Those that haven't, how does the pup/dog perform with working through pressure later? I consider pressure also as any distractions that may cause a pup to ignore its job.

I can see us going through a traditional FF once formal training begins, and I am expecting it to be much faster and maybe with less pressure.

I used the Hillman puppy method going through all "28" lessons. I took longer but got all the concepts done without much issue. I just got done doing FF with the Lardy method - using his whole program. This is my 3rd dog to FF so I'm no expert. Based on my limited experience, this FF was very easy. He knew fetch and hold to a tee before we started formal FF. In 8 sessions I was ready for three leg casting. My criteria to move from one concept to the next was how fast he complied. I hardly got any refusals, only twice where I continued ear pressure and got the point across with minimal struggle. I worked on stable sit (not going for the bumper until commanded) and staying at heal after picking up the bumper on walking fetch almost as much as FF. Stick fetch was very easy too. I am really worried I am missing something because it went so well. I did see some avoidance the first session of walking fetch where his heel was very far from me. The reading I've done suggests he might be sensitive which they say should make it easier to train. The owner of his brother says he is sensitive too. The casting has gone well. He was trained with treats on casting as a puppy so it wasn't a big deal. I did get a couple of refusals when I first went to a pile on my over cast (single bumpers had no issues) I ear pinched to the pile once and the light went on so I'm attributing it to confusion due to a pile versus one bumper. My hope is that it was confusion and not a lack of FF.

During our marking session today i did some three hand casting in the snow and cold without issue - my yard work has been done inside. I also commanded fetch on a bumper in the snow as we were working on obedience around the truck and he went for it very fast.

I would be interested in peoples opinions on if I did the right thing or if I should have done more sessions as a matter of protocol. His brothers FF was done by his owner another amateur and he said it went very fast for him as well.

The first dog I FF I used the process from Robert Milner's book "Training the Retriever for the Duck Hunter" and it had significant sessions of repetition despite the performance of the dog. It seemed like I wore that dog out into complying which took over 3 weeks to get through the program. The Lardy method seemed more fair to the dog being based on performance.

I would be very interested in peoples opinions on FF being completed in so few of sessions - because it seemed too easy and I really want to do a good job. If I didn't do a good job, when will it show up - force to pile? Thanks for your constructive thoughts.