retrivel issues

[wildweeds]

I agree,teaching old dogs of any breed  new tricks can work,BUT the success rate isn't very good though.When something is regimented and has stuck,the resentment factor is real and can lead to blinking the whole situation if they don't like the changes being implemented .Becomes a matter of if they don't like/love it,fuggetaboutit.Not really that much different from humans really,if you work at a job for 20 years and something in management/benefits changes drastically from what has gone on for 20 years.A certain number of employees are going to blink it,drag up and go elsewhere.

I was being a bit sarcastic. Because your dog is older and been hunted a lot force fetching him probably won't be a good answer. Even with a trainer with minimal experience he will probably dig in his heels to refuse the new person and get pretty spiteful. I'd hunt one at a time see if it makes a difference.

Ff an older dog? Unlikely to have a good time with it- remember today. Enjoy what you have now and when you get your next pup start them off differently with more training

[WRL]

A dog is never too old to Force Fetch.

1) It has to be done properly.
2) It has to be worth it to the person force fetching the dog.
3) If you are going through the process, you have to be willing to reinforce it.

If you are unwilling or unable to do any of the above three, then just hunt him and deal with it. If it becomes that huge of an issue, then quit.

I have Force Fetched many dogs over the age of 5 years. Some readily take to it and some resist more. But its the same for dogs under the age of 1 year old too.

WRL