dogs have some natural interest in retrieving. Your job is to bring that out and develop it to a high degree. Daily play retrieving sessions can begin as soon as
you bring your pup home from the litter at around eight weeks. Just remember
that your puppy's attention span is very short
adidas stan smith femme blanc vert , so end each session while your pup wants more; don't keep going until she gets tired of the game. These methods work with grown
dogs, too. Typically, pups will show one of three different responses when
introduced to retrieving. Some pups will chase a thrown or rolled object but not
pick it up; some will chase ? it, pick it up, and run away with it; and a very few
will chase it, pick it up, and return it to you. Most of the well-bred
retrievers I have started as pups would chase and pick up; very few would
actually return something to me at first. These actions make up the components
of a retrieve. Your puppy's initial response shows you what you need to work on,
and in what order
adidas superstar 2 noir or , to develop a full retrieve in the pup. First, you need to stimulate the desire to chase. Once your pup will chase, you need to
find an object your pup wants to possess or carry. And finally, you need to
teach your pup to bring the object back to you. We will work on each segment
individually and try to keep them in balance. Stimulate the chase or prey drive.
Restrain your pup and tease her with a rolled sock or tennis ball and when she
is trying hard to grab it, roll it out about two feet in front of her and let
her go. If the pup runs to chase it, great; repeat several times. Sometimes an
odd-shaped toy that bounces unpredictably will excite a pup. Alternately, allow
the pup to run loose as you drag a sock or ball on a string in front of her to
tease her and when she is excited, toss or roll the object low and out in front
her. Remember
adidas supercolor violet clair , your pup's vision is not fully developed at eight weeks so if you toss too high or too far your pup will lose sight of
the object. Your teasing and a little tug a war should stimulate the pup's prey
drive and encourage your pup to chase what you throw. Now that he's chasing,
find something he wants to pick up. If your pup will chase but doesn't pick up
what you are throwing, throw something else. You may have to try several
different objects until you find one your pup likes to pick up and carry. If
your pup is not interested in your new store-bought puppy bumpers, try squeaky
toys, knotted socks, or Kong toys. Some pups like empty plastic soda bottles
with some of the air squeezed out and the lid put back on. If you cannot find a
toy the pup likes, let the pup pick something out. Just watch your pup and see
what he is getting into around the house. I have started a couple of pups
retrieving my old shoes. Once they get into the game you can switch them to
objects you want him to retrieve. When he will chase and pick up, teach him to
return to you. With all pups
adidas superstar supercolor rouge femme , work on teaching your pup to come to you when called in sessions separate from the retrieving sessions. Food
treats work well with most pups for teaching a quick recall. Sometimes if you
place the pup on the ground in a new area and run away calling to him, the pup
will come to you. In addition to using treats to get your pup to return to you,
watch where he goes when he runs off with his thrown toy. Many pups will try to
run to a safe spot with their toy when they pick it up. Some will return to
their bed or doggie mat. Work with that. Sit on the floor near the dog bed and
throw his first retrieves. When he returns to the bed you can praise and reward
him with a treat for the good retrieve. Now, this is important: do not grab and
take the toy from your pup as soon as he returns. If you do this, he is not
going to want to return to you. Instead, when the pup returns, get a hold of him
and praise or treat him, but let him keep the toy. When he gives it up you can
throw it again. You can also work with two toys. Once your pup returns and he
has had a chance to enjoy your praise for that retrieve
superstar supercolor bleu ciel , tease him with the second; when he drops the first toy you can throw the next. When should you teach your pup to wait for a
command to retrieve? If you find you have a physically tough pup with very high
retrieving drive, begin to teach your pup to wait for your cue to go as soon as
he is retrieving and really into the game. Hold the pup in a sit until he stops
struggling before you cue and release him to retrieve. He will learn that
sitting calmly brings the opportunity to retrieve, thrashing wildly doesn't. A
more sensitive pup with soft or medium retrieve drive doesn't need early
practice waiting to be sent. Let this pup go for the retrieve as soon as you
throw as it helps build his drive. What about birds and the hunting pup?
Birdyness and retrieving desire are two different things. If you are raising a
retriever for hunting you need to develop both. Make sure you introduce your dog
to birds right away, preferably before he is 12 weeks old. Once he shows
interest in the birds, throw some bird marks for him from time to time as he
grows up as long as he is not too rough with them. If he gets too rough, put the
birds away until after force fetch. With a little effort and a few minutes of
play each day you can teach your pup to retrieve. A solid play retrieve offers a
fun way to get good exercise and helps build a close working relationship with
your pup. You and your pup will reap the benefits throughout his whole life.
Author's Resource Box Pat Nolan has trained Dog professionally since 1975. In
the early 80s Nolan trained dogs and animals for film and TV. Nolan has worked
with the training of detection dogs, law enforcement
