Force Fetch: whats it for?

[BIGINNER]

what is force fetch? what would you use it for?  how important is it to get your dog force fetch trained?

[Happy Gilmore]

This is a good read on the topic of force fetch.

http://refugeforums.com/refuge/showthread.php?t=847408

[RC3]

I'm sure Happy's article will tell you better about it than I, but I will say its not hard you just have to be consistent and let it happen when it happens.  That and I would not have a dog I didn't force fetch.

[gasman]

I guess, a nut shell, force fetch teaches your dog to fetch up about any item you want or need him to fetch, wether he likes it or not.

[Shannon]

Gasman described it good. Its not necessary unless your dog doesn't have a decent natural retrieve or you play dog games where the retrieve is scored and has to be perfect every time in some field trials, test, etc. I forced my current dog and will my new pup but if I only had a hunting dog there natural retrieve would have been good enough to hunt over them. Once that it is done it makes some aspects of training easier also. Evan Graham's "Smart Fetch" is a good source if you are going to do it yourself. Its pretty easy but just time consuming.

[BIGINNER]

my dog retreives really good right now,.. but sometimes he'll get tired, or lazy and just won't retreive, thats why i was kind of doing research on force fetch,  but also iwas wondering, is he too old to be taught force fetch?  he's 2.  would force fetch training affect the rest of his training?   i'm just trying to figure out if he really needs to be taught force fetch.

[gasman]

I dont believe 2 is too old, but thats just me.

I have FF trained my dogs and they will fetch almost any thing I ask, or hand them. I know in there training when they are gettig tired and that where it is time to stop training and go on to some thing else, or just quit for the day.

 

[Special T]

Think of FF training like the first few words from a childs mouth... Everything is built from there.. I had one Chessy i didn't FF train and now have one that is.. and will ALWAYS have one now... FF training starts the basics of comunication with your dog, since retriving is the main goal for many hunters...   

[BIGINNER]

i have a weimaraner,  my brother has a chocolate lab that he got from RC3 from here.  the lab will retreive anything, you tell him, and he will not come back without the thing he needed to retreive, i dunno if the lab was ff trained,  but i would like my dog to retreive the same way,.. if possible.     

don't get me wrong, my dog is a good retriever, but sometimes he will just run to the object,.. smell in, and not retreive. 

[RC3]

No he wasn't Force fetched he just has a good natural retrieve and back then that was good enough for me

[BIGINNER]

No he wasn't Force fetched he just has a good natural retrieve and back then that was good enough for me

yeah,  kodi is an insane retreiver.

[BIGINNER]

is it worth for me to start ff training before/during the season? or should i wait till after the season? 

[gasman]

Why Wait 

Start slowly and increase your traing and you should be fine 

[Curly]

I'd leave FF training to a professional..........but that's just my 

[BIGINNER]

Why Wait 

Start slowly and increase your traing and you should be fine 

I just thought it might affect his hunting