Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Bird Dogs => Topic started by: BIGINNER on July 25, 2011, 08:39:21 AM

Title: Force Fetch: whats it for?
Post by: BIGINNER on July 25, 2011, 08:39:21 AM: what is force fetch? what would you use it for? how important is it to get your dog force fetch trained?
Title: Re: Force Fetch: whats it for?
Post by: Happy Gilmore on July 25, 2011, 10:17:10 AM: This is a good read on the topic of force fetch.

http://refugeforums.com/refuge/showthread.php?t=847408 (http://refugeforums.com/refuge/showthread.php?t=847408)
Title: Re: Force Fetch: whats it for?
Post by: RC3 on July 25, 2011, 06:06:16 PM: I'm sure Happy's article will tell you better about it than I, but I will say its not hard you just have to be consistent and let it happen when it happens. That and I would not have a dog I didn't force fetch.
Title: Re: Force Fetch: whats it for?
Post by: gasman on July 25, 2011, 06:21:48 PM: I guess, a nut shell, force fetch teaches your dog to fetch up about any item you want or need him to fetch, wether he likes it or not.
Title: Re: Force Fetch: whats it for?
Post by: Shannon on July 26, 2011, 06:55:56 AM: Gasman described it good. Its not necessary unless your dog doesn't have a decent natural retrieve or you play dog games where the retrieve is scored and has to be perfect every time in some field trials, test, etc. I forced my current dog and will my new pup but if I only had a hunting dog there natural retrieve would have been good enough to hunt over them. Once that it is done it makes some aspects of training easier also. Evan Graham's "Smart Fetch" is a good source if you are going to do it yourself. Its pretty easy but just time consuming.
Title: Re: Force Fetch: whats it for?
Post by: BIGINNER on July 26, 2011, 07:33:18 AM: my dog retreives really good right now,.. but sometimes he'll get tired, or lazy and just won't retreive, thats why i was kind of doing research on force fetch, but also iwas wondering, is he too old to be taught force fetch? he's 2. would force fetch training affect the rest of his training? i'm just trying to figure out if he really needs to be taught force fetch.
Title: Re: Force Fetch: whats it for?
Post by: gasman on July 26, 2011, 03:05:21 PM: I dont believe 2 is too old, but thats just me.

I have FF trained my dogs and they will fetch almost any thing I ask, or hand them. I know in there training when they are gettig tired and that where it is time to stop training and go on to some thing else, or just quit for the day.
Title: Re: Force Fetch: whats it for?
Post by: Special T on July 26, 2011, 03:15:26 PM: Think of FF training like the first few words from a childs mouth... Everything is built from there.. I had one Chessy i didn't FF train and now have one that is.. and will ALWAYS have one now... FF training starts the basics of comunication with your dog, since retriving is the main goal for many hunters... :twocents:
Title: Re: Force Fetch: whats it for?
Post by: BIGINNER on July 26, 2011, 03:21:43 PM: i have a weimaraner, my brother has a chocolate lab that he got from RC3 from here. the lab will retreive anything, you tell him, and he will not come back without the thing he needed to retreive, i dunno if the lab was ff trained, but i would like my dog to retreive the same way,.. if possible.

don't get me wrong, my dog is a good retriever, but sometimes he will just run to the object,.. smell in, and not retreive. >:(
Title: Re: Force Fetch: whats it for?
Post by: RC3 on July 26, 2011, 03:28:47 PM: No he wasn't Force fetched he just has a good natural retrieve and back then that was good enough for me
Title: Re: Force Fetch: whats it for?
Post by: BIGINNER on July 26, 2011, 03:29:24 PM: Quote from: RC3 on July 26, 2011, 03:28:47 PM
No he wasn't Force fetched he just has a good natural retrieve and back then that was good enough for me

yeah, kodi is an insane retreiver.
Title: Re: Force Fetch: whats it for?
Post by: BIGINNER on July 27, 2011, 02:15:52 PM: is it worth for me to start ff training before/during the season? or should i wait till after the season?
Title: Re: Force Fetch: whats it for?
Post by: gasman on July 27, 2011, 03:46:47 PM: Why Wait :dunno:

Start slowly and increase your traing and you should be fine :tup:
Title: Re: Force Fetch: whats it for?
Post by: Curly on July 27, 2011, 03:55:20 PM: I'd leave FF training to a professional..........but that's just my :twocents:
Title: Re: Force Fetch: whats it for?
Post by: BIGINNER on July 27, 2011, 04:29:15 PM: Quote from: gasman on July 27, 2011, 03:46:47 PM
Why Wait :dunno:

Start slowly and increase your traing and you should be fine :tup:
I just thought it might affect his hunting
Title: Re: Force Fetch: whats it for?
Post by: gasman on July 27, 2011, 05:11:28 PM: Quote from: BIGINNER on July 27, 2011, 04:29:15 PM
Quote from: gasman on July 27, 2011, 03:46:47 PM
Why Wait :dunno:

Start slowly and increase your traing and you should be fine :tup:
I just thought it might affect his hunting

Well, I am no expert and there are plenty around here, but I don't think it will hurt your hunting. I may be wrong, but thats just my opion.

Are you doing the FF training your self?
Have you trained FF before?

If you are just going by what you have read on how to FF, I would seek an expert for advise and dirrection. I worked with a trainer who worked with me on FF my dog. They are not the best dogs in the field, but they are mine and do as I wish (most of the time :bash: ) and I am happy with there ability.
Can my dogs learn more, Yes. Are they exceptable to many other hunters or field trial trainers, No.but there my dogs and do fine for me and what I use them for.

I have even see highly trained by the best trainers get snuffed by there dogs :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: