Retrieving - How to Begin in a Positive Way

Retrieving – begin by Building Good Habits from the Start!

Retrieving seems to be a difficult task for many handlers. Here in SA, often very little is done to build a proper habit in the dog – most handlers just hope for the best and do very little retrieving with the dogs besides throwing dummies and game. Fortunately, many dogs do an adequate job due to their good breeding…however, many don’t, and when a handler runs into problems they don’t know how to solve them.

It is far better to build good habits from the start, and these form part of the foundation training. Of course, play retrieving and play with a puppy is good. But it only takes you so far!

Nonetheless, a bit can be achieved with some structured play retrieving. But even then, it is a good idea to do it with the end game in mind – the puppy loves it, returns to you, and you reinforce a good hold in a very gentle way. Once this is established (as seen in the videos below), you should move on to more structured hold and retrieve training if you want a reliable retrieve and good delivery!

Puppy play retrieving;

   >>Developing Puppy Retrieving

You can begin with the method below or start with it after a little of the play retrieving is done. Of course there are other ways of teaching “Hold”, but this method works well with puppies and young dogs. It is presented in German, however, a trainer or one of the clubs will be able to guide you along the way.

The Welpenfernkurs  (Hundeschule Kompetenzzentrum der Kynologie) Retrieve videos show a gentle approach to teaching the dog to hold and you can start with a puppy, building a proper structure and habit early on. Here are 3 videos, and you will find others that build on this:

  1. Welpenfernkurs – Basic Structure in Retrieving Part 1 – Thumbwork – Holding
  2. Welpenfernkurs- Basic Structure in Retrieving Part 2 – Holding firm with a neutral object
  3. Welpenfernkurs: Structure in Retrieving Part 3 – Taking the object
If you are very new to this and need help understanding, this Summary of the Hold Training (that is, the Structured Retrieve training) >>SUMMARY HOLD TRAINING may help you to better understand the Welpenfernkurs videos and put them into action. There is another video series with instructions that may be more appropriate (not better!) for some older puppies who are more mature and whose adult teeth are in >>>HOLD Instructions and Steps. However,  starting out with the Welpenfernkurs Thumb method is excellent and in hindsight that is how I would begin!
 
The good habits built early with this sort of training carry on with more from Hundeschule Kompetenzzentrum with the next video Series (7 Parts):
 
  1. Teaching the Dog to Retrieve at the Appropriate Level – Retrieve what is required.
 

Next up:

>>  How to Start with Drags

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