Force fetch ruined my dog?

[wildweeds]

And your doing this to a SHORTHAIR? Good god the thing will be a neurotic nightmare by the time it gets old enough to accept training.Here's a really good piece of advice and read it carefully......................................LEAVE THAT SUM BETCH ALONE, Work on "HERE or COME,Kennel and knowing it's name" when it has MASTERED these things 100 percent of the time with distractions you'll be ready to move on to the next level. Also buy the BOOK "Wing and Shot" by the late Robert Wehle, Read it once,then turn around and read it again,I loaned my copy out and never got it back but you really need to read the chapter on "Raising a puppy" or something like that.That shorthair has got some natural retrieve, it also is a puppy and in being so has the attention span of........... bout that much. Don't take it that I'm being hard on ya...............Everybody screws up their first pointing dog and only the honest ones won't lie about it,I been there and done it.The wing and shot book covers force fetching and if memory serves me correctly they talk about that type of training AFTER the dog has learned to point and hold game.And another thing.......DO NOT TEACH THE DOG TO SIT that is the very worst thing you can do with a young pointer,they learn for that to be their security blanket,"If I sit I can't be doing anything wrong" in doing so they will saftey up around game and assume a sit when pressure is applied to them around game.The sit command is most often if at all taught well after they are broke around game.

   Buy the book, read the first three chapters about 3 times,work on the stuff in the first three chapters and then move along IF THE DOGS BEHAVIOR WARRANTS IT.The dog will let you know through body language and behavior when it is time to progress to the next step.

  Another book would be "Training pointing dogs" By Paul Long it's another very old book written LONG before the inventions of e-collars and electronic traps.

  For a more modern approach consider "The Perfect Start,Perfect Finish" DVD set By John Hahn of Perfection kennels.

  For a more personal approach there is a training clinic in May in wenatchee,which would greatly benefit you I can guarantee it.Covers from puppies such as yours to adult training techniques

  "Pointing dog workshop"  May 14-15 contact Louise Day @ 509-664-6857

you have a GSP- the books mentioned aren't going to help much- maybe a pointer person can make a recommendation?

force fetching isn't putting a bumper in a dogs mouth FYI-

You seem a little confused on the training thing- teach him good obedience, potty training and have fun with him. When he's closer to a year old- maybe look for some help from a pointer guy for introduction to bird and gun-

Like force fetching- there are right ways and wrong ways to go about it-

[huntnfmly]

totally understandable happy thanks! i have been training myself all day to just realize she just showed a streak of promise, that is all! and she is still a baby! i will keep at the human training and wait on the dog lol

[beau6hunter]

as before stated she is 100 on all commands already! and she knows fetch and give but i must have scared her by opening her mouth but thanks all info is appreciated!

[GWP]

Well, I think the FF has been covered. STOP, which you have figured out. At this age keep it fun and light and happy. You can start training not by 'training' but by giving her a command for something she is already doing. When she happens to be coming toward you anyway, say 'here ***' and praise her for being 'so good' when she gets to you. Keep doing this for awhile, and she will respond when you call her. If you see her stop, say 'Whoa'. Praise her for stopping. 'Take it' when she picks something up. 'Fetch' every time she brings you a toy. You get the idea. Keep it light at this age.
Track training is good fun and using cheese makes it fun and rewarding for the dog. NO 'HARD' CORRECTIONS at this time in her life. Plenty of time for that. Make everything so easy the dog can't fail. If the dogs fails, back up two steps and start from there. 'Come' or coming with a soft whistle is good, using food as a reward. Carry some around in your pocket ALL THE TIME. Take hotdogs or liver and boil the crap out of it, then cut it into small peices and dry it in the oven with just the light on. It will not smell or be messy, but dogs still love it. If you keep this up making you happy will become the most important thing in her life, and very usefull when the harder stuff comes later.

[beau6hunter]

gwp thank you so very much this is something i have read before and still use it for potty, so she goes on command, so to speak  . . lol i will employ this method