FF question

pntailhntr · Postby **pntailhntr** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 8:17 pm

Having a FF issue. My dog is holding the dummy/barbell, but will not HOLD it. it is very loosely held. If the dummy is not centered in his mouth it will hang to the left or right and sometimes eventully fall out. I haven't been FF but for a week or so, so I'm in the beginning and would like to fix it NOW instead of not worry and fix it later.

SUGGESTIONS PLEASE!!!

THANKS!

MelissaM · Postby **MelissaM** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 8:39 pm

Pop him under the chin & say "HOLD," repeat. The point is for the dog to hold the bumper, not roll it around in his mouth.

Get Smart Fetch by Evan Graham - it explains the entire process.

pntailhntr · Postby **pntailhntr** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:31 am

I'm doing that, putting my thumb up under his chin and saying hold, popping him under the chin and tapping the dummy. He started holding it better a coupled days into it, then all of a sudden he started back no biting down to hold it again. Any other suggestions???

Memphis Mafia · Postby **Memphis Mafia** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 1:50 pm

Just a thought, but are you making sure that your dogs cheeks are not getting caught between the barbell and his teeth. This would make it uncomfortable for the dog to hold the barbell.

pntailhntr · Postby **pntailhntr** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 1:54 pm

doing that too.

kaustin · Postby **kaustin** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 2:19 pm

Have you ever done this before? What method are you using? Asking questions about force fetch over internet can get you in trouble. It is not black and white. 1 do this 2 do this 3 you're done. You do things in a sequence for a reason but you have to read the dog and no when to press on and when to lay off. If this is your first force fetch go of it, enlist someone that has done it to come over and help. If this is not your first try, then step back and take a minute to look at the dog and think about what he is doing and why. Remember you are forcing him to do something against his will and he has no idea exactly what you want. Simplify even if it means backing up and slowing down.

pntailhntr · Postby **pntailhntr** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 2:50 pm

I'm going by Water dog. I'm not asking how to FF, I basically asking if anybody has had the problem and how did they correct it? No, I have not done this before, it is my 1st time to FF, and I just a need some HINTS, not direct instruction, as maybe what to do about the softest mouth in the country. This has always and always does pick up on things quickly but this issue may be something that is harder for him to learn and I'm asking for a few hints as to what may change it, if anything.

Jesus, I'm not looking at training my dog off MSDucks, I'm looking for a hint as what to do for this specific problem.

Damn_It_Boy · Postby **Damn_It_Boy** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 2:56 pm

Try this........Use something soft like a canvas bumper. Noticeable difference. My trainer uses those for FF. My dog still has somewhat of a soft mouth on bumpers, but hold ducks really well. Don't expect it to be perfect. If he holds the soft bumper very well, then move on.

kaustin · Postby **kaustin** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:04 pm

I gave you a hint. Take it or leave it. Just telling you to look at what you are doing. Look at what possibly might be contributing to your problem. To fix a problem you need to know what is causing it not just what the problem is. Maybe somebody can give you a trick to use, maybe not. I was trying to respond to a question with some help. I will be sure to avoid your post in the future. Sorry.
Kenny

pntailhntr · Postby **pntailhntr** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:07 pm

I'll try that DIB, Thanks for the suggestion!!!

pntailhntr · Postby **pntailhntr** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 7:55 pm

doing much better, WHY I don't know, I didn't really change much other than using the bumper full time. I was using a 1 inch PVC pipe. Didn't want him to start rejecting the bumper. But he did retrieve a couple times today and DID NOT DROP IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was SOOOO EXCITED!!!!!

OBXDOG · Postby **OBXDOG** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 7:27 am

How old is your dog, this very well could be a problem because it is painful for him to hold dummy. I would check and make sure there is not some kind of dental or mouth problem. Just a thought, I had a dog with an abcessed tooth, lost a months training and almost got rid of him because he was reluctant to pick up birds, once problem cured became a Master Hunter and QAA. By the way it was one of his canine teeth, he now sports a silver canine tooth.

Damn_It_Boy · Postby **Damn_It_Boy** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 8:41 am

OBXDOG wrote:How old is your dog, this very well could be a problem because it is painful for him to hold dummy. I would check and make sure there is not some kind of dental or mouth problem. Just a thought, I had a dog with an abcessed tooth, lost a months training and almost got rid of him because he was reluctant to pick up birds, once problem cured became a Master Hunter and QAA. By the way it was one of his canine teeth, he now sports a silver canine tooth.

Cool, any pics?

pntailhntr · Postby **pntailhntr** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 8:56 am

No tooth problems I looked for that, they all look good. He held much better since switching totally to the bumper. I don't think he cared to much for the small PVC dumbell I was using. He turned one year on Oct 29th. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HIM, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HIM!!!

Damn_It_Boy · Postby **Damn_It_Boy** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 9:14 am

pntail, what you want to do from here is get the dog front sitting and holding, and if the dog is collar conditioned, tap on the bumper with a healing stick while repeating hold. If it drops, fetch-nick-fetch. Won't take many times for the dog to realize he better not drop it. Hard taps with the stick is all you need, don't whale at it or anything.

Worked for me......

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