FINISHING RETREIVE

[seggiman]

I have a 1 1/2 year chessie that last hunting season would retrieve to hand,now this season he has started droping the birds short and then coming to heal.He has even refused to go back and pick up the bird.At times when he first picks up the bird he looks at you as to say should I play with this or return to you.I do not get this response from him when I use any training dummies he will just about knock you down comming back to heal.

Thank You
Steve Eggiman

[Whispering Hills]

Steve,

By your description, it sounds like your boy never received "force breaking". Forgive the term, it got it's name from back in the days when many trainers worked with the mindset of "comply or get clobbered". It isn't done that way these days unless you're dealing with on old-school trainer.

The affect of force breaking is the same as back then, but the method of teaching nowadays isn't abusive when done correclty. Force breaking is a training regimen that teaches your dog three concepts that are essential to a good working retriever.
1) Retrieving is a command - compliance is not optional
2) Releasing the bird (or training object) is a command - compliance is not optional
3) Game is to be picked up, carried, and delivered to hand without damage - biting, mauling, or refusing to release on command, or dropping a bird anywhere is not acceptable.

A retrieve is incomplete if the object is not delivered to hand, held gently, and then released on command. Most dogs with good instincts will deliver some or most of the time without formal training. They do it because they like to retrieve. But if someone tells you (and someone will, if they haven't already) that without formal training their dog is 100% reliable to retrieve on command and deliver correctly, they either have very low standards or they're a liar. No dog is born with that knowledge or discipline and they don't learn by osmosis or by watching another dog - they have to be taught.

Here's why your dog reliably delivers dummies to hand, but not game:
Without realizing it, you have taught your dog that when working with dummies, as soon as he delivers the dummy to you, you will give him another retrieve. It's a game he enjoys. His reward for retrieving to hand is that he gets to retrieve again right away. However, when you're hunting, if he delivers correctly you'll simply take the bird from him and the game is over. But If he drops it, making you come get it, you will, and then you'll throw it again for him (trying to teach him to deliver to you). He has you trained: If he doesn't deliver to hand, he'll get at least one more retrieve out of that bird - exactly what he wants from you.

You have to change up the game. When retrieving dummies, end the game after just a few throws. If he brings a dummy to you when you haven't initiated the session (when he's trying to get you to play), take the dummy and don't play. He will begin to understand that you make the rules - not him, and you decide when he will retrieve - not him.

When you go out for a training session, start out working a back pile. No marks, just retrieve from a visible pile on command. Then start lining. These are generally boring drills for the dog - but he learns again that things are done on your terms. These drills are also primers for teaching blind retrieves. At the end of a successful back-pile drill or lining drill, then reward him with a few fun marks with the dummy. Teach him that the reward comes after the work. It will make him look forward to the work, knowing there will be fun stuff afterwards.

Know that your Chessie is by nature a very strong-willed dog. The longer you let him gewt away with the wrong behavior, the more difficult it will be to undo the damage. Chessies require rules and rewards as well as consequences. Your job is to make sure he doesn't train you to accept his rules.

Good luck and happy hunting.

Jeff Jennings
Whispering Hills Kennels

[seggiman]

Thank you Jeff for taking the time to help me with my chessie.I will start working with him on force breaking.

Thank You.
Steve Eggiman