Dog Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Hold or pick up objects

5K views 34 replies 4 participants last post by  Criosphynx 
#1 ·
Hello y'all,
First off I have looked through the forum and found a very similar thread to this one but without any answers attached. Here is my dilemma..... I have a four year old lab that I rescued a couple of years ago who will not play fetch. He will not even take an item in his mouth. He WILL chew on a bone but that is all. All he willmdo is turn his head to anything put up to nose. Including the bone, he is very well trained on the basics, I have worked hard on that, but I would like to play fetch with him. I have tried some of the lessons on you tube on clicker training, which is still how we train, but to no avail. All the vids I have found show the dogs having SOME intrest in the toys. I was wondering if I need to do a combo of learned and C&T with him. I.E. place object in mouth then click and treat
 
#2 ·
hi!


You CAN teach it from scratch, it just takes a wee bit longer...but not much, maybe five mins because you start by CT for LOOKING at the toy, and then touching (targeting) and then mouthing...vs a retrieving type that would just grab it and you could skip those steps.

This is the method.

Keepers - Shirley's Retieve

I taught this to my two chihuahua mixes fairly quickly (one with retrieve type drive, one without)...but my other larger dogs are taking longer...so there will be variation in how quick the dog gets it. I've taught it start to finish in less than a week, and I've also gotten stuck and still not finished it after months with a couple of my dogs.



 
#4 ·
well, you don't throw it at first, you back chain the behavior, meaning you teach the parts in reverse...so you would begin with him handing it to you, and then picking it up and handing it to you, then from a foot away, then 5 feet etc etc....throwing it comes last.



 
#5 ·
Thank you for the speedy reply Crio. I will read the attachment and give it all a try. But one question, how long do I hold it out there waiting for my dog to touch. Because if he understands to look at it then I with hold the C&T won't he just sit there looking at it wondering why he's not getting a treat like " come on dad I'm doing what you want"
 
#6 ·
Thank you for the speedy reply Crio. I will read the attachment and give it all a try. But one question, how long do I hold it out there waiting for my dog to touch. Because if he understands to look at it then I with hold the C&T won't he just sit there looking at it wondering why he's not getting a treat like " come on dad I'm doing what you want"

I hold it out for a few seconds, and the remove it for a few if they don't respond...so its hold it out, wait, if no response you put it behind your back for a moment, and then offer it again... :)

Have you ever done shaping games with your dog? like 101 things to do with a box? Or target training at all? If hes done target training, he'll quickly understand the object is a target...

when you remove it for that second, then offer it again, most dogs WILL sniff it....thats the moment you can CT if you don't have anything else offered...make sure you use a rigid object :)

basically, with all shaping, after the dog does it right 10 times in a row (so for example ten looks in a row) its time to UP the criteria, so after ten good reps, withhold your treat. He will either get frustrated and try som'thing else, that you can perhaps click...or if hes shaped before, he'll just offer all the stuff he knows :)

Whats your labs name? :)



 
#7 ·
Admittly, no I have not done any target or shaping training. I have owned a lab and a German Shepard before both of whom I had as pups, so through positive training and affection both were amazing dog who could hunt up a storm. With Bo being a rescue dog I just loved on him as much as possible with your basic obedience training. He is wonderful on and off leash. Btw I read your attachment, very precise.... I look forward to implementing it.
 
#11 ·
No I have not tried that yet. But I think I will start with using the rawhide treat sticks coupled with the link that was posted above. Tonight we just worked on the simple Items he knows with increasing the times like sit , stay, and up. We also did a 70 yard recall about 10 times very fun night.
 
#12 ·
Well we worked on mouthing with Bo today and after about twenty treats we took a break came back after a bounce on his first agility play ground and he took the stick first try. He is not holding it yet, which I'm not looking for but he actually took it to mouth. We were so happy. Now there are tornado warnings so we are going to go hunker down till it passes
 
#13 ·
I have been working with Bo nightly on his retreive, and let me tell you I am like a proud papa watching my kid take his first steps again. Bo is advancing well, getting EXCITED about the stick. That's a first, he is to the point of excitedly going formthe stick about two feet from me., whipping around to place it in my hand. Tommorow I will move it slightly farther.!!! Oh and while carrying it back wanted the stick and even did a little tug of war. He has NEVER played tug of war. My little shelter dog is coming out of his shell. Thank you all very much. I will continue to give updates and ask questions because I know they will arise
Posted via Mobile Device
 
#15 ·
I was thinking the same thing crios. I am following the Shirley's keeper link you provided, so when Bo "passes" a test with 20 out of 20 we step up one, and some things he does on his own so I C&t him for it. I am beginning to get upset at myself though for being hard headed these last couple of years and not trying these methods!!!!! I wonder if it can be used to teach a hunting dog
Also, and incorporate the whistle in for long range control. MMMMM baby steps for now. After we learn retrieve and he starts to truly enjoy it I think I want to teach him to scent. He knows the main obedience comands and since he is having fun I figure we can just keep it going. Wow. This forum has been amazing and I am glad to have found a place where people love dogs as much as I.
 
#16 ·
Oh and BTW Crios., I'm sure the " good job"'was geared towards Bo anyway, but he is definatly the one doing the work he just let's me think I am. Ha Ha. Really it all stems from the fact that since he enjoys it, I am enjoying it and he loves to eat so it is going smoothly, I do think we will hit a wall shortly. Once the big throw gets in there. All of this is done with me on knees right now. So when I go to stand up, I'm sure ill have to drop a few steps to get him warmed up then build up again
 
#18 ·
I'm lucky I have a dog who likes to train his master I guess. Ha it only took him three years to train me to use this method. Also as a side note I am working with him on spin, just started two days ago. He spins with food lure. I plan on doing one more food lure day , then try it with hand but no treat see if he goes for it. I will try to up load a pic tonight if I get time.
 
#20 ·
Well another update on Bo , yesterday we were working on retrieve somemore, and he is consistently going to object ( stick) without a miss at up to 15 yards and returning it. Even with a throw he is going out but only after I release him, which I like. Not far throws but maybe 10'yards or so. Sometimes hens super fast and into it other times he will lollygag over to it. But getting it none the less. Very very proud of him. So last night in the excitement I pulled a fast one on him and and grabbed the ball instead and he grabbed it no problem. He is even catching it in mid air. Awsome
Not hard charging like a fetch addict but def comming around.
 
#21 ·
Congrats! Maple has just started mouthing non-food objects but we're getting there :D Can't wait until we're at your point, lol.

I have a question. How do you know once fetching becomes a reward by itself, if it does?
 
#22 ·
Congrats! Maple has just started mouthing non-food objects but we're getting there :D Can't wait until we're at your point, lol.

I have a question. How do you know once fetching becomes a reward by itself, if it does?

hmmm...It can, absolutely, not sure how to answer "when". You'll just sort of know...there will be that extra enthusiasm. My dogs all have tricks they "like" to do, and you can cue them as a reward...they just sort of put more pizzaz into them...



 
#29 ·
Wildlife Canidae Recreation Sporting Group Carnivore
i dont know if that worked or not. i was trying to upload a pic of Bo in the fields looking for birds. But here is an update on Bo. He is almost a different dog since C&T training. He is still retriving lazy Ha. BUT, when he sees me get the treats and clicker out he will run over to his rope or stick and pick it up like he is saying "ok where is my treat" it is funny. and he will now kinda play fetch, if i throw the ball for him he will take off and get it and bring it back, but after about 6-10 times he is bored with it. everyday is getting more and more intenisty for those short throws. he did take off really good at the dog park for one the other day. But what is really cool is that i can get him to pick up and bring me any object i want. I held a hat the other day told him to take it and he did, so just for grins i sat it down across the room and told him to take, and he ran over grabbed it and brought it back. So then i grabbed a water bottle and showed it to him, then sat it down on the chair, came back and told him to get it and he did. So he has gotten that part down wonderfully.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top