force fetch training

[Shootmoore]

Interesting info, I have actually never heard of Force Fetching before.  I am on my second lab (retired do to ACL injuries now).  I never trained force fetch with either, but I never had a problem with the dogs either spot fetching or hand command for direction and verbal command for them to look for the bird.  I do use a wire brush wing early in fetch training which has worked for a soft mouth and neither of them have been a problem with holding the bird to hand.

Maybe I was just lucky and will keep this in the back of my mind if I ever get another dog.

Shootmoore

[Chessie_Guy]

Ah, pointers.  Gotcha.  I wouldn't know anything about making a lab a reliable retriever...my chessies never let me down (and a Chessie is no relation to a Lab).

How do you train the retrieving instinct in a pointer?

[TEX-X]

believe it or not of the GSPs i've owned they all have the natural retrieving ability i just back it up with the FFing...  Gsps are considered a versatile breed  retriever and pointer....  but i've also heard of pointers that won't have a damn thing to do with retrieving a bird... that's when the FFing really does its job

[TEX-X]

oh yeah and sorry about putting chessies and labs in the same group... honest mistake

[Chessie_Guy]

I like the GSPs I've known (can't say the same about Wire-hairs, though). 

No worries; lots of people do that.  Just don't call them Golden Retrievers around my wife.    Hahaha...she hates that.

[TEX-X]

yeah it really trips my trigger when i get told that i have a good looking lab.... or i had a lady tell me that i needed to feed my lab that he looked skinny...  i've only hunted behind to GWPs  one was a younger dog and not completely broke... he was hit or miss... the other ended up being a good dog after i got him whoa broke and broke to flush (friend's dog)  he just seemed like it took him a little longer to pick it up than the shorthairs i've trained...  are chessies really as bullheaded as i hear?

[Chessie_Guy]

are chessies really as bullheaded as i hear?

Let's see, I can't exactly remember how it goes...you tell a lab, you ask a golden, and you negotiate with a Chessie.  Chessies are their own thing, to be sure.  Hardheaded?  Well, yeah, about as much as the people who own them; my observation anyway.  I will say that they learn in a different way; I don't know how else to say it.  If you put too much pressure, too early, on a Chessie, they can and will shut down (whereas a Lab will not).  So, you can't fall back on electricity or threats or whathaveyou.  It makes you a better dog trainer, I can tell you that. 

When I was force fetching Reagan, I really began learning how to read him.  How to tell when he was near the point of shutting  down; when he was trying to communicate that he didn't understand what I wanted; how much was just enough, etc. 

Jump forward to working blinds and handling...yes, he tried to exert his will in deciding which pile to go to or which bumper to pick up when.  But, we just backed it down a notch until he was doing it my way; then it became his way. 

The result has been that he is VERY solid on those things which were difficult to teach him.  He is still a challenge to me, he still makes "puppy-ish" mistakes sometimes, but he is a strong retriever and a great dog, he really has been a joy to train.  He still (at 3.5) pushes the boundaries to see if he can exert dominance.  A Chessie owner has GOT to know and project that he/she is the alpha in that pack. 

I don't think I would own another retrieving breed.

[DDFever]

My Springer is 7 months old. At what age should I start FF?

[TEX-X]

where is the dog at in training?

[DDFever]

We are doing good at sit, stay, heel.  We have been throwing bumpers, he will fetch but will not directly bring it back.  We have been introducing a .22 blank with the bumpers and he is doing well with the blanks.

[TEX-X]

IMO i'd give him a good 4 or 5 months more and allow him to mature a bit more before ffing him...

[87Ford]

I have started the "trained retrieve" or force-fetch process with my Lab.  He is just six months old and I can say it is going well.  I am using the book tri-tronics Retriever Training by Jim and Phyllis Dobbs.  With lots of patience and this book as a guide I am having success.

Six months may be too early for some dogs, but seemed right for mine.  I waited until all or most of his permanent teeth were in.

Here is an interesting viewpoint on whether a dog is ready for force-fetch training.


http://www.northernflight.com/forcefetch.htm