Teaching dog to fetch

[BIGINNER]

i got a question for you dog people 

i got a weimaraner about 1.5 months ago...  well he was given to me by a friend who found him. (somebody dumped him)


well, the dog has been doing really well, learning fast, and has all the commands down already.  i haven't shot a shotgun over him yet, but he does awesome around .22 rifles and handguns.

so.. thats the update,

now my question is.... how important is it to you guys/gals that your dog knows how to play fetch?
i take my dog to the park and walks by the river alot, and it would be pretty fun to be able to play fetch with him.

i've tried all kinds of toys/bumpers, and he shows absolutely no interest in them.  no matter what i try.   he'll retreive birds, (i tried useing a frozen bird),  but i think it would be weird if i went to the park and was throwing around a dead bird.. 

i know its a good thind that the dog is crazy about birds,....  so am i better off not teaching the dog to retreive toys, and just let him retrieve birds when we're out on the feild?  or is there maybe a techneque i haven't tried yet to get him to reteive toys?

also.  he has a tendensy to sometimes when i let him out of the kennel to just litterlly tell my f%^k you!! and go wander the streets. (wich freaks me out because there's cars driving by all the time).  is there a techneque to teaching the dog not to go out of the yard? or am i just better off getting a shock collar?

[runamuk]

I've been told its not necessarily good to "play" fetch with a bird dog that works, working him on bird retrieval is a bit different from playing fetch so not sure its a must to do. 

[BIGINNER]

I've been told its not necessarily good to "play" fetch with a bird dog that works, working him on bird retrieval is a bit different from playing fetch so not sure its a must to do. 

lol  you're right on that,  i kinda worded it wrong.  i didn't really play fetch with a bird,  i just worked on retreval with him yesterday, 

thats actually why i froze it,..  help teach them to be soft on the bird.

[runamuk]

I've been told its not necessarily good to "play" fetch with a bird dog that works, working him on bird retrieval is a bit different from playing fetch so not sure its a must to do. 

lol  you're right on that,  i kinda worded it wrong.  i didn't really play fetch with a bird,  i just worked on retreval with him yesterday, 

thats actually why i froze it,..  help teach them to be soft on the bird.

honestly I'd stick to doing that and skip the whole stick or ball thing  if he doesnt like to fetch for no good reason can you blame the guy 

[Shannon]

Buy a video called "Smart Fetch" by Evan Graham. A chihuaha would fetch if you followed his methods.

[BIGINNER]

Buy a video called "Smart Fetch" by Evan Graham. A chihuaha would fetch if you followed his methods.

funy that you mention that.  lol  my chiwawa is an awesome retriver.   

thanks 

[pianoman9701]

Try putting some duck scent on the bumpers for a while and he may be more interested. Don't throw sticks. Sooner or later, he can tear his esophogus picking one up on the run. Bumpers and kongs.

[wildweeds]

Your lucky,,,,,,,,,,,,, one of these days you'll be screwing around and muzzle blast him and then your in for a heap of trouble, birddogs handguns and .22's should never be used in the same paragraph IMO.Seen more than one that was totally ok with shotguns for years and a chance encounter with handguns and rifle reports caused the red wire to touch the black one

i got a question for you dog people 

 but he does awesome around .22 rifles and handguns.

[BIGINNER]

Your lucky,,,,,,,,,,,,, one of these days you'll be screwing around and muzzle blast him and then your in for a heap of trouble, birddogs handguns and .22's should never be used in the same paragraph IMO.Seen more than one that was totally ok with shotguns for years and a chance encounter with handguns and rifle reports caused the red wire to touch the black one

i got a question for you dog people 

 but he does awesome around .22 rifles and handguns.

really??    never heard that before.  i only use .22's for the first stage of gunbreaking.  just to start off with something not so loud.. 

[BIGINNER]

oh,  and on a different note.... i came home last night from work, and let the dog out of his kennel,.....  he ran strait to his toy that he never fetches,.. picks it up and brings it to me..       i took it and threw it across the yard,  and he took off like crazy after it,... and he brought it right back and gave it to me.        i think the dog might have logged into my hunt-wa accout and read this post.   

[ghosthunter]

I raised my lab from a pup. On the Game dog book. And than I read about 30 other books. Many trainers after a training session used a play period to keep the dog up at least for retrievers.
However there had to be a switch of mood and tone to single the dog that it was now play time.
For me i went from training her heal at my side to a cool down period and than I would hey hey hey with a bumper and just throw them as fast as she brought them back for about 5-6minutes. No rules. And than cool down before going home.

I am not a trainer. But you are lucky to have a pointer that wants to retrieve in my experience.

[runamuk]

oh,  and on a different note.... i came home last night from work, and let the dog out of his kennel,.....  he ran strait to his toy that he never fetches,.. picks it up and brings it to me..       i took it and threw it across the yard,  and he took off like crazy after it,... and he brought it right back and gave it to me.        i think the dog might have logged into my hunt-wa accout and read this post.   

I am thinking henis reading your mind better wear that tinfoil when around him

[wildweeds]

22's CRACK, plush they whirrrrrrrrrrr subsonically from the rifling,just like a silent whistle..................... shotguns of every bore make a "BOOM", for less noise use a smaller gauge and aim the muzzle in the opposite direction if it's too much noise use just a primer in a shell that really makes no noise. My best guess is that you don't get the dog fixated on a live bird either when gunbreaking.How many dogs you gunbroke? I'm thinking about 3 at maximum, I've got 25 of my own under my belt and a whole bunch that I helped with........ a long time ago I gunshyed a couple and it was my fault for doing stupid things, like shooting around their feed dish,gunclub the usual advice given by people that got lucky........... need to have birds in the picture and the dog has to show you things in attitude and how they carry themselves.

really??    never heard that before.  i only use .22's for the first stage of gunbreaking.  just to start off with something not so loud.. 

[Happy Gilmore]

Your lucky,,,,,,,,,,,,, one of these days you'll be screwing around and muzzle blast him and then your in for a heap of trouble, birddogs handguns and .22's should never be used in the same paragraph IMO.Seen more than one that was totally ok with shotguns for years and a chance encounter with handguns and rifle reports caused the red wire to touch the black one

i got a question for you dog people 

 but he does awesome around .22 rifles and handguns.

I've only ever used a .22 blank pistol with yellow loads? never seen a problem. Introduced 5 chessies varying in age from 4 months to 8 months to gun fire and ducks two weeks ago at the Evergreen Chesapeake Bay Retriever Club training day at Carlsons.

Every dog had retrieved a duck by the end of the day....used properly you shouldn't have any issue- I wouldn't shoot it right over their head but, I'd never do that with any gun when introducing a dog to gunfire- always with two people and always away to start and move closer as long as the dog is excited and not showing any shyness- wing clipped pigeons are the best for this- dogs forget the gun completely at a flopping bird.

[BIGINNER]

Your lucky,,,,,,,,,,,,, one of these days you'll be screwing around and muzzle blast him and then your in for a heap of trouble, birddogs handguns and .22's should never be used in the same paragraph IMO.Seen more than one that was totally ok with shotguns for years and a chance encounter with handguns and rifle reports caused the red wire to touch the black one

i got a question for you dog people 

 but he does awesome around .22 rifles and handguns.

I've only ever used a .22 blank pistol with yellow loads? never seen a problem. Introduced 5 chessies varying in age from 4 months to 8 months to gun fire and ducks two weeks ago at the Evergreen Chesapeake Bay Retriever Club training day at Carlsons.

Every dog had retrieved a duck by the end of the day....used properly you shouldn't have any issue- I wouldn't shoot it right over their head but, I'd never do that with any gun when introducing a dog to gunfire- always with two people and always away to start and move closer as long as the dog is excited and not showing any shyness- wing clipped pigeons are the best for this- dogs forget the gun completely at a flopping bird.

yep.. that what i did   

[BIGINNER]

i got a question for you dog people 

i got a weimaraner about 1.5 months ago...  well he was given to me by a friend who found him. (somebody dumped him)


well, the dog has been doing really well, learning fast, and has all the commands down already.  i haven't shot a shotgun over him yet, but he does awesome around .22 rifles and handguns.

so.. thats the update,

now my question is.... how important is it to you guys/gals that your dog knows how to play fetch?
i take my dog to the park and walks by the river alot, and it would be pretty fun to be able to play fetch with him.

i've tried all kinds of toys/bumpers, and he shows absolutely no interest in them.  no matter what i try.   he'll retreive birds, (i tried useing a frozen bird),  but i think it would be weird if i went to the park and was throwing around a dead bird.. 

i know its a good thind that the dog is crazy about birds,....  so am i better off not teaching the dog to retreive toys, and just let him retrieve birds when we're out on the feild?  or is there maybe a techneque i haven't tried yet to get him to reteive toys?

also.  he has a tendensy to sometimes when i let him out of the kennel to just litterlly tell my f%^k you!! and go wander the streets. (wich freaks me out because there's cars driving by all the time).  is there a techneque to teaching the dog not to go out of the yard? or am i just better off getting a shock collar?

[/b]


any sugjustions on this? 

[Skyvalhunter]

I would suggest a shock collar but others might give you different options

[SpringerFan]

Shock collars hsould ONLY be used to reinforce an already known command. Using one to stop your dog from running away will make him run away.

Sounds like a lot of basic yard work is in order. On a lead. Come, sit, whoa, etc.

I would say your dog doe snot respect you as the alpha. YOu give a command and he does what he wants because there is no real understanding  of what is expected. And it is not reinforced. So you need to start over, on a lead with basic commands until you become alpha. No need to kick, hit or shock your dog. Sounds like there are no consistant rules.

Good luck. Your dog is not stupid. They will get away with what we let them get away with.

[BIGINNER]

Shock collars hsould ONLY be used to reinforce an already known command. Using one to stop your dog from running away will make him run away.

Sounds like a lot of basic yard work is in order. On a lead. Come, sit, whoa, etc.

I would say your dog doe snot respect you as the alpha. YOu give a command and he does what he wants because there is no real understanding  of what is expected. And it is not reinforced. So you need to start over, on a lead with basic commands until you become alpha. No need to kick, hit or shock your dog. Sounds like there are no consistant rules.

Good luck. Your dog is not stupid. They will get away with what we let them get away with.

I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING,.. BUT ITS NOT THE CASE HERE....

I THINK I FIGURED OUT WHY HE DOES THIS...  HE'S DONE IT 3 TIME SO FAR.  LAST TIME HE DID IT WAS YESTERDAY.  AND HE DOES THIS ONLY WHEN I LET HIM OFF THE LEAD TO PLAY A LITTLE...  WHICH I WONT DO ANYMORE UNTILL I GET A SHOCK COLLAR.   


AND THE SHOCK COLLAR WILL BE USED ONLY TO INFORCE MY COMMANDS A LITTLE MORE. 

HE KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS ALL THE COMMANDS I GIVE HIM.  I WORK WITH HIM EVERY SINGLE DAY.  WITH A LEAD ON.

AND HE OBEYS ALL THE COMMANDS NICE AND FAST EVERY TIME.. WHEN HE HAS A LEAD ON...  I DON'T GIVE HIM COMMANDS WHEN THE LEAD IS OFF.. SINCE I DON'T HAVE CONTROL OF THE SITUATION WHEN THE LEAD IS OFF...  AND THE DOG KNOWS THIS... HE'S SMART,.. AND STUBBORN,,  (ACCORDING TO MY WIFE, HE'S LIKE ME) 

SO THE DOG KNOWS THAT ONCE HE'S OFF THE LEAD HE DOESN'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO ME,... WELL  THE SHOCK COLLAR WILL SAY OTHERISE,.. I JUST NEED TO USE THE SHOCK COLLAR TOO INFORCE MY COMMANDS, AND SHOW HIM HE HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO LISTEN TO ME.

[Bigshooter]

If its an adjustable shock collar start with the lowest setting and bring it up until you notice him feeling it.  It should really feel like nothing on your hand.  When you are working him on a rope tell him to come, and hold down on the shock button until he comes then let off.  But make sure you teach him that going away is ok to.  I like to use a kennel and have a second person to pull him into the kennel when you give the command, then hold the button until he is in the kennel then let off.  This way he knows how to come and go away from you.  If you just teach him to come with a shock collar that is what he will only do.

And when I say it shouldn't hurt your hand when you shock your dog I really mean it.  If it is hurting you it is scaring him to death.  I have only used the lowest setting on my current dog.  When I hold it to my hand I can't feel anything.  But she must feel a lot more than I do because she really listens when she is wearing it.

[SpringerFan]

Shock collars hsould ONLY be used to reinforce an already known command. Using one to stop your dog from running away will make him run away.

Sounds like a lot of basic yard work is in order. On a lead. Come, sit, whoa, etc.

I would say your dog doe snot respect you as the alpha. YOu give a command and he does what he wants because there is no real understanding  of what is expected. And it is not reinforced. So you need to start over, on a lead with basic commands until you become alpha. No need to kick, hit or shock your dog. Sounds like there are no consistant rules.

Good luck. Your dog is not stupid. They will get away with what we let them get away with.

I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING,.. BUT ITS NOT THE CASE HERE....

I THINK I FIGURED OUT WHY HE DOES THIS...  HE'S DONE IT 3 TIME SO FAR.  LAST TIME HE DID IT WAS YESTERDAY.  AND HE DOES THIS ONLY WHEN I LET HIM OFF THE LEAD TO PLAY A LITTLE...  WHICH I WONT DO ANYMORE UNTILL I GET A SHOCK COLLAR.   


AND THE SHOCK COLLAR WILL BE USED ONLY TO INFORCE MY COMMANDS A LITTLE MORE. 

HE KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS ALL THE COMMANDS I GIVE HIM.  I WORK WITH HIM EVERY SINGLE DAY.  WITH A LEAD ON.

AND HE OBEYS ALL THE COMMANDS NICE AND FAST EVERY TIME.. WHEN HE HAS A LEAD ON...  I DON'T GIVE HIM COMMANDS WHEN THE LEAD IS OFF.. SINCE I DON'T HAVE CONTROL OF THE SITUATION WHEN THE LEAD IS OFF...  AND THE DOG KNOWS THIS... HE'S SMART,.. AND STUBBORN,,  (ACCORDING TO MY WIFE, HE'S LIKE ME) 

SO THE DOG KNOWS THAT ONCE HE'S OFF THE LEAD HE DOESN'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO ME,... WELL  THE SHOCK COLLAR WILL SAY OTHERISE,.. I JUST NEED TO USE THE SHOCK COLLAR TOO INFORCE MY COMMANDS, AND SHOW HIM HE HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO LISTEN TO ME.

Hopefully your caps just were stuck on.......not trying to piss ya off.

Sounds like you have a good plan then.

[BIGINNER]

I'M THE YAR TOWN CRIER...  LOL  I ALWAYA YELL   

[rjclabs]

This is what i do with all my dogs for kennel training. take your kennel and set up two saw horses about a foot or two off the ground and secure the kennel down. take a lead rope with a choke collar on and make your dog sit in front of the kennel. then tell the dog to kennel and he will most likely not want to go. pull tight on the lead rope and move him towards the kennel and say kennel until he gives in and tell him it once or twice if need be. after he kennels tell him good boy or girl. you will have to put a little pressure on your dog for this sometimes but it will save your dog from going into traffic or taking off. once he goes into the kennel you can start to kinda try to encourage him to come out. tug on the rope even a little bit to and If your dog even steps a toe out you tell him NO and Kennel. do this with your dog twice a day at 10 to 15 Min's. after about a week or so you can incorporate the collar if you dog is collared conditioned. if you have any questions you can pm.