dog question

[gator]

alright, i've got a problem that seems minor but i can see were this is going...got an 8 month old male lab that is really doing great...but, about a week ago he started retrieving the dummies by the string...well, i thought it would be a quick fix so i took the strings off and now he retrieves them by the little area the string attaches to the dummy at...now, i don't know what to do...any ideas...p.s.-this is not a holding problem, he delivers it to hand everytime and i mean, everytime...we really worked on that and it took, he just holds the small part of the dummy (whatever it may be)...and we are even using small dummies...i can just see him fetching a pintail and pulling the dang sprig out [img]images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] any help appreciated, justin

[peewee]

put some barbeque sauce on the larger part. It would make me pick it up there.HEHE [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[Jeff]

Is the dog force fetched? If so the problm is real easy to fix. Hold the bumper in front of his mouth and say fetch and hold it where he needs to dive at the middle of it. If he's not force fetched, it makes such a huge difference, I would strongly recommend doing so. If you prefer not to go this route, work in the yard with your hold technique but demand he hold the bumper the way you want. Then when you get this solid in the yard start throwing marks again and everytime he holds the bumper incorrectly, correct him. If you have to take the marks away from him until he has the holding of the bumper down correctly.

[gator]

peewee, i guess i'll leave the bbq sauce as a last resort...jeff, preciate the thought, he is already responding in the house to it...i give him the choice and if he makes the wrong one, i give him a stern no then let him try again...in about five minutes, he started getting the idea...can't believe i didn't think of it...thanks...if that don't work i'll try the soccer ball although i'm not real sure what i'm trying to do or look for...thanks guys

[Jeff]

MJH, no problem, just remember set your standards and always keep them there. IF you want your dog to hold the bumper right, doesn't matter if you're playing or training, make him hold it right, then he will always do it, don't make him do it training and let him do whatever when he's playing.

[Model12]

Had a similar problem once, so I had my lab retrieve a soccer ball. You heard me, thats right, a Fully inflated, regulation, soccer ball. I'll add a pic if I can get one this afternoon. She loves them so much she's gone through at least a half-dozen of um...Crazy labs....

[goosebruce]

You might get the results you want fooling with the dog. Maybe a quick fix gimmick with make it go away, for a little while. But odds are, jeffs right on the money. FF the dog and be done with it. When things are 'fixxed', they tend to creep back into training, causing constant work on your part, and not letting enjoy the success of something else. The hold issue can creep up at any time if the dog has a choice... there isnt a choice. Get control of the dogs mouth as certainly as you want control of the rest of his body, and you can spend your timing training, instead of fooling wif same old thing. travis