[RailRoadRetrievers]

I haven't been really around lately, last wednesday, went through a double hernia surgery and I just started back to work yesterday and started messing with the dog again yesterday too. I am trying to kill myself I think.

Anyhow, working on hold, got the dog holding a bumper wonderfully and she is actually learning to walk at heel with the bumper in her mouth on lead (not long distances, but around the yard), she is sitting without dropping the bumper and pretty much doing a good job as far as I can tell. Now what? What is the next step?

I hope the next step doesn't require any heavy lifting or anything. Life is great, training a dog only hurts a little, but the trash is too heavy to carry out. So I get to take it easy for a while.

 

[SueLab]

You're not done with hold until you have introduced all kinds of items to be held and carried...different birds, etc. I like to use an individual water bottle 1/2 filled and wrapped with duct tape...the weight shifts. I also do a total obedience routine - return to heel, here, heel and sit stay - all while holding the item. I am not a pro just an individual...