Wash or not to wash?

[BrettG]

I would like a little input from some of you that have been playing dog games for a while. I have a 10 month old with very little desire to retrieve. He has excellent OB. He just doesn't care too much about retrieveing. Throw marks and he fires out and runs to bumper or bird and most times want pick it up. I'll get him to retrieve some hand thrown bumpers and then he will just quit. I have been VERY patient with this dog trying to build that desire. I have used everything I know to do. We've used shackled birds, dead birds, every kind of retrieving object you could throw he just doesn't like it. Should I chaulk him up as a wash out?

[Robcat]

How old was the dog when you started training?

[waterbug]

Have you tried staking him out at a club training day and let him watch about 20 plus dogs pick up birds and do their thing... and then throw some marks for him.

[BrettG]

He watches 10 dogs run everyday. I got him at 8 months he already had been through OB and came in with little desire I built him up a little then it went down to zero. He then got going again only to stop retrieving again. Picked up hand throwns yesterday and nothing today. I'll be honest I truly dislike this dog.

[Jeff]

I'll be honest I truly dislike this dog.

I think you awnsered your own question.

[Gene]

What is dogs pedigree? Is there history in his immediate pedigree showing field titles.? Any known retrieving ability in the pedigree? Has the dog been through formal force fetch? Some dogs are late to mature and don't care much about retrieving one day and the next it can click.

No matter what the answer is to the above and if you don't like the dog and don't want to work with it then find him a good pet home. Said you started at 8 months and he is 10 months old. That isn't much of a start. If you want the dog to work out I'd give it some more time if there is any chance he'll come around. If pedigree shows ability your chances are greater that he'll work out.

If you continue to try - just make it fun and maybe only one or two retrieves at a session and shoot him a short flyer. Go less formal and less on the obedience to try and build some drive. With low drive dog and strict obedience you can shut them down.

Another major consideration is what are you after? A field champion, hunting dog, hunt tests, what?

Gene

[BrettG]

This is to be a hunting dog and possibly a HT dog. The dog is out of excellent parents. Non have shown late maturity in fact a half sister is now the all time derby dog. I didn't do the OB someone else did. When I got him he would jog out to the bumper and retrieve somtimes. All I have done is shoot live birds, throw dead birds, throw every retrieving object I can come up with. I have now taught hold and am beginning FF. Yesterday I did his table work fetch hold walk up and down the table and he did great. Went out to the airing yard and tossed him a couple bumpers (He was very excited) Picked 'em up and brought them back.

[Damn_It_Boy]

Why would you attempt to FF a dog with little or no retrieving desire? Most would say the desire should be very high before you force fetch. Hope is doesn't backfire........

[Gene]

I'd probably lay off the formal stuff and try to just let the pup have some fun for a little while. Only a couple retrieves at a time. No restraining the dog just let him go. Build a little desire and then slowly add obedience back into it. The dog sounds like he might just be a slower developer. You don't have to force fetch yet. I asked that question to see if it had been done and done perhaps not good enough. Make everything fun and see if you can turn him on. He may have been obedienced to death before you got him. Even when retrieving is going okay don't do more than two or three retrieves. Always put him up wanting more. Not after he decides to stop. Build some desire and then go back and visit obedience again. Give him a month or two of nothing but fun and see what happens if you have the time.

Gene

[BrettG]

Well I got the pom poms out and cheerleader outfit and got the dog in question to do some water marks today. Turd picked up all 3 and delivered to hand on each of em. He actually hit the water hard. This is what makes me throw my hands. We were all floored when he did it. He even broke on the last one.

[CF]

Well I got the pom poms out and cheerleader outfit

Brett...would you happen to be female and HOT...if so please post pictures of this training outing...



...if not...continue with what is working and keep the formal stuff on the back burner as others have suggested...

[Cat Squirrel]

I would take it he is a 10 month old Roux pup if he is 1/2 brother to all time derby dog.

I've been VERY pleased with my Roux pup (Guinness) and wouldn't give up on him easily (if at all). Guinness has tons of personality and drive. I don't think I'd trade him for any pup out there, except his half sister but he is a hi roller too

Check the physical first and make sure your pup doesn't have something wrong with his mouth or bones, etc. Maybe he's hurtin and when he feels better, he's ready to retrieve? Mine had some problems with pano at that age and I had to lay-off for a little.

I've found Guinness has been somewhat late to mature. He's not black-hearted, and likes to please, but definately wants to do things his own mischevious way until I show him what I want. OB has been tuff, but forcing him was a dream.

I think I'd just have some fun with your pup and lay off formal stuff. It almost sounds like he was over OB'ed and not enough retrieving. Run some easy fun marks, etc... swimming is probably good. I will tell you, my pup thrives on measured praise and is sensitive to my moods, but takes pressure just about perfectly.

See if he comes around with some fun stuff.....