Force fetch ruined my dog?

[beau6hunter]

my dog would fetch anything you would throw accept her bumper which is what i wanted so i atttempted to force fetch and now she wont fetch anything and she is scared of me when i try to entice her with any thing to fetch please help me any suggestions i dont wanna get rid of her but i will not just have a house pet i want a hunting dog! please help

[vandeman17]

I am no pro but if it were me, I would try anything you can to make it fun for the dog again. Maybe toss something a few feet and if she picks it up, give her a treat and praise the heck out of her. Positive reinforcement is pretty much the best thing you can do in my opinion. 

[Happy Gilmore]

it is common. Don't panic. Forcing a dog is a tight-rope walk and you'll have resentment and problems somewhere and what you are describing is normal.

You need to get with someone who knows what they are doing to get you through it.

People have different ideas and standards for FFing a dog.  It has nothing to do with playing fetch and your dog bringing stuff back to you.

Where do you live? maybe we can find someone to help you finish your pup?

[beau6hunter]

i live in ellenburg and frequent yakima this dog was so smart and promising but now she is just scared i would love to keep her but not spend a fortune to try to keep her and have the same end result a house pet!

[Happy Gilmore]

i live in ellenburg and frequent yakima this dog was so smart and promising but now she is just scared i would love to keep her but not spend a fortune to try to keep her and have the same end result a house pet!

sent you a PM-

Ryan at Longhollow would be a good resource but, he might still be down in south training. Lee Salmon at Wind River could help you out in Ephrata-

You could probably do a few training sessions on FF with someone and get sent home with "homework" and re-visit them on weekends. Someone needs to watch what you are doing to make sure you are doing it right. Little mistakes can make a big impact-

[beau6hunter]

ok i will definately look into it i dont force fetch her anymore after the three tries i have just been trying positive reinforcement but as soon as i say the command fetch or shake something in front of her or throw something she willl run to her bed if inside or curl aroud my legs if outdoors its so frusttrating she was fetching two days after i got her at eight weeks and knows all commands but is now scared i believe she picks up on my frustration maybe what about reprimanding her for not doing as commanded does that work at all im willing to give it a shot im so close to getting rid of her i just dont wanna spend all my time and effort for her to jst be sent packin after i research another litter for a tried and true line!

[flinger]

IMHO To young at 8 weeks to try and overwhelm her with to much training let her be a puppy and be her playmate but also make sure she understands that you are the alpha Companionship and Trust makes training sooo much nicer

[beau6hunter]

she is 12 weeks now and i never had any expectations for her until i saw that she piched up every command  the first few tries and then after 3 weeks one day of playing fetch with a new toy she doesn't wanna listen to fetch or come now should i just revert to what i originally did when i got her and have no expectations and when should i start expecting her to start actin like a good dog fetching coming and sitting!? and so on!

 

[Heredoggydoggy]

Have you tried putting some bird scent on the play toys?  Pheasant, chukhar, quail scent, etc.  Might make the game more interesting.  At that age, it should be just a fun game.  Discipline can come later when pup's character is tougher.

[beau6hunter]

yes i have tried that before the force fetch failure and i bought quail chukar and baby pheasants that she already knows the scent of so i think maybe just go back the she to small and never care whether she listens! but im not sure thats good either because if she never develops the hunt and retrieve hunger i will get rid of her but i would rather do so at a young age so she is more disireable! dont take this the wrong way i would be so sad to see her go but got her mainly for huntin secondly for a house pet!

[Gamblin Guy]

You're trying to force fetch a 12 week old puppy and you expect it, at 12 weeks, to start actin like a good dog fetching coming and sitting!? and so on!

[huntnfmly]

howdy i understand your frustruation i know alot of people may disagree but imho that is a little too young to expect to much you really need to let her be a puppy for awhile we have a springer and we are going to send him off very soon alot of pro trainers that i have talked with like to wait till they are a yr old i have noticed with our springer he is picking things up nuch quicker than when he was a pup and is getting more birdy as he grows hope this helps hang in there sounds like a good dog starting to fetch as soon as she did just make it fun and only do a few reps at a time and end on a good note

[BallisticsNut]

maybe what about reprimanding her for not doing as commanded does that work at all im willing to give it a shot im so close to getting rid of her i just dont wanna spend all my time and effort for her to jst be sent packin after i research another litter for a tried and true line!

Reprimand does not work, only makes them more fearful.
 
I have taken a few classes on dog training but never taken a class to train a dog for retrieving for hunting but I have trained a few dogs to retreive for fun. 
Someone said, start off short distance and work your way up.  Sounds like good advice to me. 

Dogs learn to be sensitive or fearful of certain commands, actions and items.  Desensitizing them can be a long process but it has to be slow.  I would start off with the item and reintroduce it to them, let them know its not going to hurt them, nor you.  If they take interest, reward them with excitement, praise and give them a treat.  Get him/her to mouth it and reward them when they do.  Move further away just a few inches or a foot.  Use exitement in your voice and encourage the pup to pick it up.. when he/she does.. reward with exicitement, praise and a treat.  Move further and do again and again.  Wont be long before they are running around again.  Just becareful not to yell, or discipline the pup during this time, you will have a long road if you do. 
DONT give up on the pup, get training yourself if needed.  The pup only knows what you teach, if he fears you, its because something you have done, try not to do that again.
 

[Rick]

12 weeks is way to young. They need to have all their adult teeth before you start. Try again in about 6 months.

[ChesapeakeMan]

Force fetch is not ruining your dog.  IMPROPER force fetch is ruining your dog.  Force fetching is difficult at best when done by someone experienced and very difficult for the beginner.  Several conditions should be favorable before you even begin the process.  The dog should be at least six months old so that they have permanent teeth.  Dog should be completely healthy, meaning ear infections and similar ailments should be taken care of so that the ears are not tender in any way.  The animal must have it's obedience work down perfectly.  This is the foundation to begin force fetch work.  Once you start you must finish the process.  YOU WILL end up with a very confused and messed up dog if you start and don't complete.  I have seen the process take a week and a half but two to three weeks is the norm.  Some iron willed dogs have taken a month or more.  Three sessions isn't going to cut it.  Usually the dogs will get two lessons a day for the duration of the process.  Please don't take this too personally but it sounds like you have no idea what you are doing.  Find someone who does and give the dog a chance.  I seriously doubt that if you have only tried it three times that you have done any lasting damage.  But you really need to find some good help.  Whether it be book, video, experienced friend or trainer.  It can be done, it just isn't easy and you need to take the proper steps to do it right or you will do more harm than good.