Trouble with fetching

[Shoffy]

I'm having a heck of a time with my golden. He is very intellegent and loves to fetch the dummy or ball, but on his retreives he runs past me, or runs to me and wants to tug a war
Any tips???

[92xj]

Stop playing fetch and go back to basics.  Sit, stay come.  When he comes make him sit beside you.  Do this every second you can, every day for a month.  Then go back to fetching. 

Tug a war, I have no idea how to break.  I never once pulled at any toy in my dogs mouth from day one and he never tries to play, he will just hold a dummy in his mouth until I touch it then drops it.  My house dog on the other hand loves tug a war.  I jam my fingers in behind her last teeth to open her mouth and get whatever item is in there.  I do it every single time, so I dont think that would be the method to break a dog of doing it.

[Stilly bay]

 
 how old is the dog?

to stop tug of war just grab that flap of skin that connects his hind leg to his belly and lift while your holding onto the dummy, he will figure it out quick... although this might not be the best solution if the dog won't even bring the bumper back to you in the first place.

one thing to keep in mind if you don't already is to keep training/ retrieving sessions very short, I would rather have one good retrieve in a session than a dozen sloppy ones. 

[Happy Gilmore]

To start....get a rope. Don't play with him without it attached to his collar all the time. let him drag it everywhere. (only when you're watching of course) He runs past you, step on it and say "HERE" the second it jerks him tight. That is putting a little force into your voice which previously meant nothing to him. Grab the rope, real him in. It doesn't matter if he drops the bumper, just make him return to your command, "here" and heal to your side and sit. Make him sit looking at the bumper if he dropped it. Toss the bumper, repeat. Don't spend more than 10 minutes (assuming he's at least 8 months old) doing this drill. Keep it fun, keep a happy praise voice except when you give him a stern "here". Don't yell, raise your voice or get mad. Just be clear in your tone differences.

People who yell all the time, raise their voice at the dog have NOTHING left when they actually need it. If you always yell, how do you INCREASE the voice pressure? Use a soft tone when doing yard work, save loud for when you REALLY need it. Dogs can hear you whisper a long distance away. No reason to ever spend time yelling not to mention, it drives everyone around you nuts.

In time, he'll hold the bumper and come to you although, you may have a spell where he won't pick it up or, drop it. It will pass. Teach "here" and "sit" right now. Enforce BOTH commands. Also, start walking him on heal at least twice a day for 10 minutes with a choke chain or pinch collar on.

[Shoffy]

He's about a year old. I think I tried to rush him too fast when he was a puppy. I also have'nt had "all the time in the world" to spend working with him.

Is a year too big for the the check cord training??

He will sit and come, and he will stay if I do not have a toy in my hand, but as soon as he sees it he cant stay if I throw the toy

Thanks guys!

[snowshoes22]

Check out place board training.  Good videos and info at gundogs online.  It is basicaly sit, stay, come training with a spot for them to sit till commanded to do something different. it forces them to retrieve right to your toes. it is easy and effective.  I have used it with my springers and labs they catch on quick because it is very easy to correct there faults.  Also work on your heel command if your dog wants to run around you can heel him. It didn't sink in for my male springer until his heel training was pretty solid.  Good luck 

[Happy Gilmore]

He's about a year old. I think I tried to rush him too fast when he was a puppy. I also have'nt had "all the time in the world" to spend working with him.

Is a year too big for the the check cord training??

He will sit and come, and he will stay if I do not have a toy in my hand, but as soon as he sees it he cant stay if I throw the toy

Thanks guys!

Not too old for a  check cord and he can't break on you if you're holding him. It will actually build his drive and get him a little more focused on your commands. It's the time to make him work now.

[DoubleJ]

My dog isn't a hunter but to avoid tug o war with him, when he comes, I'll curl a piece of his lower lip, back on his molars behind the toy, up on top of his teeth and push down.  Slight push at first but you might need to push more firm.  It didn't take long for him to get it and he drops now.  Every once in awhile I'll have to do that again but not real hard anymore.

[snowshoes22]

Place boards correct all these problems.  www.gundogsonline.com They will not break to shot either which is great for duck and goose hunting.   

[Blackjaw]

Here is another link to some place board training information (see 'in the yard' training tips) http://glencoekennels.net/Training.html